Learning How to Watch Naruto in Order can feel confusing when you first see how many episodes, movies and filler arcs the franchise has. The franchise has two main anime series with 720 episodes between them. There are also 11 movies and a sequel series called Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.
The good news is that the main story is easier to follow than the episode count makes it seem. Start with Naruto and watch it through episode 220. Then move to Naruto: Shippuden and continue through episode 500.
If you want to include the movies, most can be watched separately. The Last: Naruto the Movie is the one that fits directly into the later story and is best watched after Shippuden episode 493 and before episode 494.Boruto comes after Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden. You can watch it once you finish the main Naruto story.
How to Watch Naruto in Order?
Start with Naruto episodes 1 to 220. This is the beginning of Naruto Uzumaki’s journey and introduces Team 7, the Hidden Leaf Village and the main characters who shape the story. Finish the original series before moving to the next part.
Next, watch Naruto: Shippuden episodes 1 to 493. Shippuden takes place after a time skip and follows Naruto as he returns to the Hidden Leaf Village. The story becomes bigger and focuses more on the Akatsuki, Sasuke and the growing threats around the shinobi world. You can use a filler guide if you want to focus on the main story.
After episode 493, watch The Last: Naruto the Movie. This movie takes place after the major conflict and focuses more on Naruto and Hinata. Once you finish the movie, return to Naruto: Shippuden episodes 494 to 500 to complete the original Naruto story and its final wedding focused episodes.
After Shippuden, you can continue with Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. Boruto follows Naruto’s son and a new generation of shinobi, so it is not required to understand the ending of Naruto: Shippuden. The other Naruto movies are optional and can be watched separately because most of them tell standalone stories.
How Many Naruto Episodes Are There?
The original Naruto anime has 220 episodes. Naruto: Shippuden has another 500 episodes. Together they make 720 episodes before Boruto. VIZ also lists Naruto at 220 episodes and Naruto: Shippuden at 500 episodes.
| Series | Episodes |
| Naruto | 220 |
| Naruto: Shippuden | 500 |
| Total | 720 |
| Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Part One | 293 |
Boruto adds another 293 episodes to the anime. Episode 293 marked the end of Part One when it aired in March 2023.
The official Naruto site confirmed that Part Two was already in production at that time.So if you only want Naruto’s original story then you have 720 episodes to watch.
Naruto vs Naruto: Shippuden
Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden are two parts of the same story.The original Naruto follows Naruto Uzumaki when he is still a young ninja. You see his time at the Ninja Academy and his early missions with Team 7.
The story also introduces characters such as Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno and Kakashi Hatake. You can also explore our complete guide to Naruto characters to learn more about the major shinobi, clans and groups in the series.
Naruto: Shippuden starts after a time skip. Naruto is older and has spent years training with Jiraiya. The threats are also much bigger. The Akatsuki becomes a major part of the story and Naruto’s relationship with Sasuke becomes one of the central conflicts.
You should not start with Shippuden if this is your first time watching Naruto. The second series assumes that you already know the characters and events from the original anime.
Three Ways to Watch Naruto
When learning how to watch Naruto in order, there are three common ways to approach the franchise.
Watch the Main Story
If you want to know how to watch Naruto in order without making things complicated, this is the easiest route. Start with Naruto and continue into Naruto: Shippuden.
Add The Last near the end of Shippuden.You can leave the other movies for later because most of them tell separate stories.
Watch Naruto Without Filler
If you mainly care about the manga based story then you can skip episodes that are classified as filler.
This cuts a large amount of viewing time. It also means you will miss some side stories and character moments.The filler lists below can help you decide what to skip.
Watch Everything
You can also watch every episode and every movie.This takes much longer but gives you the full anime experience. Some filler episodes are fun and give supporting characters more time on screen.There is no problem with watching them if you enjoy them.
How to Watch Naruto in Order Without Filler?
Filler episodes are anime stories that do not directly adapt the original manga storyline. Some episodes are completely filler while others contain a mixture of manga material and anime original scenes.
That difference matters. You should not automatically skip every episode that is not listed as pure manga canon.
For example, the Anime Filler List classifies several Naruto episodes as mixed canon and filler. Episode 220 is also classified as mixed.
For a first watch, a safer approach is to use a filler guide as a reference rather than blindly skipping large blocks.If you are learning how to watch Naruto in order and want to save time, a filler guide can help you decide which episodes to skip.
Naruto Filler Episodes
Naruto has 220 episodes. Anime Filler List currently classifies 90 of them as filler.
The main filler sections include:
| Episodes | Type |
| 26 | Filler |
| 97 | Filler |
| 101 to 106 | Filler |
| 136 to 140 | Filler |
| 143 to 219 | Filler |
There are also mixed canon and filler episodes. Those are different from pure filler and may contain story material worth watching.
If you want the main Naruto story then pay close attention to episodes 132 to 135. They are classified as manga canon and are important to Naruto and Sasuke’s story.
Naruto: Shippuden Filler Episodes You Can Skip
Naruto: Shippuden has 500 episodes. Anime Filler List currently classifies 203 as filler.
Some of the larger filler sections are:
| Episodes | Type |
| 57 to 71 | Filler |
| 91 to 112 | Filler |
| 144 to 151 | Filler |
| 170 to 171 | Filler |
| 176 to 196 | Filler |
| 223 to 242 | Filler |
| 257 to 260 | Filler |
| 271 | Filler |
| 279 to 281 | Filler |
| 284 to 295 | Filler |
| 303 to 320 | Filler |
| 347 to 361 | Filler |
| 376 to 377 | Filler |
| 388 to 390 | Filler |
| 394 to 413 | Filler |
| 416 to 417 | Filler |
| 422 to 423 | Filler |
| 427 to 450 | Filler |
| 464 to 468 | Filler |
| 480 to 483 | Filler |
This list follows the current Anime Filler List classification. Some episodes outside these sections are marked as mixed canon and filler rather than pure filler.
That is why a complete filler skip guide should not simply tell you to skip every episode outside a short list of canon numbers.
Naruto Movies in Order
There are 11 Naruto related anime movies in total.The first three belong to the original Naruto era. The next seven were released during Naruto: Shippuden. The final movie is Boruto: Naruto the Movie.
Here is the release order:
| Movie | Release Year |
| Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow | 2004 |
| Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel | 2005 |
| Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom | 2006 |
| Naruto Shippuden the Movie | 2007 |
| Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Bonds | 2008 |
| Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Will of Fire | 2009 |
| Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Lost Tower | 2010 |
| Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Blood Prison | 2011 |
| Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie | 2012 |
| The Last: Naruto the Movie | 2014 |
| Boruto: Naruto the Movie | 2015 |
The movies were released alongside the anime over several years. Their release order is easy to follow if you want to experience them as audiences originally did.
Are the Naruto Movies Canon?
Most Naruto movies are standalone anime stories. They were not all written as direct parts of the manga storyline.
The Last: Naruto the Movie is different. It connects directly with the later Naruto story and takes place after the Fourth Great Ninja War.
Boruto: Naruto the Movie also belongs to the continuing story of the franchise. Its story was later adapted into the Boruto anime.
The other Naruto movies can be treated as optional side stories. You can watch them for extra adventures without changing the main Naruto watch order.
Where Does The Last Fit in the Naruto Watch Order?
The Last is the movie that causes the most confusion for people learning how to watch Naruto in order. The movie takes place after the main war story and focuses on Naruto and Hinata. It also fills in part of the story leading toward the ending of Naruto: Shippuden. For a clean viewing experience, watch The Last after Shippuden episode 493.
Then continue with Shippuden episodes 494 to 500.This placement keeps the movie close to the part of the anime where its events make the most sense. It also lets you finish the wedding focused ending without jumping backward in the story.
How Many Episodes Are in Naruto: Shippuden?
Naruto: Shippuden has 500 episodes. VIZ lists the complete series as 500 episodes.Not all 500 episodes move the main story forward. A large portion consists of filler and mixed episodes.The final section also contains several different stories.
Episodes 480 to 483 are filler according to Anime Filler List. Episodes 484 to 500 are classified as either manga canon or mixed canon and filler.That makes the final part worth handling carefully if you are trying to follow the main story.
What Happens in Shippuden Episodes 480 to 500?
The ending of Naruto: Shippuden is more than a single final battle.Episodes 480 to 483 focus on childhood memories and are classified as filler.
Episodes 484 to 488 cover Sasuke’s story.Episodes 489 to 493 focus on Shikamaru and events connected to the period after the main conflict.
Episodes 494 to 500 move into the wedding period and follow Naruto’s friends as they prepare for Naruto and Hinata’s wedding.The official Naruto site also has an episode for Naruto’s wedding within this final stretch.
If you are following the recommended movie placement then watch The Last after episode 493 and then continue with episode 494.
Naruto Watch Order With Every Movie
If you want to include all the movies while watching the anime then you can use this order.Start with Naruto episodes 1 to 101. You can then watch Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow.
Continue with the original Naruto episodes. Legend of the Stone of Gelel and Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom can be watched later during the original series because they are standalone stories.
After Naruto ends, move to Naruto: Shippuden.The remaining Shippuden movies can be watched around their release periods. Their exact chronological placement is not essential because most of them do not affect the main storyline.
When you reach the end of Shippuden, watch The Last after episode 493. Then finish episodes 494 to 500.After that you can move into Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.
If you want to watch every movie but do not want to interrupt the main story often then another simple option is to finish Naruto and Shippuden first. You can then return to the standalone movies afterward.
Should You Watch Boruto After Naruto?
Boruto is the continuation of the Naruto universe.The story moves to a new generation of shinobi. Naruto is now an adult and has become Hokage. The focus shifts toward his son Boruto and the other young ninjas around him.You do not need Boruto to understand the ending of Naruto: Shippuden.
The first part of the Boruto anime contains 293 episodes. The official Naruto site confirmed that episode 293 ended Part One in March 2023 and that a second part was in production.If you want to continue the story after Naruto then Boruto is the natural next series to watch.
You can also watch Boruto: Naruto the Movie before starting the anime. However, the anime later adapts that story so watching both means seeing much of the same material twice.
Where to Watch Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden?
Streaming availability changes by country. A service that has Naruto in the United States may not have the same catalog in Pakistan or another region.
VIZ currently lists Naruto: Shippuden as available through services including Hulu, Crunchyroll and Prime Video in its listed markets.
For your region, it is better to check the current catalog before starting a subscription.You can also use JustWatch to see which services currently carry Naruto or Naruto: Shippuden in your country.
How Long Does It Take to Watch Naruto?
A typical Naruto episode is around 23 minutes long.Watching all 720 episodes of Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden would take roughly 276 hours if you watched every episode from start to finish.
That is more than 11 full days of continuous viewing.Skipping filler can reduce the total considerably. The exact amount depends on which filler and mixed episodes you choose to skip.
If you watch around five episodes each day then the complete 720 episode run would take about five months.If you watch 10 episodes a day then it would take around two and a half months.
There is no need to rush through it. Naruto is a long series and many viewers enjoy taking breaks between major arcs.
Is Naruto Filler Worth Watching?
That depends on what you want from the anime.If you only want the main story then skipping filler can save a lot of time. Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden contain hundreds of episodes that are classified as filler.
If you enjoy the supporting characters then some filler can be worth watching.The same applies to side stories involving characters who do not always get much attention in the main manga storyline.
For a first watch, you can start with the main story. If you later become more interested in the world and its characters then you can return to the filler arcs.
How We Checked This Naruto Watch Order?
The episode counts in this guide are based on official franchise and VIZ information. VIZ lists 220 episodes for Naruto and 500 episodes for Naruto: Shippuden.
The filler sections use Anime Filler List’s current classifications. That source separates manga canon, mixed canon and filler, anime canon and pure filler. This distinction is useful because not every episode outside the manga canon list should automatically be skipped.
Movie placement is presented as a practical viewing order rather than claiming that every movie has one official episode placement.
The current Boruto information comes from the official Naruto site. It confirmed that episode 293 ended Part One and that Part Two was in production.
Conclusion
Start with Naruto episodes 1 to 220. Then continue with Naruto: Shippuden and watch through episode 493. You can skip the filler if you only want the main story.
After episode 493, watch The Last: Naruto the Movie. Then return to Shippuden and finish episodes 494 to 500. This completes Naruto’s main story.
The other Naruto movies are optional. Most of them tell separate stories, so you do not need to watch them to understand the main anime.
After finishing Naruto: Shippuden, you can continue with Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. It follows the next generation and continues the story of the Naruto world.
Naruto Watch Order FAQ
Should I watch Naruto or Naruto: Shippuden first?
Watch Naruto first.The original series introduces the characters and important events that Naruto: Shippuden builds on.
Can I skip Naruto filler?
Yes. You can skip episodes that are classified as pure filler if you only want the main story.Be careful with mixed episodes because they can contain both anime original material and important story content.
Do I need to watch all the Naruto movies?
No.Most Naruto movies are standalone stories. The Last is the movie that matters most when following the later main story.
Do I need to watch Boruto?
No.You can finish Naruto’s story without watching Boruto. Boruto is the continuation that follows the next generation.
How many Naruto episodes are there without Boruto?
There are 720 episodes across Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden.Naruto has 220 episodes and Naruto: Shippuden has 500.
Is there a new Naruto anime?
There have been several anniversary projects and announcements around the franchise.As of September 2026, VIZ has announced a Naruto panel at New York Comic Con on October 10, 2026. The panel is scheduled to include an announcement related to a new animated film and its worldwide premiere.
