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The five Pirates of the Caribbean feature films should be watched in release order, which is also the practical chronological order of the main story: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Dead Man’s Chest, At World’s End, On Stranger Tides, and Dead Men Tell No Tales.
There is one optional addition: the 10-minute live-action short Tales of the Code: Wedlocked, which works as a prequel and can be watched immediately before the first movie.
The chronological order of the five movies
- 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)
This is both the release order and the recommended story order. Unlike some franchises, Pirates of the Caribbean does not require a complicated rearrangement based on flashbacks, character backstories, or an alternate timeline.
1. The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
The first film introduces Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, Hector Barbossa, and the Black Pearl. Barbossa has stolen Jack’s ship and is leading a crew affected by a supernatural curse. When Elizabeth is kidnapped, Will and Jack form an uneasy alliance to rescue her.
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- Pirates of the Caribbean Collection - 5-Disc Box Set
- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl / Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
- Pirates of the Caribbean 5 - Salazar's Revenge
Disney lists the U.S. release date as July 9, 2003, with a runtime of 2 hours and 23 minutes. This is the essential starting point because it establishes the characters, relationships, pirate mythology, and rules that the sequels build upon.
2. Dead Man’s Chest (2006)
The second film follows Jack Sparrow’s debt to Davy Jones, the supernatural captain of the Flying Dutchman. The story expands the mythology introduced in the first movie while bringing back Jack, Will, Elizabeth, and other important figures from the original adventure.
Disney lists the U.S. release date as July 7, 2006. Watch it directly after The Curse of the Black Pearl: its story develops the consequences of the first film rather than resetting the series for a new, unrelated adventure.
3. At World’s End (2007)
At World’s End continues the events of Dead Man’s Chest. Jack is trapped in Davy Jones’s Locker, while Will, Elizabeth, and Barbossa attempt to rescue him and face a larger threat to pirate freedom.
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4. On Stranger Tides (2011)
The fourth feature shifts to a more self-contained adventure. Jack becomes involved in the search for the Fountain of Youth, alongside Angelica, Blackbeard, Hector Barbossa, and a dangerous encounter with mermaids.
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Disney lists the U.S. release date as May 20, 2011. Although its central plot is less dependent on the immediate cliffhanger structure of the second and third films, it still belongs after the original trilogy and continues Jack’s adventures within the same feature-film continuity.
5. Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)
The fifth feature film follows Captain Salazar and his ghost crew as they pursue Jack Sparrow. Jack joins Henry and Carina in a search for the Trident of Poseidon, which may offer a way to end the supernatural threat.
Disney lists the U.S. release date as May 26, 2017. Watch it last because its story assumes familiarity with the mythology and character history established in the preceding films.
Note: Dead Men Tell No Tales is the fifth feature film, not the sixth. Some regional releases have used the alternate subtitle Salazar’s Revenge, but it is the same movie.
Optional prequel short: Tales of the Code: Wedlocked
Pirates of the Caribbean: Tales of the Code: Wedlocked is an official 10-minute live-action short, not a sixth feature-length movie. It was released with a Blu-ray collection of four Pirates films on October 18, 2011, and is inspired by the auction scene from the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Disneyland.
For the most strictly chronological viewing, place it here:
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- Pirates of the Caribbean: 5-movie Collection
- Tales of the Code: Wedlocked
- The Curse of the Black Pearl
- Dead Man’s Chest
- At World’s End
- On Stranger Tides
- Dead Men Tell No Tales
For a normal first-time marathon, it is perfectly reasonable to omit the short and begin with The Curse of the Black Pearl. It is supplementary material rather than a prerequisite for understanding the five movies.
Availability is edition-specific. Do not assume that every five-film collection includes Wedlocked; the short was associated with an earlier four-film home-video collection.
Release order versus chronological order
For the main films, there is no meaningful difference:
| Viewing position | Film | Release year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Curse of the Black Pearl | 2003 |
| 2 | Dead Man’s Chest | 2006 |
| 3 | At World’s End | 2007 |
| 4 | On Stranger Tides | 2011 |
| 5 | Dead Men Tell No Tales | 2017 |
Flashbacks and references to earlier events do not create a better alternate viewing order. Watching the films in release order preserves the introductions, reveals, callbacks, and two-film arc of Dead Man’s Chest and At World’s End.
Which order should you choose?
For first-time viewers
Use the five-film order and leave out Wedlocked unless you specifically want every officially released screen story. The feature-only marathon is the clearest introduction to the franchise.
For a complete chronological watch
Start with Tales of the Code: Wedlocked, then watch all five features in release order. Treat the short as an optional bonus rather than as a full installment.
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- COMPLETE COLLECTION: This 5-movie collection includes all Pirates of the Caribbean films - The Curse of the Black Pearl, Dead Man's Chest, At World's End, On Stranger Tides, and Salazar's Revenge
- HIGH-DEFINITION FORMAT: Blu-ray disc format delivers superior picture and sound quality for an immersive viewing experience of the entire film series
- REGION-FREE PLAYBACK: Compatible with Blu-ray players worldwide, allowing you to enjoy these swashbuckling adventures regardless of your location
- EPIC ADVENTURE SERIES: Follow Captain Jack Sparrow and crew through legendary tales of cursed treasure, mythical creatures, and high-seas battles across all five blockbuster films
- COMPLETE BOX SET: Own the entire Pirates of the Caribbean saga in one convenient collection, perfect for fans and collectors of the beloved Disney franchise
For a shorter marathon
The first three films form the most tightly connected run. You can watch The Curse of the Black Pearl, Dead Man’s Chest, and At World’s End as the original trilogy, then continue with the fourth and fifth movies when you want the rest of Jack Sparrow’s story.
Where to watch the movies
Disney+ maintains a Pirates of the Caribbean franchise page and individual movie pages, but streaming catalogs differ by country and can change. Check the Disney+ catalog for your own region before subscribing or beginning a marathon; availability in one market does not guarantee availability elsewhere.
Subscription prices, included titles, and regional rights are volatile. A service that carries all five films at one point may later have only some of them, so verify each title rather than relying only on a general franchise page.
Owning the complete series on disc
A physical collection is useful if you want uninterrupted access to all five feature films without depending on a changing streaming catalog. Disney has documented five-movie DVD and 4K UHD collection editions in some markets, and a Pirates of the Caribbean 5-Movie Collection can be a practical option for a complete feature-film marathon.
Before buying, check the seller’s listing carefully for:
- the included titles—confirm that all five feature films are present;
- the format, such as Blu-ray, DVD, or 4K UHD;
- region compatibility with your player;
- whether the package is new, used, or missing discs;
- the audio, subtitle, and bonus-feature details for that specific edition; and
- whether the set is actually a five-film collection rather than an older four-film release.
Do not assume that a five-movie set includes Wedlocked. Fans looking for the short may need to locate the older four-film home-video collection associated with it, and should verify the exact bonus-disc contents before purchasing.
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Is Dead Men Tell No Tales the sixth Pirates of the Caribbean movie?
No. It is the fifth feature film in the series. The five features are The Curse of the Black Pearl, Dead Man’s Chest, At World’s End, On Stranger Tides, and Dead Men Tell No Tales.
Best Value
- COMPLETE COLLECTION: Includes all 5 Pirates of the Caribbean films in one comprehensive collector's set.
- 4K ULTRA HD + BLU-RAY: Each film is presented in stunning 4K Ultra HD alongside a Blu-ray disc for the ultimate viewing experience.
- 10-DISC SET: This expansive collection spans 10 discs, ensuring full, high-quality presentations of every movie.
- INDIVIDUAL DIGIBOOKS: Each film comes packaged in its own digibook, making this an ideal collector's display piece.
- REGION FREE: All discs are region free, allowing playback on compatible players worldwide without any restrictions.
Do I need to watch Wedlocked?
No. Tales of the Code: Wedlocked is an optional 10-minute prequel short. Watch it immediately before The Curse of the Black Pearl if you want a completionist chronology; otherwise, begin with the first feature film.
Should I watch At World’s End before Dead Man’s Chest?
No. At World’s End directly continues Dead Man’s Chest. Watching the second film first preserves its setup and avoids spoiling its story.
Are the chronological and release orders different?
No. For the five feature films, the chronological order and release order are the same: 2003, 2006, 2007, 2011, and 2017.
Are all five movies available on Disney+ everywhere?
Not necessarily. Disney+ availability varies by country and can change over time. Check the catalog for your region immediately before watching.
The Bottom Line
For most viewers: watch The Curse of the Black Pearl → Dead Man’s Chest → At World’s End → On Stranger Tides → Dead Men Tell No Tales. Add the optional short Tales of the Code: Wedlocked before the first movie only if you want the complete chronological screen story.
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