Pirates of the Caribbean Order: Complete Viewing Guide

There’s something about a reluctant hero with a compass that doesn’t point north that keeps people coming back. After five films, over a decade of swashbuckling, and a very public feud between Disney and its biggest star, the franchise sits at a crossroads. If you’re trying to figure out how to watch these movies in the right order, or if you’re wondering where the series goes after the Johnny Depp controversy, this guide sorts out the viewing sequence and the latest news.

Total films released: 5 ·
First film release year: 2003 ·
Most recent film release year: 2017 ·
Worldwide box office (franchise): $4.5 billion+ ·
Planned sixth film status: In development, Johnny Depp not returning

Here is a quick overview of the franchise facts:

In what order do I watch the Pirates of the Caribbean movies?

The quick answer: watch them in release order. The five films were released in 2003, 2006, 2007, 2011, and 2017, and that’s the order that makes narrative sense. The original trilogy — The Curse of the Black Pearl, Dead Man’s Chest, and At World’s End — tells one continuous story. The last two films, On Stranger Tides and Dead Men Tell No Tales, are more standalone adventures that pick up loose threads from the trilogy.

Release order

The franchise’s release order begins with The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), which had a U.S. release date of July 9, 2003 (IMDb (film database)). Dead Man’s Chest followed on July 7, 2006 (Disney Movies (official studio site)). At World’s End came in 2007 (The Numbers (box office data)), On Stranger Tides in 2011 (Wikipedia (film series)), and Dead Men Tell No Tales in 2017 (Rotten Tomatoes (editorial)).

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

Chronological order

Chronologically, On Stranger Tides acts as a prequel to the first three films, but the franchise doesn’t maintain a strict internal timeline. Collider’s watch guide presents both chronological and release-date ordering and notes that Disney’s own franchise listing follows the release sequence from 2003 through 2017 (Collider (entertainment editorial)). The implication: if you want the story as the filmmakers intended, you don’t need to shuffle the order — just start with the Black Pearl and go forward.

Is there a 6th Pirates of the Caribbean movie?

Yes, a sixth film is in development, but Disney hasn’t set a release date. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed in 2023 that the studio is actively developing a new Pirates film without Johnny Depp (Forbes (industry news)). The trade press has reported that the project is early in development with no script or director attached (Variety (entertainment trade)).

Official status of Pirates 6

Disney confirmed development of a sixth film in 2023 (Forbes (industry news)). Since then, there has been no official casting or release date. The closest thing to a title is “Pirates of the Caribbean 6,” which appears nowhere in Disney’s official marketing materials as of 2025.

Rumored release date

Speculation points to a window in the late 2020s, but that’s guesswork. The Numbers lists the five existing films in release-date order, and there’s no sixth entry on the horizon (The Numbers (box office data)). The pattern: Disney is talking about the project but hasn’t committed to a timeline.

What this means: The franchise is moving on without Depp, but the timeline remains uncertain.

Why is Johnny Depp not in Pirates of the Caribbean 6?

Disney dropped Depp in late 2018 after his legal troubles with Amber Heard became public. The actor confirmed in court testimony that he was told by Disney executives that they no longer wanted him in the franchise (Wikipedia (court case reference)). Depp has stated he would not return even if offered a role, and negotiations for a cameo in a spin-off fell through (Forbes (industry news)).

Legal battles and Disney’s decision

Depp’s legal battles with Heard began in 2018 and extended through the 2022 defamation trial in Virginia (Wikipedia (court case reference)). During that period, Disney distanced itself from the actor. Depp testified that he was dropped from Pirates 6 before the trial, and the studio never publicly reversed that decision.

Depp’s departure from the franchise

Depp has repeatedly said he would not return. In a 2022 court appearance, he stated that he wouldn’t work with Disney again “even if $300 million was offered” (Wikipedia (court case reference)). The Hollywood Reporter noted that Disney explored a cameo in a spin-off, but the negotiations collapsed (The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment trade)).

The implication: Disney’s break with Depp is final, and the series must find a new voice.

Why did Orlando Bloom quit the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise?

Orlando Bloom didn’t formally quit — he was absent from the last two films. Will Turner’s story ended in At World’s End (2007), and Bloom didn’t appear in On Stranger Tides (2011) or Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017). The creative decision was to close Will’s arc with the trilogy and bring in new characters (Collider (entertainment editorial)).

Will Turner’s role after At World’s End

Will Turner’s arc was resolved in At World’s End. Collider’s guide notes that the original trilogy tells one continuous story, and Will’s narrative ends with the trilogy (Collider (entertainment editorial)). Bloom did not return for the sequels, though he has expressed openness to returning if the story is right (Screen Rant (entertainment editorial)).

Bloom’s reason for not returning

Scheduling conflicts and creative direction drove Bloom’s absence. In interviews, he cited the complexity of the franchise’s storylines and his desire to pursue other roles (The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment trade)). The catch: Will Turner appears briefly in Dead Men Tell No Tales via a post-credits scene, but Bloom himself didn’t film new material for that scene.

Who is playing Jack Sparrow in the new Pirates of the Caribbean 6?

No one — as of now, there’s no official casting for Jack Sparrow in film six. Disney hasn’t announced any actor for the role, and the studio is reportedly leaning toward a new lead character rather than a recast (The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment trade)).

Casting rumors

Rumors have floated around actors like Tom Holland and Will Smith, but none have confirmed involvement. Screen Rant notes that the studio has considered a reboot with a younger cast, possibly including a female lead (Screen Rant (entertainment editorial)). No official casting has been announced for Jack Sparrow in film six (Variety (entertainment trade)).

Margot Robbie’s potential spin-off

Margot Robbie was attached to a spin-off, but that project is not currently moving forward. A separate movie featuring Robbie as a new pirate character was in development, but Disney shelved it in favor of the main franchise (Collider (entertainment editorial)).

Pirates of the Caribbean timeline (2003–2025)

• 2003: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl released (IMDb (film database))
• 2006: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest released (Disney Movies (official studio site))
• 2007: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End released (The Numbers (box office data))
• 2011: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides released (Wikipedia (film series))
• 2017: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales released (Rotten Tomatoes (editorial))
• 2018: Johnny Depp legal troubles with Amber Heard become public; Disney distances from Depp (Wikipedia (court case reference))
• 2020: Disney officially announces Depp will not be in future Pirates films (Forbes (industry news))
• 2023: Disney confirms development of a sixth Pirates film without Depp (Variety (entertainment trade))
• 2024–2025: No official casting or release date announced; rumors continue (Collider (entertainment editorial))

“I was told by Disney executives that they no longer wanted me in the franchise.”

— Johnny Depp, court testimony (Wikipedia (court case reference))

“We’re working on a new Pirates film. It’s going to be a different direction, but it’s still a Pirates movie.”

— Jerry Bruckheimer, producer (Forbes (industry news))

“I’d be open to coming back if the story is right, but I’m not waiting by the phone.”

— Orlando Bloom, interview (Screen Rant (entertainment editorial))

For casual viewers and completists alike, the decision is straightforward. Watch The Curse of the Black Pearl first — it establishes the tone, the characters, and the rules of the curse. Then proceed through Dead Man’s Chest and At World’s End for the core story. On Stranger Tides and Dead Men Tell No Tales are optional for the completist, but they’re worth a watch if you want the full franchise experience. For Disney and the franchise’s producers, the choice is starker: rebuild the franchise with a new lead, or risk it all on a recast of Jack Sparrow fans might reject outright.

Frequently asked questions