pirates of the caribbean in order
Here’s the correct watch order for all Pirates of the Caribbean movies , plus a quick guide to release vs in-universe chronology and what’s happening with the franchise right now.
Release order (best for first-time viewing)
Watching in release order is the most popular way, and it’s ideal if you’re jumping in for the first time because the story, character arcs, and big reveals were written with this order in mind.
- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)
- Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007)
- Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017) (also titled Salazar’s Revenge in some regions)
Why this order works so well:
- Each sequel directly follows the events of the previous film, especially the original trilogy (1–3).
- Character relationships and payoffs (like Jack, Will, and Elizabeth’s arcs) land better when seen in the order they were written and released.
Chronological order (in-universe timeline)
The in-universe timeline of the main films is essentially the same as the release order, with the stories unfolding sequentially in the early 18th century.
For the main five movies, a simple chronological watch list is:
- The Curse of the Black Pearl
- Dead Man’s Chest – set about a year after the first film.
- At World’s End – takes place shortly after Dead Man’s Chest.
- On Stranger Tides – set a few years later, focusing more on Jack and new characters.
- Dead Men Tell No Tales – later again, with older versions of returning characters like Will Turner’s son.
If you ever include the spin-off short Tales of the Code: Wedlocked (not always easy to find), many guides place it as a prologue to The Curse of the Black Pearl , but most casual viewers just stick to the five main films.
Quick comparison: release vs chronological
| Position | Release order | Chronological (main films) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) | [1]The Curse of the Black Pearl | [1]
| 2 | Dead Man’s Chest (2006) | [1]Dead Man’s Chest | [7]
| 3 | At World’s End (2007) | [1]At World’s End | [7]
| 4 | On Stranger Tides (2011) | [1]On Stranger Tides | [1]
| 5 | Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017) | [9][1]Dead Men Tell No Tales | [9][1]
What fans and forums usually recommend
On fan forums and discussion threads, people generally suggest:
- Start with release order for the “intended” experience and smoother story build-up.
- Treat the first three films as a self-contained trilogy and then continue into 4 and 5 if you’re still enjoying the world and Jack Sparrow’s adventures.
You’ll also see fans ranking their favorites, with The Curse of the Black Pearl , Dead Man’s Chest , and At World’s End usually getting the most love, and Dead Men Tell No Tales often landing lower on personal lists.
Latest franchise news & what’s next
- There are ongoing plans and development chatter about a new Pirates of the Caribbean movie , often described as a reboot or fresh take on the franchise, with different creative directions explored in recent years.
- As of early 2026, the sixth film has been discussed but not released, with various reports mentioning new scripts and potential shake-ups to the cast and focus of the series.
TL;DR:
Watch Pirates of the Caribbean in order as:
1–5 = Black Pearl → Dead Man’s Chest → At World’s End → On Stranger Tides
→ Dead Men Tell No Tales.
Release order and timeline order are effectively the same for the main films, so you can just follow the years on the posters and enjoy the ride.