Film · in order
Pirates of the Caribbean Movies in Order
The five Pirates of the Caribbean films tell one continuous story, so release order and chronological order are identical. Start with The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) and end with Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017).
≈ 12h 9m to watch all 5 films a full weekend
Pirates of the Caribbean Movies in Order — complete list
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Why this order?
Pirates of the Caribbean is one of the rare modern blockbuster franchises where you never have to think about order. The five films were released in the same sequence in which their events occur, so release order and chronological order are exactly the same list. Watch them in the order they came out and the timeline simply unfolds as intended.
Begin with The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), the film that introduced Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann. Dead Man's Chest (2006) and At World's End (2007) form a tightly connected two-part arc and should always be watched back to back, since Dead Man's Chest ends on a cliffhanger that At World's End resolves directly. On Stranger Tides (2011) is a soft reboot that drops most of the original supporting cast and follows Jack on a standalone quest for the Fountain of Youth. Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017) then circles back, bringing returning characters and family threads to a close.
The only real gotcha is the trilogy in the middle: do not stop after Dead Man's Chest expecting a resolution, and do not skip it before At World's End, or the second half will not make sense. Everything else is forgiving, and the two later films work even if you have forgotten the finer plot details.
A sixth film has been in development for years as a possible reboot of the series, with various scripts and creative teams attached, but as of now nothing has been released. If and when it arrives, it will slot in after Dead Men Tell No Tales. Fans of swashbuckling adventure and Disney theme-park-inspired stories may also enjoy the Indiana Jones series for a similar globe-trotting, treasure-hunting tone.
Timeline 2003–2017
Every entry plotted by release year — see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.
Frequently asked questions
How many Pirates of the Caribbean movies are there?
There are five Pirates of the Caribbean films, released between 2003 and 2017, from The Curse of the Black Pearl to Dead Men Tell No Tales. A sixth film has long been in development but has not been released.
What order should I watch Pirates of the Caribbean in?
Watch them in release order, which is also chronological: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), Dead Man's Chest (2006), At World's End (2007), On Stranger Tides (2011), and Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017).
Do I need to watch the Pirates of the Caribbean movies in order?
Yes, especially the first three. Dead Man's Chest and At World's End form a two-part story, so watch them back to back. The later two films are more standalone but still best in order.
Is release order the same as chronological order for Pirates of the Caribbean?
Yes. Each film was released in the same sequence its events take place, so release order and chronological (story) order are identical.
Is there a sixth Pirates of the Caribbean movie?
A sixth film, often described as a reboot or relaunch of the franchise, has been in development for several years with different writers attached, but no release has happened yet.
Can I skip On Stranger Tides?
You can, since it is a soft reboot with a mostly new cast and a self-contained plot, but it sets up some characters and tone that carry into Dead Men Tell No Tales.
Last updated · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata
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