10 Movies To Watch If You Love Pirates Of The Caribbean

Published Sep 7, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT Anthony is a news reporter and a guide writer who has covered the entertainment industry for five years. He has covered a wide range of genres, including aviation incidents and international crime, and has a keen eye for details that may slip under the radar. When he's not writing, Anthony can be found at Brands Hatch race track or at home watching indie horror movies nobody has heard of. The first Pirates of the Caribbean movie, The Curse of the Black Pearl, quickly became a hit in 2003, with its charming, all-star cast, fantasy story, and swashbuckling adventure. There are countless parts of the movie that make it unforgettable, and many audiences consider Captain Jack Sparrow as Johnny Depp's greatest role. Sparrow is knowledgeable, but he's outlandish and unpredictable. He also never misses an opportunity to poke fun at our other more serious heroes, Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley). Pirates of the Caribbean has a great lineup of characters, and even has a charismatic villain in Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush). The movie is based on a Disney ride of the same name, and offers a pirate fantasy adventure few other films can emulate. Movies about pirates are similar to ones about dinosaurs in many ways. Both seem like ideal topics for a movie with broad appeal, yet they aren't particularly popular outside one blockbuster franchise. This quirk makes it surprisingly tricky to find many Pirates of the Caribbean-adjacent movies outside the series. Nevertheless, several films fit the bill if you're looking to recapture the magic of the long-standing pirate franchise. Many movies on this list don't specifically tell pirate stories. However, they share similarities with Pirates of the Caribbean, whether in their setting, cast, or wonderfully watchable, lighthearted adventure tone. 10 Cutthroat Island (1995) Cutthroat Island predates Pirates of the Caribbean, but it's one of the few live-action pirate movies with a similar tone. Geena Davis stars as Morgan. She's a pirate who's acquired a piece of a treasure map, but the prize will be very difficult to obtain. Morgan's map is split into three pieces, which she must gather. The map is also written in Latin, so she forms an uneasy alliance with William (Matthew Modine) to read it. Morgan isn't the only pirate in the equation, as her uncle, Dawg (Frank Langella), is in pursuit of the map in a race to reach the treasure first. Cutthroat Island is a little messy in parts, but has a unique 90s charm, and Davis is a big highlight as a pirate captain. 9 Big Trouble In Little China (1986) MovestillsDB Big Trouble in Little China may seem like an unusual pick as it has an entirely different setting to Pirates of the Caribbean. Still, both movies force their heroes into a supernatural action adventure. Kurt Russell stars as Jack Burton. He's a wise-cracking tracker brought into the fray when a street gang kidnaps his best friend's fiancée. Jack and Wang Chi (Dennis Dun) pursue the Lords of Death gang. Their lives are changed forever when they encounter three seemingly invincible villains and an ancient, cursed sorcerer named David Lo Pan (James Hong), who make the gang war they stumble into seem rather tame. The premise of Big Trouble in Little China is as wild as it sounds, with a lovable wannabe tough guy at the heart of the story. Jack Burton is arguably one of Kurt Russell's best characters, and the movie is an easy recommendation for fans of fantasy adventures. 8 Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves (1991) Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is an action-packed adventure movie starring Kevin Costner as Robin of Locksley. He's returned to England from the Crusades with his ally, Azeem (Morgan Freeman), but learns his father was murdered while he was gone. Robin pledges to seek revenge. He also learns that the Sheriff of Nottingham (Alan Rickman) is mistreating regular townsfolk, and teams up with outlaws hiding in Sherwood Forest to set a bold plan in motion. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is an exciting swashbuckling adventure with several great battles and sword fights. Alan Rickman is an incredible villain as the Sheriff, and Robin has a great dynamic with Maid Marian (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), as their relationship deepens. 7 Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom (1984) Any of the original trilogy of Indiana Jones films can scratch a similar itch as the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, as they are all classic adventure movies. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom leans the hardest into fantasy, starring Harrison Ford as the famous professor and archaeologist. Jones unwillingly ends up in India alongside Willie (Kate Capshaw) and Short Round (Ke Huy Quan). They are looking for a way home, but become embroiled in a quest to retrieve a sacred stone from the mysterious Thuggee cult. The Temple of Doom remains lighthearted despite a few more serious and scary moments. The theme and setting are quite different from those of Pirates of the Caribbean, though it still tells a beloved fantasy adventure story with some unforgettable action scenes. 6 The Mask Of Zorro (1998) The Mask of Zorro is a classic 90s adventure movie starring Antonio Banderas as Alejandro. He's a capable thief on a quest for revenge after his brother was brutally murdered. Alejandro isn't Zorro right away in the 1998 movie. Instead, Don Diego de la Vega (Anthony Hopkins) is the masked vigilante. Don Diego is older and trains Alejandro until he is skilled enough to take up the mantle of Zorro, and both have their own motives for doing so. The Mask of Zorro is an easy recommendation for fans of Pirates of the Caribbean, as it has several fantastic sword fights. Banderas is also wildly charming as Zorro, and he has great chemistry with Elena (Catherine Zeta-Jones), who is also formidable with a sword. 5 Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (2022) Antonio Banderas returns to the list in animated form in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. The Mask of Zorro star voices Puss, and while the movie is a spin-off from the Shrek Franchise, it tells a fast-paced fantasy adventure story suitable for audiences of all ages. As Puss is a cat, he has nine lives. However, his adventurous lifestyle has caught up with him, leaving just one life remaining. Puss fears death for the first time and reluctantly withdraws to a regular life, at least until he learns of the Wishing Star. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish tells a high-fantasy adventure story, complete with witty humor and swashbuckling shenanigans. The movie also explores some surprisingly mature themes that may hit some adults quite hard, especially for a kids' film. 4 The Mummy (1999) The Mummy is another beloved 90s adventure classic, starring Brendan Fraser as Rick O'Connell. Evelyn (Rachel Weisz) frees him from a prison under the condition that he takes her and her brother, Jonathan (John Hannah), to Hamunaptra, a mythical Egyptian city. Our heroes unwittingly awaken an ancient mummy. The creature unleashes the seven plagues of Egypt, and Rick and Evelyn desperately try to correct their mistake before it's too late. Their situation also quickly becomes complicated when the mummy, Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo), sets his eyes on Evelyn to use her in a ritual. The Mummy shares a similar lighthearted tone with Pirates of the Caribbean, and Fraser and Weisz have incredible on-screen chemistry. The movie has some light horror moments and tells a great, grounded fantasy story that is expanded upon in The Mummy Returns. 3 Jungle Cruise (2021) Image via Disney Jungle Cruise has a unique connection to Pirates of the Caribbean as both movies are based on Disney theme park rides. The 2021 film stars Dwayne Johnson as Frank Wolff. He charts a boat on the Amazon River, though he spends most of his time selling cheap thrills to tourists. Lily (Emily Blunt) tracks down Frank, seeking passage deep into the jungle in search of a mystical item. However, the pair quickly realize that they aren't the only ones searching for it, and that anything can happen in the secluded jungle miles from home. Jungle Cruise tells a fun contemporary fantasy story, with a pair of great leads. The movie is laugh-out-loud funny at times, with a fast-paced adventure story that Pirates of the Caribbean fans are sure to enjoy. 2 Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023) Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is the newest movie on this list, and a great choice for any fantasy adventure fans. The setting is quite different, but Honor Among Thieves captures the lighthearted tone and witty humor of the 2003 film like few others do. Chris Pine stars as Edgin. He's a thief-turned-bard on a grand quest to retrieve a magical artifact. The movie leans into its D&D theme. Edgin cannot complete his task alone and assembles a party to help. However, the team faces an uphill struggle as a powerful sorceress, Sofina (Daisy Head), is pulling the strings. Honor Among Thieves has a charming cast and tells a great fantasy story that transcends typical genre tropes. The movie takes itself just seriously enough for the stakes to feel high, and is full of grand action set pieces. 1 The Princess Bride (1987) Fantasy movie fans likely saw this recommendation coming, but The Princess Bride is arguably a masterpiece in the genre and a near-perfect film for audiences who enjoy Pirates of the Caribbean. It also contains one of the greatest fantasy sword fights in movies and a wonderfully charismatic cast. The movie stars Cary Elwes as Westley, though several characters, including Fezzik (Andre the Giant), play substantial roles. The Princess Bride is framed as if it were a story in a book, with a grandfather reading a grand fantasy epic to his sick grandson. Fans of Pirates of the Caribbean will appreciate the high fantasy story and tense action scenes in The Princess Bride. The movie is endlessly quotable, with great practical effects that still hold up almost 40 years later. Movie(s) Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales First Film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Genres Fantasy, Action, Adventure Cast Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush, Kevin McNally, Jack Davenport, Stellan Skarsgård, Bill Nighy, Tom Hollander, Naomie Harris, Penélope Cruz, Ian McShane, Javier Bardem, Brenton Thwaites, Kaya Scodelario Director Gore Verbinski, Rob Marshall, Espen Sandberg, Joachim Rønning Character(s) Jack Sparrow, Elizabeth Swann, Will Turner, Barbossa, Mr. Gibbs, Norrington, Bill Turner, Davy Jones, Beckett, Tia Dalma, Angelica, Blackbeard, Captain Salazar, Henry Turner, Carina