Pirates of the Caribbean Movies in Order: Full Guide & Timeline

Six key data points, one pattern: the franchise has grown from a single risky pirate flick into a $4.5 billion juggernaut, but the core cast and crew have shifted significantly along the way.

What is the correct order of Pirates of the Caribbean movies?

Release order vs chronological order

The five main films were released in order of their story chronology — except for the short film Tales of the Code: Wedlocked. That short, released in 2011 alongside On Stranger Tides, takes place before The Curse of the Black Pearl. So strictly speaking, the chronological order starts with the short, then follows the theatrical release sequence.

List of Pirates of the Caribbean films in release order

Five films, one clear sequence. Here’s the release order with key details:

• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (July 9, 2003) — 143 min runtime, director Gore Verbinski. Box office: $654 million (Collider (film database))
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (July 7, 2006) — 151 min, Gore Verbinski. Box office: $1.066 billion (Collider)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (May 25, 2007) — Gore Verbinski. Box office: $960 million (Collider)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (May 20, 2011) — director Rob Marshall. Box office: $1.045 billion (Rotten Tomatoes (aggregated reviews))
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (May 26, 2017) — directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg. Box office: $794 million (Rotten Tomatoes (aggregated reviews))

Five films, one pattern: the trilogy arc (films 1–3) features the same director and core cast (Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann), while films 4 and 5 reboot the story with new directors and a mostly fresh crew (Rotten Tomatoes (aggregated reviews)). The trade-off: early films have stronger character arcs, later films rely more on spectacle.

How to watch Pirates of the Caribbean movies in order?

Option 1: Release order

The simplest approach: watch exactly as the films came out. You don’t need to track down the short film unless you want the full picture. Start with The Curse of the Black Pearl, then proceed through the five movies in release sequence. This preserves the intended narrative flow — each film builds on its predecessor’s cliffhanger.

Option 2: Chronological order (including short film)

If you want the definitive timeline, include Tales of the Code: Wedlocked. This 2011 short film (available on DVD/Blu-ray and digital platforms) is set before the events of The Curse of the Black Pearl, explaining the backstory of the cursed medallion and the pirate code. Chronological order:

1. Tales of the Code: Wedlocked (2011 short)
2. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)
4. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007)
5. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)
6. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)

No other canonical spin-offs exist that change viewing order (YouTube film explainer (fan breakdown)). So either route is valid.

The catch: if you skip the short, you’ll miss a nice setup for the first film’s treasure curse. For first-time viewers, release order is enough; for completists, the chronological route adds context.

Is there a Pirates of the Caribbean 6?

Current development status

As of early 2025, Disney has announced that a sixth film is in active development. Multiple screenplay drafts have been written, and a female-led reboot is reportedly being considered to refresh the franchise (The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment trade)).

Possible release date

No official release date has been confirmed. Industry speculation suggests it could arrive no earlier than 2027, given the lengthy pre-production phase typical of Disney’s tentpole films.

The implication: the future of the franchise hinges on whether Disney can anchor a new direction without Johnny Depp’s magnetic performance. For longtime fans, that’s a risky gamble.

What did Keira Knightley think of Johnny Depp?

Knightley’s public remarks about Depp

Keira Knightley, who played Elizabeth Swann in the first three films, has consistently defended her co-star. In a 2018 interview with The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment trade), she called Johnny Depp a “good man” and praised his improvisational genius as Jack Sparrow. She also expressed gratitude for their collaboration, noting that working with him was a defining experience of her early career.

Knightley’s remarks stand out because they come from a fellow lead actor who worked closely with Depp during the most intense years of the franchise. Her defense matters because it offers a counter-narrative to the legal battles that surrounded Depp in later years.

Did Jack Sparrow actually love Angelica?

Evidence from On Stranger Tides

In On Stranger Tides, Jack Sparrow and Angelica (Penélope Cruz) share a complicated past with implied romantic history. Jack’s actions — joining her mission, protecting her from Blackbeard — suggest lingering feelings. Yet his loyalty always remains flexible; he abandons her when his own skin is at stake. The official Pirates of the Caribbean Wiki (fan-run reference) notes the ambiguity: Jack may or may not have genuine affection. The film deliberately leaves the question open, fitting a character who runs on charm and self-interest.

Why this matters: the ambiguity is a feature, not a bug. Jack Sparrow works as a character precisely because his motivations are never fully transparent — that’s what keeps audiences guessing.

Pirates of the Caribbean timeline

Seven key moments, one trajectory: from a risky early-2000s gamble to a billion-dollar franchise, with a short film that quietly reorders the chronology.

• 2003 — Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl released (Collider (film database))
• 2006 — Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest released (Collider)
• 2007 — Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End released (Collider)
• 2011 — Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides released (Rotten Tomatoes (aggregated reviews))
• 2011 — Short film Tales of the Code: Wedlocked released (chronologically first) (YouTube film explainer (fan breakdown))
• 2017 — Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales released (Rotten Tomatoes (aggregated reviews))
• 2023–2024 — Development of Pirates of the Caribbean 6 reported (The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment trade))

The pattern: after the original trilogy ended, the franchise took a four-year gap before On Stranger Tides, then six years until the last film. The gap since 2017 is now the longest in the series — and the uncertainty about a sequel reflects the challenge of moving forward without the original cast.

What we know for sure vs. what remains unclear

Confirmed:

• Five theatrical films have been released between 2003 and 2017 (Collider (film database)).
• The correct release order is: Curse of the Black Pearl, Dead Man’s Chest, At World’s End, On Stranger Tides, Dead Men Tell No Tales (Rotten Tomatoes (aggregated reviews)).
• Keira Knightley has publicly praised Johnny Depp (The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment trade)).

Unclear:

• Whether a sixth film will be released or if Depp will return (The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment trade)).
• Whether Jack Sparrow genuinely loved Angelica (left ambiguous in the film) (Pirates of the Caribbean Wiki (fan-run reference)).
• Whether the in-universe timeline matches the real-world chronology exactly (no official confirmation) (Pirates of the Caribbean Wiki (fan-run reference)).

That decision will shape the franchise’s next chapter.

What the cast and crew say

“He’s a good man. I had an incredible time working with him. He’s a genius at what he does.”

— Keira Knightley on Johnny Depp, in a 2018 interview with The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment trade)

“We are working on a script right now. We have a great story that we’re developing, and we’re very excited about it.”

— Jerry Bruckheimer, franchise producer, on the future of the series (Variety (entertainment business))

For those who want to watch the films in the correct order, this complete viewing sequence guide covers all five movies from start to finish.

Frequently asked questions

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