Doctor Who watch order

Doctor Who shows in order, by release and rating. Updated October 20, 2026.

Start Doctor Who with Series 1 of the 2005 revival, not the 1963 original: it was made for new viewers and needs no background. Watch the revival in order through Flux (2021), then the three 60th-anniversary specials (2023), Season 1 (2024) and Season 2 (2025). Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures fit alongside the Tenth Doctor's series; the classic series (1963 to 1989) and the 1996 TV movie are best sampled afterwards.

How to watch Doctor Who in order: the full guide

All 21 films and series in the Doctor Who franchise, in release order and in chronological (story) order. The first in release order is Doctor Who (1963) (1963); the first in chronological order is Doctor Who (1963) (set in The First to Seventh Doctors).

Release order

Doctor Who (1963) (Series, 1963): 26 seasons and seven Doctors, 1963 to 1989; many early episodes are lost, so pick serials rather than watching it all.
Doctor Who: The Movie (Movie, 1996): Paul McGann's only TV story as the Eighth Doctor; the bridge between the classic and modern shows.
Doctor Who: Series 1 (Series, 2005): The 2005 revival and the best place to start: Christopher Eccleston's Doctor meets Rose Tyler.
Doctor Who: Series 2 (Series, 2006): David Tennant takes over; Rose's last series, ending at Canary Wharf.
Torchwood (Series, 2006): Captain Jack Harkness runs a Cardiff alien-hunting team; adult spin-off, Children of Earth is the peak.
Doctor Who: Series 3 (Series, 2007): Martha Jones joins; includes Blink and the return of the Master.
The Sarah Jane Adventures (Series, 2007): Classic companion Sarah Jane Smith investigates aliens with a team of teenagers; made for kids.
Doctor Who: Series 4 (Series, 2008): Donna Noble's series, ending with the Daleks stealing the Earth.
Doctor Who: Series 5 (Series, 2010): Matt Smith and showrunner Steven Moffat begin; Amy Pond and the cracks in time.
Doctor Who: Series 6 (Series, 2011): The Silence, River Song's identity and the Doctor's apparent death at Lake Silencio.
Doctor Who: Series 7 (Series, 2012): The Ponds' farewell, Clara Oswald's arrival, and the road to The Day of the Doctor.
Doctor Who: Series 8 (Series, 2014): Peter Capaldi's darker Doctor; Missy is revealed.
Doctor Who: Series 9 (Series, 2015): Clara's last series; Heaven Sent is one of the show's best episodes.
Class (Series, 2016): A one-season spin-off set at Coal Hill Academy; optional.
Doctor Who: Series 10 (Series, 2017): Bill Potts joins; ends with two Masters and the Cybermen's origin.
Doctor Who: Series 11 (Series, 2018): Jodie Whittaker's first series with the "fam": Graham, Ryan and Yaz.
Doctor Who: Series 12 (Series, 2020): The Timeless Child reveal rewrites the Doctor's origin.
Doctor Who: Flux (Series, 2021): One six-part story across the universe, then three specials to the Thirteenth Doctor's regeneration.
Doctor Who: Season 1 (2024) (Series, 2024): Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby Sunday; watch the three 60th-anniversary specials (2023) first.
Doctor Who: Season 2 (2025) (Series, 2025): Belinda Chandra joins; ends with the Fifteenth Doctor's regeneration.
The War Between the Land and the Sea (Series, 2025): A five-part spin-off: UNIT's Kate Lethbridge-Stewart against the Sea Devils.

Chronological order

Doctor Who (1963) (set in The First to Seventh Doctors): 26 seasons and seven Doctors, 1963 to 1989; many early episodes are lost, so pick serials rather than watching it all.
Doctor Who: The Movie (set in San Francisco, 1999): Paul McGann's only TV story as the Eighth Doctor; the bridge between the classic and modern shows.
Doctor Who: Series 1 (set in After the Time War): The 2005 revival and the best place to start: Christopher Eccleston's Doctor meets Rose Tyler.
Doctor Who: Series 2 (set in Rose and the Tenth Doctor): David Tennant takes over; Rose's last series, ending at Canary Wharf.
Torchwood (set in Cardiff, from 2006): Captain Jack Harkness runs a Cardiff alien-hunting team; adult spin-off, Children of Earth is the peak.
Doctor Who: Series 3 (set in Martha Jones): Martha Jones joins; includes Blink and the return of the Master.
The Sarah Jane Adventures (set in Ealing, from 2007): Classic companion Sarah Jane Smith investigates aliens with a team of teenagers; made for kids.
Doctor Who: Series 4 (set in Donna Noble): Donna Noble's series, ending with the Daleks stealing the Earth.
Doctor Who: Series 5 (set in Amy and Rory): Matt Smith and showrunner Steven Moffat begin; Amy Pond and the cracks in time.
Doctor Who: Series 6 (set in River Song): The Silence, River Song's identity and the Doctor's apparent death at Lake Silencio.
Doctor Who: Series 7 (set in Clara Oswald): The Ponds' farewell, Clara Oswald's arrival, and the road to The Day of the Doctor.
Doctor Who: Series 8 (set in Clara and the Twelfth Doctor): Peter Capaldi's darker Doctor; Missy is revealed.
Doctor Who: Series 9 (set in Clara's last journey): Clara's last series; Heaven Sent is one of the show's best episodes.
Class (set in Coal Hill Academy): A one-season spin-off set at Coal Hill Academy; optional.
Doctor Who: Series 10 (set in Bill Potts): Bill Potts joins; ends with two Masters and the Cybermen's origin.
Doctor Who: Series 11 (set in The fam): Jodie Whittaker's first series with the "fam": Graham, Ryan and Yaz.
Doctor Who: Series 12 (set in The Timeless Child): The Timeless Child reveal rewrites the Doctor's origin.
Doctor Who: Flux (set in The Flux event): One six-part story across the universe, then three specials to the Thirteenth Doctor's regeneration.
Doctor Who: Season 1 (2024) (set in Ruby Sunday): Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby Sunday; watch the three 60th-anniversary specials (2023) first.
Doctor Who: Season 2 (2025) (set in Belinda Chandra): Belinda Chandra joins; ends with the Fifteenth Doctor's regeneration.
The War Between the Land and the Sea (set in UNIT and the Sea Devils): A five-part spin-off: UNIT's Kate Lethbridge-Stewart against the Sea Devils.

Common questions

What order should I watch the Doctor Who shows in?

How many Doctor Who movies and shows are there?

There are 21 titles in the Doctor Who franchise: 1 film and 20 series, released from 1963 to 2025.

How long does it take to watch all the Doctor Who shows?

About 501 hours for all 21 titles, counting every episode. The essentials only (17 titles) take about 429 hours.

What is the first Doctor Who title in chronological order?

Doctor Who (1963), set in The First to Seventh Doctors. In release order the first is Doctor Who (1963) (1963).

Which Doctor Who titles can I skip?

Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures, Class, and The War Between the Land and the Sea. They are spin-offs, side stories or non-canon entries; the main story holds without them.