1. Captain Jack Sparrow: The eccentric, cunning, and often unreliable pirate.
2. Will Turner: The blacksmith who falls in love with Elizabeth Swann and eventually becomes a pirate.
3. Elizabeth Swann: The Governor's daughter who is swept up in the world of pirates and eventually becomes a pirate herself.
4. Captain Barbossa: The ruthless pirate captain who seeks to break the curse on his crew.
While other characters like Davy Jones, Angelica, and Blackbeard play significant roles, these four are the most central and appear in multiple films throughout the franchise.