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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →For the main story, watch Naruto episodes 1–220, then Naruto: Shippuden episodes 1–493, The Last: Naruto the Movie, and Shippuden episodes 494–500. Earlier films are optional side adventures, not required steps in a definitive chronology. After Shippuden, continue to Boruto; for the Chūnin Exams and Momoshiki story, choose either Boruto: Naruto the Movie or its expanded anime adaptation in episodes 51–66.
What order should you watch the Naruto movies?
There are two useful answers, depending on whether you want the central story with minimal detours or want to fit every theatrical film between episodes. The episode placements below are practical viewing recommendations from current guides, not official chronological slots. Most films are optional adventures; The Last is the key movie bridge into the end of Shippuden.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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![Naruto Shippuden The Movie Rasengan Collection (4pk/BD) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/5104kIKNLDL._SL160_.jpg)
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Naruto Shippuden The Movie Rasengan Collection (4pk/BD) [Blu-ray] | $17.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Naruto Shippuden Set 2 (BD) | $22.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Naruto Shippuden Blu-ray Set 11 | $34.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Naruto Shippuden (Set 10)(BD) | $34.29 | Buy on Amazon |
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Naruto Shippuden BD Set 9 | $36.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Main-story route
- 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.
- For the Chūnin Exams and Momoshiki storyline, choose Boruto: Naruto the Movie or Boruto episodes 51–66. The anime revisits and expands the story; the two versions are not identical scene for scene.
This route keeps the main series uninterrupted until the film that matters most to the Shippuden ending. The Naruto Official Site describes Shippuden 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 opening the story: official Shippuden series summary.
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Episode-interspersed route for all eleven theatrical films
Use this when you want to pause the anime for the optional films. The first nine film placements are spoiler-aware editorial suggestions; other guides sometimes use different cutoffs, so treat the ranges as convenient viewing points rather than canon chronology.
#1 Best Overall
- 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 Naruto: 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.
- Watch Shippuden episodes 494–500.
- Proceed into Boruto. For the film’s broad story, choose Boruto: Naruto the Movie or episodes 51–66 of the anime.
Where does The Last fit?
Place The Last: Naruto the Movie after Shippuden episode 493 and before episodes 494–500. It is the continuity-relevant film for the Naruto/Shippuden ending, so this placement preserves the intended transition into the series’ final episodes. It is different in purpose from the earlier optional movie adventures.
Should you watch the Boruto movie or the anime version?
You do not need both to follow the Chūnin Exams and Momoshiki storyline. The film presents that story as a movie; Boruto episodes 51–66 revisit and expand it as part of the series. Choose the film for the theatrical presentation or the anime episodes for the longer series version. Watching both means seeing substantial story material twice, though the versions are not scene-for-scene identical.
Rank #2
Where do the OVAs and short specials go?
“OVA” is not a single, consistently scoped category for Naruto bonus animation. Shorts have appeared as home-video extras, event or promotional animation, and game-related releases. Lists differ depending on what they include, so there is no established, authoritative item-by-item OVA chronology that gives every short an exact episode slot.
A practical way to place specials
- Watch a short after the series context it assumes, or discover it after completing the relevant series section.
- If a guide assigns an episode position to a bonus short, treat it as approximate unless an official source establishes otherwise.
- Do not count theatrical movies as OVAs; they are a separate category.
Example: The Day Naruto Became Hokage
The Day Naruto Became Hokage is a short bonus associated with limited-edition home-media releases of Boruto: Naruto the Movie. It works after the Shippuden ending and around the transition into Boruto, but an exact mandatory position is not established. Jump Festa specials, promotional animation, game tie-ins, and home-video bonuses may be counted differently by different lists.
Rank #3
Is release order better?
Release order is a reasonable choice for a franchise-history rewatch, while a first-time viewer who dislikes interruptions can finish the series arcs and watch optional films afterward. Guides differ on where to interleave a movie with episodes that aired around its theatrical release. Pick a method and label it clearly: release order follows the franchise’s rollout, episode-interspersed order inserts optional adventures, and the main-story route prioritizes continuity with fewer detours.
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Rank #4
How to choose your route
| Route | Best for | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Main-story route | First-time viewers focused on the central narrative | Series first, with The Last between Shippuden episodes 493 and 494; earlier films can be skipped. |
| Episode-interspersed | Viewers who want all theatrical films alongside the anime | Optional movie breaks at recommended episode ranges; the placements are not definitive chronology. |
| Release order | Rewatchers or viewers interested in the franchise’s release history | Watch films around their release period, accepting that guides may differ on exact episode interleaving. |
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