**How to Watch Pirates of the Caribbean Movies In Order**

The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise launched Johnny Depp into megastardom and put pirates back on the cultural treasure map, all beginning with 2003’s The Curse of the Black Pearl. If you want to watch the Pirates of the Caribbean movies in order, set sail with Captain Jack Sparrow and his two lovely assistants Elizabeth Swann and Will Turner (Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom) towards Dead Man’s Chest and At Worlds End.

With that trilogy closed, the series continued on with the further adventures of Jack with On Stranger Tides and Dead Men Tell No Tales. In the years since, a sixth film remains in the works, while in June 2020, Disney announced a spin-off to star Margot Robbie. For now, see our guide on how to watch the Pirates of the Caribbean movies in order. —Alex Vo

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

79%

Critics Consensus: May leave you exhausted like the theme park ride that inspired it; however, you'll have a good time when it's over.

Synopsis: Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) arrives at Port Royal in the Caribbean without a ship or crew. His timing is inopportune, however, because later that... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley

Directed By: Gore Verbinski

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)

53%

Critics Consensus: Gone is Depp's unpredictability and much of the humor and originality of the first movie.

Synopsis: When ghostly pirate Davy Jones comes to collect a blood debt, Capt. Jack Sparrow must find a way to avoid his fate lest his soul... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy

Directed By: Gore Verbinski

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)

43%

Critics Consensus: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End provides the thrilling action scenes, but mixes in too many characters with too many incomprehensible plot threads.

Synopsis: Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) join forces with Capt. Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) to free Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) from Davy Jones'... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Geoffrey Rush

Directed By: Gore Verbinski

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

32%

Critics Consensus: It's shorter and leaner than the previous sequel, but this Pirates runs aground on a disjointed plot and a non-stop barrage of noisy action sequences.

Synopsis: The checkered past of Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) catches up to him when he encounters Angelica (Penélope Cruz), a beautiful pirate that Jack once... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Ian McShane, Geoffrey Rush

Directed By: Rob Marshall

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)

30%

Critics Consensus: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales proves that neither a change in directors nor an undead Javier Bardem is enough to drain this sinking franchise's murky bilge.

Synopsis: Thrust into an all-new adventure, a down-on-his-luck Capt. Jack Sparrow feels the winds of ill-fortune blowing even more strongly when deadly ghost sailors led by... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Javier Bardem, Brenton Thwaites

Directed By: Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg