Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Jack trades his compass in a moment of desperation after losing his crew's support. The compass is magical and points to whatever the holder most desires, but Jack trades it for alcohol without understanding the consequences. Unbeknownst to him, the compass had been keeping the Devil's Triangle's barrier intact, once he relinquishes it, the barrier falls and Salazar is freed to hunt him.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Jack is seen drinking heavily and expressing defeat after his crew abandons him, hinting at his reckless state of mind.

• jack sparrow compass
• devil's triangle
• barbanza deal
• Salazar release

The Trident of Poseidon is a mythical artifact that serves as the source of all sea curses. It grants its holder control over the ocean and the power to break any curse bound to the sea. In the film, it's sought as the only means to break the curse binding Will Turner to the Flying Dutchman.

• trident poseidon
• break curse
• sea curses
• will turner curse

Salazar was once a Spanish pirate hunter who died pursuing Jack Sparrow. Jack outwitted him by luring his ship into the Devil's Triangle, where Salazar and his crew became trapped as undead ghosts. After being freed, Salazar seeks revenge specifically against Jack for this betrayal and his eternal death.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes early that Salazar is a ghost pirate hunter who has centuries of vengeance brewing.

• salazar revenge
• captain salazar
• jack sparrow enemy
• devil's triangle origin

Carina Smyth is revealed to be Barbossa's biological daughter. She was left with a diary by her father as a child, which contains a map to the Trident. This revelation occurs during the journey when Barbossa entrusts her with navigating further, and he ultimately sacrifices himself to protect her.

Foreshadowing: Barbossa shows unusual interest in Carina from their first meeting, and he gives her his sword before the final battle.

• carina smyth father
• barbanza daughter
• carina parent twist

Barbossa sacrifices himself because he has just discovered Carina is his daughter. During the underwater battle as the Trident is shattered and the ocean collapses, Barbossa uses his remaining strength to protect Carina from the falling debris, giving his life to save her. This act fulfills his role as a father despite years of separation.

Foreshadowing: Barbossa entrusts Carina with the Black Pearl's navigation and gives her his sword before the final descent.

• barbanza death
• carina save
• father sacrifice
• underwater battle

Henry breaks his father's curse by shattering the Trident of Poseidon during the underwater battle with Salazar. When the Trident is destroyed, all sea curses are eliminated instantly, freeing Will Turner from his obligation to the Flying Dutchman and allowing him to finally step on dry land.

Foreshadowing: Henry's entire motivation throughout the film is to find a way to free his father, and he specifically seeks the Trident for this purpose.

• henry turner
• will turner free
• break curse
• trident destroyed

Will Turner has spent years bound to the Flying Dutchman and has become skeptical and bitter. When Henry arrives believing the Trident can break his curse, Will harshly rejects this hope, ordering his son to leave and never return. This harsh refusal stems from Will's fear of giving Henry false hope after years of failed attempts to free himself.

Foreshadowing: Will's refusal sets up Henry's determination to prove the Trident exists and find another way to save his father.

• will turner
• henry father
• trident skepticism
• turner family

Carina is sentenced to death because her extensive knowledge of astronomy and horology is mistaken for witchcraft by the authorities in Saint Martin. Her scientific expertise in mapping stars and timekeeping is considered supernatural in that era, leading to her execution sentence.

• carina smyth
• witchcraft accusation
• astronomy
• saint martin execution

The Devil's Triangle is a mysterious oceanic region that serves as a prison for undead sailors. It acts as a barrier that traps ghost pirates like Captain Salazar and his crew. The boundary is maintained by Jack Sparrow's magical compass, when Jack trades it away, the barrier falls and the ghosts are released.

Foreshadowing: Jack's compass is shown to have special properties throughout the film, particularly when he first acquires it.

• devil's triangle
• ghost pirates
• salazar trapped
• compass barrier

Henry is imprisoned after he rebels against his Royal Navy captain's orders. When sailing into the Devil's Triangle, Henry warns of danger but his captain ignores him. Henry then leads a mutiny attempt against the captain's orders to continue into the Triangle, resulting in his imprisonment for mutiny.

• henry turner
• navy mutiny
• imprisoned
• devil's triangle entry

The post-credits scene shows Will and Elizabeth being woken by Davy Jones' silhouette, suggesting Davy Jones has returned despite his apparent defeat in previous films. This cliffhanger sets up potential future conflict, hinting that the curse-breaking may have unintended consequences or that Davy Jones seeks revenge.

Foreshadowing: Davy Jones was previously defeated at the end of At World's End when Will became captain of the Flying Dutchman.

• davy jones return
• post credits
• cliffhanger
• sequel tease

Carina can locate the Trident because her father left her a diary containing a star map that charts the path to the Trident's location. Her expertise in astronomy and horology allows her to read the map and navigate using celestial positioning, which is why she becomes essential to Jack and Henry's quest.

Foreshadowing: Carina's knowledge of stars and timekeeping is established early, and her father's diary is introduced when they escape together.

• carina map
• trident location
• astronomy navigation
• diary father