Pirates of the Caribbean movies in order

Edited by Ayush SondhiChecked 22 Oct 2026

5 filmsNext: Untitled sixth Pirates of the Caribbean film (in development, no date)

There are five Pirates of the Caribbean films and no series. Release order is the story order, so this page recommends it. The first three films form one continuous story; On Stranger Tides and Dead Men Tell No Tales are later stand-alone sequels set after it. None of the films is optional, but the last two can be watched without each other.

12h 06mTotal runtime

4Evenings

2003First release

2017Latest release

14 years, 5 releases Dot size is runtime · Red is a spin-off · Hollow is a series

2006201020142016

The release order

Checked 22 Oct 2026 · Runtimes are theatrical cuts

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl 2003

143 min Main

Start here. Set in the early 18th century. First of a trilogy; sets up the Flying Dutchman and the East India Trading Company for the sequels.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest 2006

150 min Main

Set a year after the first film and a direct sequel to it; shot back to back with At World's End. Ends on a cliffhanger that At World's End picks up.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End 2007

168 min Main Longest in the franchise

Direct sequel to Dead Man's Chest and the end of the first three-film story, resolving the stories of Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann. Its post-credits scene jumps ten years ahead.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides 2011

136 min Main

Stand-alone sequel set around 1750, about twenty-one years after At World's End, with new characters. Jack Sparrow, Barbossa and Gibbs return; its Fountain of Youth plot was alluded to in earlier films.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales 2017

129 min Main Shortest in the franchise

Follows On Stranger Tides and picks up threads from the end of At World's End, with Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann returning in cameos. Released in some territories as Salazar's Revenge.

Questions

Answers come from the entries above

Which Pirates of the Caribbean entries are optional or spin-offs?

None. All 5 films are mainline entries.

Which Pirates of the Caribbean film should you start with?

Start with The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003). It is the first film in both release and story order, and the next two films continue its story directly.

Is a new Pirates of the Caribbean film announced?

An untitled sixth Pirates of the Caribbean film is in development; no release date has been announced. 2 projects are listed under the slate below.

Chronological order

Story order, left to right, top to bottom

Story order matches release order for this franchise.

12003

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

22006

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

32007

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

4c. 1750

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

52017

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

Next: Untitled sixth Pirates of the Caribbean film (no date)

In development

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer described it in 2024 as a reboot and said in September 2025 that a script was still being written. Ted Elliott worked on the script and Krysty Wilson-Cairns was reported in February 2026 to be in talks to write it. In August 2026 Bruckheimer said Disney was in talks with Johnny Depp to return. No director, cast or release date is confirmed. Source.
Untitled Margot Robbie spin-off

Announced in 2020 with Christina Hodson writing. Robbie said in 2022 that it was no longer going ahead; Bruckheimer said it was not officially dead and in 2025 that Robbie remained involved in some capacity. No date announced. Source.

Announced