Pirates of the Caribbean Movies Ranked: Best to Worst
In my opinion, the best Pirates of the Caribbean movies ranked best to worst are: 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: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017), then Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011) last. The first film grew out of the Disneyland ride that debuted in 1967, and all five star Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow, so the gaps come down to story, villains and how much of the spectacle was built for real.
Key Takeaways
- In my ranking, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) is the best of the five films, ahead of Dead Man's Chest (2006) and At World's End (2007).
- Dead Man's Chest is the highest grossing film in the series at about $1.07 billion worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo, but earning the most is not the same as being the best.
- On Stranger Tides (2011) earned about $1.05 billion worldwide, yet it sits last on my list because the story is the thinnest of the five.
- All five films carry a PG-13 rating in the US, 12A in the UK and M in Australia, so none of them is aimed squarely at young children.
- A sixth film is in development with no confirmed release date, cast or deal as of November 2026.
Hot Takes
- Marcus Reyes (opinion): Dead Men Tell No Tales deserves to sit above On Stranger Tides, because Javier Bardem's Captain Salazar and the Silent Mary give the chase real menace.
- Marcus Reyes (opinion): Dead Man's Chest is the better showcase for practical and digital craft, but The Curse of the Black Pearl still wins because its story never wastes a scene.
- Marcus Reyes (opinion): At World's End is the most ambitious film in the saga, and being overstuffed is a better problem than being thin.
Opinion, by Marcus Reyes.
- 1
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
The story is the most focused in the saga, from the Port Royal attack to Will and Jack chasing the Black Pearl. Geoffrey Rush gives the series its best villain, and Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow is at his freshest. It did all of this in 143 minutes.
- 2
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Davy Jones, played by Bill Nighy with motion capture, is a standout creation, and the visual effects Oscar was deserved. The film is bigger and busier than the first, and at 151 minutes it asks more of the viewer in plot detail.
- 3
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
The Singapore sequence and the Brethren Court show real ambition, and Hans Zimmer's score adds weight. In my opinion it carries too many threads across 169 minutes, which dilutes the strong moments.
- 4
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
Javier Bardem's Salazar and the Silent Mary bring back a clear sense of menace, and the 129 minute runtime moves quickly. Henry Turner and Carina Smyth are a likeable pair, though Jack is more of a sidekick than a driver.
- 5
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Blackbeard, Angelica and the mermaid sequence are interesting ideas, and the film made about $1.05 billion worldwide. In my opinion the hunt for the Fountain of Youth is the thinnest story of the five, and it lacks the ensemble that made the earlier films feel lived in.
Pirates of the Caribbean Movies Ranked Best to Worst: How I Picked the Order
I ranked the five main films on three things: how well each tells its own story, how strong the villain is, and how much of the spectacle feels built rather than pasted in. That puts The Curse of the Black Pearl first. The order is my own opinion, so you are free to shuffle it. If you want the viewing sequence instead, see pirates of the caribbean movies in order, and for the series overview start at the pirates of the caribbean movies hub.
1. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), directed by Gore Verbinski, ranks first because curse of the black pearl is the cleanest piece of storytelling in the saga. A governor's daughter keeps a boy's gold medallion, the cursed crew of the Black Pearl comes for it years later, and Will Turner has to team up with jack sparrow to chase them down. Geoffrey Rush's barbossa is the best villain in the series. The film cost $140 million, grossed $654 million worldwide and earned five Oscar nominations, and in my opinion that is a remarkable result for a movie based on the Disneyland attraction that debuted in 1967. It premiered at Disneyland on June 28, 2003.
2. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) takes second place as the biggest earner and the best showcase of effects work in the series. Verbinski returns for dead mans chest, which adds Bill Nighy as Davy Jones, the Kraken and Naomie Harris as Tia Dalma. Jones was created with motion capture, and the film won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects. It ended with more than $1 billion worldwide, the top figure in the series (see the pirates of the caribbean box office breakdown). At 151 minutes it carries more plot machinery than the first film, and that is the only reason it lands second.
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007) ranks third because its ambition outruns its plotting. At worlds end was shot back to back with its predecessor and runs 169 minutes, the longest of the five. The crew sails to Singapore to bargain with the pirate lord Sao Feng for charts to Davy Jones' Locker, and the Brethren Court gathers around a succession problem Jack left behind. With a $300 million budget and about $962 million worldwide, it is the most expensive film here. In my opinion the ambition is wonderful and the plotting is crowded. Hans Zimmer composed the score (more on the pirates of the caribbean soundtrack page).
4. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017) ranks fourth as the shortest and most direct of the five. Directed by Espen Sandberg and Joachim Rønning, dead men tell no tales runs 129 minutes. Henry Turner, played by Brenton Thwaites, needs Jack to find the Trident of Poseidon, while the astronomer Carina Smyth, played by Kaya Scodelario, is chased through the Caribbean. Javier Bardem's captain salazar and his ghost ship Silent Mary supply the threat. It was filmed in Queensland, Australia, and made $796 million on a $230 million budget, with the lowest domestic gross of the five at about $173 million. Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley are back in the cast list, which gives it some welcome continuity.
5. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011) ranks last because, in my opinion, its story is the thinnest of the five. Rob Marshall directed on stranger tides, the first film without Orlando Bloom or Keira Knightley in the cast. Jack is pulled aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge, where blackbeard (Ian McShane) and Angelica (Penélope Cruz) are hunting for the Fountain of Youth. It was shot with 3D cameras, features a mermaid sequence, and earned about $1.05 billion worldwide on a $250 million budget, the second highest total in the series. It also brought Keith Richards in as Captain Teague. The chase for two chalices and a mermaid's tear simply has less to it than the stories around it. If you want more character depth, the pirates of the caribbean characters guide is the next stop.
What Comes After the Fifth Film?
A sixth Pirates of the Caribbean film is in development, and no release date is confirmed. TheWrap reported on August 16, 2026 that producer Jerry Bruckheimer told Deadline at D23 the team is talking with Johnny Depp and working on a screenplay, with no cast or deal confirmed. For updates, follow pirates of the caribbean 6. If you only have time for two films tonight, watch the first two in order, then decide whether the rest is worth the evening.
FAQs
What's the highest rated Pirates of the Caribbean movie?
By my own rating, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) is the best film in the series. If you mean the highest earner instead, that is Dead Man's Chest, with about $1.07 billion worldwide according to Box Office Mojo.
Is Pirates of the Caribbean ok for 7 year olds?
All five films are rated PG-13 in the US, 12A in the UK and M in Australia, so none is a children's rating. In my opinion, the cursed undead crews, the Kraken and the sword fights can be frightening for a 7 year old, so a parent should decide based on the child. Ratings can differ by region and over time.
What is Pirates of the Caribbean number 1?
Pirates of the Caribbean number 1 is The Curse of the Black Pearl, directed by Gore Verbinski and released in the US on July 9, 2003. It is also my number one pick. The full sequence of films, including release and chronological order, is on the watch order page.
Which Pirates movie is the best?
In my opinion, The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) is the best, ahead of Dead Man's Chest (2006) and At World's End (2007). It has the tightest story, a strong villain in Geoffrey Rush's Barbossa, and a budget of $140 million that returned $654 million worldwide.
Is there a sixth Pirates of the Caribbean movie?
A sixth film is in development, but no release date is confirmed. TheWrap reported on August 16, 2026 that Jerry Bruckheimer told Deadline at D23 the team is talking with Johnny Depp and working on a screenplay, with no cast or deal confirmed.