Naruto is more than 700 episodes, a sequel (Shippuden), a new series (Boruto), and about ten movies. Without a guide, you might end up watching them in the wrong order—or accidentally get spoiled!
In this article, learn the exact steps to follow, with clear instructions on the Must-See Naruto Movies to understand the whole story, and which ones you can skip.
Watch Naruto in order
Watch Naruto on the correct chronological order lets you follow the characters' development throughout the entire saga!
You also get the most out of every story arc, movie, and special episode, and follow the best order so you don't miss a thing!
Check out the complete timeline of the work in the table below:
Guide to watching Naruto (Anime)
| Title | Kind | Canon? |
|---|---|---|
| Naruto | Episodes 1 through 105 | ✅ Must-see |
| Naruto and the Snow Princess | Film | ❌ Optional, standalone story |
| Naruto | Episodes 106 through 160 | ✅ Must-see |
| Naruto: The Legend of the Gelel Stone | Film | ❌ Optional, standalone story |
| Naruto | Episodes 161 through 196 | ✅ Must-see |
| Naruto: Special Mission to the Land of the Moon | Film | ❌ Optional, standalone story |
| Naruto | Episodes 197 through 220 | ✅ Must-see |
Guide to watching Naruto Shippuden (Anime)
| Title | Kind | Canon? |
|---|---|---|
| Naruto Shippuden | Episodes 1 through 23 | ✅ Must-see |
| Naruto Shippuden: An Ominous Sign | Film | ❌ Optional, standalone story |
| Naruto Shippuden | Episodes 24 through 70 | ✅ Must-see |
| Naruto Shippuden: The Bonds | Film | ❌ Optional, standalone story |
| Naruto Shippuden | Episodes 71 through 121 | ✅ Must-see |
| Naruto Shippuden: The Flame of Will | Film | ❌ Optional, standalone story |
| Naruto Shippuden | Episodes 121 through 169 | ✅ Must-see |
| Naruto Shippuden: The Lost Tower | Film | ❌ Optional, standalone story |
| Naruto Shippuden | Episodes 170 through 221 | ✅ Must-see |
| Naruto Shippuden: Blood Prison | Film | ❌ Optional, standalone story |
| Naruto Shippuden | Episodes 222 through 271 | ✅ Must-see |
| Naruto Shippuden: Road to Ninja | Film | ⚠️ Optional, filler, but recommended for fans (as suggested by Kishimoto) |
| Naruto Shippuden | Episodes 272 through 493 | ✅ Must-see |
| Naruto the Last, the Movie | Film | ✅ Canon, a must-watch before episodes 494–500 |
| Naruto Shippuden | Episodes 494 through 500 | ✅ Must-see |
Guide to watching Boruto (Anime)
| Title | Kind | Canon? |
|---|---|---|
| Boruto | Episodes 1 through 50 | ✅ Must-see |
| Boruto: Naruto the Movie | Film | ✅ A must-see—the events are featured in the series |
| Boruto | Episodes 51 through 293 | ✅ Must-see |
⚠️ The Boruto anime ended with episode 293.
The rest of the article is available in the Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga.
Guide to Watching OVAs and Special Episodes
- ✅ Find the Four-Leaf Red Clover! : Recommended—watch this after the first few episodes of Naruto
- ✅ Mission: Protect the Waterfall Village! : Recommended: Watch around the middle of Naruto (around episode 110)
- ❌ Hidden Leaf Village Grand Sports Festival! : Optional, a comedy OVA unrelated to the main storyline (set during Shippuden)
- ❌ Naruto: The Cross Roads: Optional—watch this during the first few seasons of Shippuden if you want to see everything
- ❌ Naruto x UT: optional, promotional, can be watched after *The Lost Tower*
- ❌ Naruto Shippuden: Sunny Side Battle!!! : optional, a comedic OVA that has no bearing on the main story
- ✅ The day Naruto became Hokage: Awesome—definitely worth watching after *The Last*
Should you watch all the Naruto movies?
The franchise has a a dozen or so movies, spread across the Naruto, Naruto Shippuden, and Boruto eras. Most of them are standalone stories that don’t affect the main timeline. So you can think of them as bonus content—no spoilers to worry about!
As for Naruto Shippuden, feature films such as Blood Prison Where The Lost Tower remain optional. *Blood Prison* locks Naruto up in a high-security prison following a false accusation, but the plot does not alter the manga's storyline.
On the contrary, Naruto: The Last is the only truly canonical Naruto movie: it bridges the gap between the end of Shippuden and the next generation, and should be watched before episodes 494 through 500.
For Boruto, the Boruto: Naruto feature film, the movie is also a must-see, since the events in it are directly incorporated into the series.
Differences Between Naruto, Naruto Shippuden, and Boruto, and Their Chronological Order
The Naruto universe is divided into three main series which follow different stages in the life of the famous ninja:
Naruto
This is where it all begins!
This is the original series in which we follow Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja from Konoha who dreams of becoming Hokage to earn his village's respect.
The episodes chronicle Naruto's training, as well as his friendships, challenges, and quest to find his place in the world.
Naruto Shippuden
Naruto Shippuden takes place a few years after the events of the original series. Naruto is 15 years old and returns to Konoha after undergoing intensive training!
More mature and darker, Naruto Shippuden focuses on the major threats facing the ninja world (e.g., Akatsuki), while exploring the complex relationship between Naruto and Sasuke. The further the adventure goes, the more epic the battles become!
Boruto
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations takes place after the end of Naruto Shippuden.
The story continues Boruto Uzumaki, Naruto's son, who is trying to find his own path away from the shadow of his father, now the powerful Hokage of Konoha.
While introducing new and terrifying threats, the series also explores the relationships between parents and children, as well as the evolution of the ninja world in the modern era.
In what order should I watch the TV shows?
The viewing order is very simple:
- Naruto
- Naruto Shippuden
- Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
By following this order, you'll experience the story from start to finish, without any spoilers and without missing any of the key moments between the characters.
Where can I watch all the episodes of Naruto?
Naruto, Naruto Shippuden, and Boruto are legally available on two major platforms in France:
- 📺 ADN (Anime Digital Network) which offers Naruto and Naruto Shippuden for free with French subtitles (with ads), and features a catalog focused on classics.
- 🔥 Crunchyroll including a wider selection of episodes available right after their release in Japan, starting at ~7 €/month with a 7-day free trial.
Can't decide between the two? We've put together a comprehensive comparison to help you choose: ADN or Crunchyroll: Which platform should you choose?
FAQ on the Viewing Order for Naruto
Should I watch the Naruto movies?
Most of the movies are optional and have no impact on the main storyline.
Only two are truly essential:
- Naruto: The Last (before episodes 494–500 of Shippuden) and
- Boruto: Naruto the Movie (Awesome—the events are featured in the series)
Can you watch *Boruto* without having seen *Naruto Shippuden*?
No, Boruto assumes you're already familiar with the events of Shippuden.
Many characters, relationships, and references won't make any sense unless you've watched the original series.
Are there any filler episodes in Naruto Shippuden that I should skip?
Yes, Shippuden has a lot of filler episodes (about 40% of them).
If you want to get right to the point, guides like nofilleranime.com specify exactly which episodes to play.
Is the Boruto anime over? What should I watch next?
L'Boruto: Naruto Next Generations anime ended with episode 293. The story continues in the manga *Boruto: Two Blue Vortex*, which has been published since 2023.
A new anime adaptation is also currently in production at Studio Pierrot, but no release date has been confirmed yet.
Now you have everything you need to dive into the Naruto adventure without getting lost. All you have to do is go for it!
And for even more exciting articles about Naruto and his world:
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