In the early 2000sDisney’s Pirates of the Caribbean introduced moviegoers to one of the decade’s most iconic film characters: Johhny Depp’s quick-witted pirate lordCaptain Jack Sparrow. On the back of Depp’s performancesthe quintet of swashbuckling adventures earned $4.5 billion USD at the worldwide box office — good for a spot among the most-lucrative film franchises of all time.
Ahead of the planned Pirates of the Caribbean 6we’ve created a guide to help you navigate the series’ story for all of the movies. Scroll down to find out how to watch the Pirates of the Caribbean films in orderby narrative chronologically or release date.
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How Many Pirates of the Caribbean Movies Are There?
There are five feature-length Pirates of the Caribbean movies and one short film. Several other Pirates stories have been told through novelscomicsand video games. Howeverthis list exclusively covers the film series. With only five filmsit's a good series to plan a movie marathon for any time of year.
Where to Stream Pirates of the Caribbean
All of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies are streaming on Disney+which starts at $9.99 as a standalone subscription and can also be bundled with HuluHBO Maxor the all-new ESPN Unlimited. If you're not interested in another streaming subscripionthe Pirates movies are also available as physical releases.
Pirates of the Caribbean in Chronological Order
These blurbs contain mild spoilersincluding characterssettingsand broad plot points.
1. Pirates of the Caribbean: Tales of the Code – Wedlocked (2011)
Released between the fourth and fifth movies as part of a Pirates Blu-ray/DVD box setTales of the Code – Wedlocked is a short film set before The Curse of the Black Pearl. Vanessa Branch and Lauren Maher reprise their roles as Giselle and Scarlett for the shortwhich centers around the two women both believing themselves to be betrothed to Jack Sparrow. Alasthey were fooledand the duo becomes the object of a rowdy auction.
It's not essential to the wider chronologythough if you're looking for the complete Pirates experienceit's an easy watch with a 10-minute runtime.
2. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
From this point onthe release date and narrative chronologies of the Pirates movies align. The Curse of the Black Pearlthe series’ first movietakes viewers back to the early 18th century during the Golden Age of Piracy. The debut film introduces us to the series' main characters: Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp)Will Turner (Orlando Bloom)Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley)and Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush).
A young Will Turner is rescued from a shipwreck with a gold medallion around his neck. The medallion is linked to a curse that afflicts the pirate crew of Jack Sparrow's former shipthe Black Pearlwith tortured immortality. The crew is now led by the mutinous Captain Barbossa.
Will and Jack set aside their differences to rescue Elizabeth Swannwho was taken by Barbossa along with the medallion. Jack’s allegiance flip-flops and then flips again. The trio survives the encounter and ultimately lifts the cursethough the movie ends with Jack wanted for piracy.
Read IGN’s Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl review.
Initial Release: Jul 92003
PG-13
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3. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)
JackWilland Elizabeth return for another seafaring adventure in Dead Man’s Chest. The series’ second movie introduces Naomie Harris’s priestess Tia DalmaStellan Skarsgard’s Bill Turner (Will’s father)Tom Hollander’s Cutler Beckettand Bill Nighy’s Davy Jonescaptain of the Flying Dutchman ghost ship.
JackWillElizabethand James Norrington (Jack Davenport) allwith different motivationsset out to find the Dead Man’s Chest and Davy Jones’s heart within: Will seeks freedom from the law and for his father; Elizabeth seeks freedom for herself and Will; Jack seeks to escape his debt to Davy Jones; and James seeks to have his status as a navy officer restored.
Swashbuckling and backstabbing once again ensueand only one escapes with Davy Jones’s heartgranting them control of Jones and therefore the seas. As for Captain Jackhe ends Dead Man’s Chest dragged to the depths of the sea by the Kraken. Tia Dalmameanwhileresurrects a familiar foe from Black Pearl to lead the rescue mission for Jack.
Read IGN’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest review.
Initial Release: Jul 72006
PG-13Where to Watch
Powered by4. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007)
The third Pirates movie is an action-packed adventure that pits the franchise’s heroes against Davy Jones and the Flying Dutchmannow controlled by Cutler Beckett. The heroes first team up to rescue Jack from Davy Jones’s Locker and recover the Black Pearl. After doing sothe crew’s varying motivations lead to the usual plotting and backstabbing. Along the waywe discover Tia’s true identity and meet Jack’s fatherthe pirate captain Edward Teague (Keith Richards).
By the endElizabeth comes into powerWill and Jack defeat Davy Jonesand a new captain takes control of the Flying Dutchman. A pregnant Elizabeth and Will part wayswhile Jack and the revived Hector Barbossa set out separately to discover the Fountain of Youth.
Read IGN’s Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End review.
Initial Release: May 252007
PG-13Where to Watch
Powered by5. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)
On Stranger Tides is the first Pirates film without Will/Orlando Bloom and Elizabeth/Keira Knightley. Ian McShane and Penelope Cruz stepped into the vacant supporting roles as the father-daughter duo Angelica and Blackbeard — the former being an ex-lover of Jack Sparrow.
The film’s overarching plot is a race to discover the Fountain of Youth between the EnglishSpanishand multiple pirate crews. A treasure hunt involving secret mapsMermaid tearsand the ship of renowned Spanish explorer Ponce de León ultimately leads each party to the Fountain. Barbossa settles an old score with Blackbeard and Jack uses the last of the Fountain’s power to save an ally.
Read IGN’s Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides review.
Initial Release: May 202011
PG-13Where to Watch
Powered by6. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)
The most recent Pirates film sees the return of Jack and Barbossa alongside Henry Turner (the now-grown son of Elizabeth and Willplayed by Brenton Thwaites) and a new antagonist in Javier Bardem’s undead pirate-hunter Armando Salazar. Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley reprise their respective roles as Will and Elizabeth for cameo appearances.
Dead Men Tell No Tales features another treasure huntthe object of which is the Trident of Poseidon. Henry seeks the Trident to free his father from a curse and teams up with Jack and newcomer Carina (Kaya Scodelario) to do so. The trioeventually with the help of Barbossamust overcome Salazar’s opposition. One of these four heroes dies along the way. Jack takes his rightful place back aboard the Black Pearl and the other surviving heroes enjoy a family reunion.
A post-credits scene then sets up the return of Davy Jones.
Read IGN’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales review.
Initial Release: May 262017
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Powered byFuture Pirates of the Caribbean Movies
There have been two future Pirates of the Caribbean movies in discussion: the sixth mainline movie and a Margot Robbie-led spinoff. Unfortunatelythe Margot Robbie project seems to be dead in the waterbut a sixth Pirates movie is certainly on the way.
The next mainline movie was expected to be a proper rebootthough franchise star Johnny Depp is once again said to be in the mixso we'll have to wait and see about the actor's potential involvement and its impact on the film's direction. According to a Variety report published in Decembertwo versions of the script are being developed"one that could bring Depp back into the fold if the actor and Disney can reconcile."
Franchise producer Jerry Bruckheimer seemed to confirm at least some of the returning castwith Orlando Bloom saying in an interview earlier this month that "I think they're trying to work out what it would all look like... I personally think it'd be great to get the band back together."
Jordan covers gamesshowsand movies as a freelance writer for IGN.