How to watch

The Pirates of the Caribbean movies in the correct order

The complete Pirates of the Caribbean watch guide ☠️

Last updated: July 6 2025

Written by: ChronoChris

Pirates of the Caribbean is a swashbuckling fantasy-adventure franchise from Disney, starring the iconic Jack Sparrow. With its cursed treasure, undead pirates, sea monsters, and maritime mythology, the saga sails across five epic films.

Whether you’re revisiting the Black Pearl or diving into the high seas for the first time, this guide will help you navigate the movies in both chronological and release order.

⏱️ Chronological Order

There isn’t a huge difference between release and chronological order for this franchise, but one key event—the flashback scenes in the fifth movie—adds a wrinkle. Chronologically, the fifth entry's prologue happens first.

  1. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017) [opening flashback]IMDb
  2. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)IMDb
  3. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)IMDb
  4. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)IMDb
  5. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)IMDb
  6. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017) [main events]IMDb

Watching in chronological order helps tie Jack Sparrow’s origin more closely to his later adventures, but overall, the story flows similarly in both approaches.

📅 Release Order

Release order follows the journey as it unfolded in theaters. This method preserves the surprises, character arcs, and evolving tone of the franchise.

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

If you're watching for the first time, release order is ideal to preserve character development and plot twists. Jack Sparrow’s chaotic charm evolves naturally across the saga.

Which Order Should You Choose?

If you're a returning fan or curious about Jack Sparrow's backstory, chronological might be fun. But for first-timers, we recommend release order—it flows better and keeps the mystery intact.

Either way, you're in for a wild ride on the high seas!

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Know of a pirate adventure we missed? Let us know!