For the main story, watch Naruto episodes 1–220, then Naruto: Shippuden episodes 1–493, The Last: Naruto the Movie, and finally Shippuden episodes 494–500. The earlier theatrical films are optional side adventures. If you want to include them between episodes, use the placements below as spoiler-aware viewing recommendations—not as an official, definitive chronology.
The simplest order for the main story
- Watch Naruto episodes 1–220.
- Watch Naruto: Shippuden episodes 1–493.
- Watch The Last: Naruto the Movie.
- Finish Shippuden with episodes 494–500.
- Continue with Boruto: Naruto Next Generations if you want to follow the sequel series.
The Last is the film to include at the end of Shippuden: place it after episode 493 and before episodes 494–500. The earlier theatrical films are not required to follow the central Naruto and Shippuden story.
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The handoff from the original series to Shippuden is straightforward: the Naruto Official Site describes the sequel as beginning after “Almost two and a half years have passed since the intense battle at the Final Valley,” with Naruto returning and the mission to rescue Gaara setting the opening events in motion.
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Episode-interspersed order for all 11 theatrical films
If you want to watch the films alongside the series, this order follows episode cutoffs recommended by a current viewing guide. The first nine films are optional adventures; their positions are practical viewing points, not official chronology. Some guides use slightly different cutoffs.
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- Watch Naruto episodes 1–101, then Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow.
- Watch episodes 102–160, then Naruto the Movie: The Legend of the Stone of Gelel.
- Watch episodes 161–196, then Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom.
- Finish the original series with episodes 197–220.
- Watch Shippuden episodes 1–32, then Naruto Shippuden: The Movie.
- Watch episodes 33–71, then Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Bonds.
- Watch episodes 72–126, then Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Will of Fire.
- Watch episodes 127–143, then Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Lost Tower.
- Watch episodes 144–196, then Naruto the Movie: Blood Prison.
- Watch episodes 197–251, then Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie.
- Watch episodes 252–493, then The Last: Naruto the Movie.
- Finish Shippuden with episodes 494–500.
Afterward, move to Boruto. The film Boruto: Naruto the Movie covers the Chūnin Exams and Momoshiki storyline; the anime revisits and expands that story in episodes 51–66. Choose the movie or the anime version if you want to avoid covering the same broad storyline twice. They are not identical scene for scene.
Choosing between episode order and release order
| Approach | Best for | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Main-story route | First-time viewers who want the essential continuity with few interruptions | Watch the series through episode 493, then The Last, then episodes 494–500. Skip optional films if you prefer. |
| Episode-interspersed order | Viewers who want to add the optional theatrical adventures as they watch | Use the episode slots above as recommendations. Film placements vary between guides and are not a single official chronology. |
| Release order | Franchise-history viewing or a rewatch | Follow the order in which the material was released. Guides may differ on how to place a film relative to episodes that aired around its theatrical release. |
There is no need to interrupt the series for a film if that makes the viewing experience less enjoyable. Watching the arcs first and optional films afterward is a reasonable first-time approach; release order is also a valid choice when the aim is to experience the franchise as it arrived.
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Where the OVAs and short specials fit
“OVA” is used loosely for Naruto bonus animation distributed in different ways, including home-video extras, event or promotional shorts, and game-related releases. Lists do not agree on one complete inventory, and there is no established episode-perfect chronology for every short. That is why “complete OVA order” lists can contain different titles and item counts.
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A defensible approach is to watch a short after you have reached the series context it draws on, or to watch it in release or discovery order after the relevant series. Treat any episode position suggested for a bonus short as approximate unless a reliable source establishes otherwise. Do not mix the theatrical films into an OVA list: they are a separate category.
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The Day Naruto Became Hokage
This short is associated with limited-edition home-media releases of Boruto: Naruto the Movie. It works as a bonus after the Shippuden ending and around the transition into Boruto, but an exact mandatory episode slot is not established. You can watch it after Shippuden and before starting Boruto, or save it for a later bonus viewing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Are the movies canon, and which ones matter?
“Canon” is not a helpful all-or-nothing label for every film in this franchise. The earlier Naruto and Shippuden films are generally treated in viewing guides as optional side stories. The Last is the important film bridge for the Naruto and Shippuden ending, while the broad story of Boruto: Naruto the Movie is retold and expanded in the sequel anime.
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- For the main Naruto-to-Shippuden story, the earlier films can be skipped.
- Include The Last between Shippuden episodes 493 and 494.
- For the Chūnin Exams and Momoshiki events, pick the Boruto film or episodes 51–66 of the anime according to whether you prefer a film or an expanded series adaptation.
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