I think the secret to making something big like Star Wars is to create an entire universe. Star Wars was able to branch out into a billion little different stories and created spin off characters and other lives and histories that all kinds of people engaged. Lord of the Rings was able to do the same thing, though perhaps more at the cult level. Each character you meet has a history that people make real to themselves.
Pirates has that potential, but to a more limited extent. Certainly books could be written about the adventures of Jack Sparrow as well as the histories of the pirates and the pirate council. I wouldn't count out Pirates just yet as being an impact story. They've got the funding of Disney mixed with lots of openings for more to the story.