Watch Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995), then The End of Evangelion (1997), which replaces the last two episodes. The four Rebuild of Evangelion films (2007 to 2021) retell and then rewrite the story, so watch them after, in release order, ending with Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time.
- Titles
- 6
- Films
- 5
- Series
- 1
- Watch time
- 19 hours
- Box office
- $252 million
- Avg IMDb
- 7.8
Evangelion movies in release order
Here is every Evangelion title in the order it came out, 1995 to 2021: 5 films and 1 series.
| # | Title | Year | Type | Runtime | IMDb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neon Genesis Evangelion | 1995 | Series | 10h 15m | 8.5 |
| 2 | Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion | 1997 | Film | 1h 27m | 8.1 |
| 3 | Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone | 2007 | Film | 1h 41m | 7.5 |
| 4 | Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance | 2009 | Film | 1h 52m | 7.9 |
| 5 | Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo | 2012 | Film | 1h 36m | 6.9 |
| 6 | Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time | 2021 | Film | 2h 35m | 8 |
Release or chronological: which order is best?
For Evangelion, release order and story order are the same thing: every series picks up after the one before it. There is no prequel to slot in early and no flashback to reshuffle, so the list above is the only order you need.
Where to start
Start with Neon Genesis Evangelion and go in release order.
The whole thing is 19 hours. At two hours a night that is about 10 evenings.
The three highest rated: Neon Genesis Evangelion (8.5), Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (8.1), and Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (8).
Every Evangelion movie, explained
One entry per title in release order: what it is about, why it matters to the bigger story, who is in it and how it did.
No. 01 · 1995 · Series · 10h 15m
Neon Genesis Evangelion
At the turn of the century, the Angels returned to Earth, seeking to wipe out humanity in an apocalyptic fury. Devastated, mankind's last remnants moved underground to wait for the day when the Angels would come back to finish the job. Fifteen years later, that day has come... but this time, humanity is ready to fight back with terrifying bio-mechanical weapons known as the Evangelions. Watch as Shinji, Rei, Asuka and the rest of the mysterious shadow agency Nerv battle to save earth from total annihilation.
Why it matters: Shinji pilots Eva Unit-01; the place to start.
- Starring
- Megumi Ogata, Kotono Mitsuishi, and Megumi Hayashibara
- Scores
- IMDb 8.5 · Rotten Tomatoes 100%
- Episodes
- 26
No. 02 · 1997 · Film · 1h 27m
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion
SEELE orders an all-out attack on NERV, aiming to destroy the Evas before Gendo can advance his own plans for the Human Instrumentality Project. Shinji is pushed to the limits of his sanity as he is forced to decide the fate of humanity.
Why it matters: The alternate version of the last two episodes.
- Starring
- Megumi Ogata, Megumi Hayashibara, and Kotono Mitsuishi
- Director
- Kazuya Tsurumaki and Hideaki Anno
- Box office
- $26 million on a $8 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 8.1 · Rotten Tomatoes 92%
No. 03 · 2007 · Film · 1h 41m
Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone
After the Second Impact, Tokyo-3 is being attacked by giant monsters called Angels that seek to eradicate humankind. The child Shinji’s objective is to fight the Angels by piloting one of the mysterious Evangelion mecha units. A remake of the first six episodes of GAINAX’s famous 1996 anime series. The film was retitled “Evangelion: 1.01” for its DVD release and “Evangelion: 1.11” for a release with additional scenes.
Why it matters: The Rebuild begins by retelling the series' opening.
- Starring
- Megumi Ogata, Megumi Hayashibara, and Kotono Mitsuishi
- Director
- Kazuya Tsurumaki, Masayuki, and Hideaki Anno
- Box office
- $20 million on a $7 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 7.5 · Rotten Tomatoes 63%
No. 04 · 2009 · Film · 1h 52m
Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance
Under constant attack by monstrous creatures called Angels that seek to eradicate humankind, U.N. Special Agency NERV introduces two new EVA pilots to help defend the city of Tokyo-3: the mysterious Makinami Mari Illustrous and the intense Asuka Langley Shikinami. Meanwhile, Gendo Ikari and SEELE proceed with a secret project that involves both Rei and Shinji.
Why it matters: The Rebuild starts to diverge.
- Starring
- Megumi Ogata, Megumi Hayashibara, and Yuko Miyamura
- Director
- Masayuki, Kazuya Tsurumaki, and Hideaki Anno
- Box office
- $44 million on a $10 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 7.9 · Rotten Tomatoes 83%
No. 05 · 2012 · Film · 1h 36m
Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo
Fourteen years after Third Impact, Shinji Ikari awakens to a world he does not remember. He hasn't aged. Much of Earth is laid in ruins, NERV has been dismantled, and people who he once protected have turned against him. Befriending the enigmatic Kaworu Nagisa, Shinji continues the fight against the angels and realizes the fighting is far from over, even when it could be against his former allies. The characters' struggles continue amidst the battles against the angels and each other, spiraling down to what could inevitably be the end of the world.
Why it matters: 14 years later; a sharp break from the series.
- Starring
- Megumi Ogata, Yuko Miyamura, and Akira Ishida
- Director
- Hideaki Anno, Masayuki, Mahiro Maeda, and Kazuya Tsurumaki
- Box office
- $67 million on a $13 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 6.9
No. 06 · 2021 · Film · 2h 35m
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
In the aftermath of the Fourth Impact, stranded without their Evangelions, Shinji, Asuka and Rei find refuge in one of the rare pockets of humanity that still exist on the ruined planet Earth. There, each lives a life far different from their days as an Evangelion pilot. However, the danger to the world is far from over. A new impact is looming on the horizon—one that will prove to be the true end of Evangelion.
Why it matters: The final Rebuild film ends Evangelion.
- Starring
- Megumi Ogata, Yuko Miyamura, and Maaya Sakamoto
- Director
- Kazuya Tsurumaki, Mahiro Maeda, Katsuichi Nakayama, and Hideaki Anno
- Box office
- $94 million on a $30 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 8 · Rotten Tomatoes 100%
Evangelion box office and budgets
The 5 Evangelion films with reported numbers have grossed $252 million worldwide on about $67 million in combined budgets, roughly 3.7 times what they cost. The biggest is Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time at $94 million, 37% of the franchise's total on its own, followed by Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo ($67 million) and Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance ($44 million).
Measured against what it cost, the best return belongs to Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, which made 5.2 times its $13 million budget. The weakest was Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone at 2.9 times its $7 million budget. As a rule of thumb, a film needs about two and a half times its budget at the box office to cover marketing and the theaters' cut.
The best and worst rated Evangelion movies
Across 6 rated titles, Evangelion averages 7.8 on IMDb. The top of the list is Neon Genesis Evangelion at 8.5, then Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (8.1) and Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (8). At the bottom: Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (6.9) and Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (7.5).
- Neon Genesis Evangelion8.5 · RT 100%
- Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion8.1 · RT 92%
- Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time8 · RT 100%
- Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance7.9 · RT 83%
- Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone7.5 · RT 63%
- Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo6.9
Who appears in the most Evangelion movies
Megumi Ogata leads with 6 appearances as Shinji Ikari, ahead of Kotono Mitsuishi (6) and Megumi Hayashibara (6). Counted from each title's top-billed cast.
| Actor | Role | Titles | First and latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Megumi Ogata | Shinji Ikari | 6 | Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995) to Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021) |
| Kotono Mitsuishi | Misato Katsuragi | 6 | Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995) to Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021) |
| Megumi Hayashibara | Rei Ayanami / Yui Ikari | 6 | Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995) to Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021) |
| Yuriko Yamaguchi | Dr. Ritsuko Akagi / Ritsuko Akagi | 6 | Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995) to Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021) |
| Fumihiko Tachiki | Gendo Ikari | 6 | Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995) to Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021) |
| Yuko Miyamura | Asuka Langley Soryu / Asuka Shikinami Langley | 5 | Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995) to Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021) |
| Motomu Kiyokawa | Kozo Fuyutsuki | 5 | Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995) to Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (2012) |
| Miki Nagasawa | Maya Ibuki | 5 | Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995) to Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021) |
| Takehito Koyasu | Sherigu Aoba / Shigeru Aoba | 5 | Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995) to Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (2012) |
| Hiro Yuuki | Makoto Hyuuga / Makoto Hyouga | 4 | Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995) to Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (2009) |
| Tomokazu Seki | Touji Suzuhara / Toji Suzuhara | 3 | Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995) to Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021) |
| Akira Ishida | Kaworu Nagisa | 3 | Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (1997) to Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (2012) |
Evangelion directors and creators
5 filmmakers have directed or created Evangelion; Kazuya Tsurumaki has the most, with 5.
- Kazuya TsurumakiNeon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (1997), Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (2007), Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (2009), Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (2012), and Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021)
- Hideaki AnnoNeon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (1997), Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (2007), Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (2009), Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (2012), and Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021)
- MasayukiEvangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (2007), Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (2009), and Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (2012)
- Mahiro MaedaEvangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (2012) and Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021)
- Katsuichi NakayamaEvangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021)
How long it takes to watch every Evangelion movie
All 6 titles add up to 19 hours: 9 hours of film and 10 hours of series, counting every episode. That is about 10 two-hour evenings, or 2 days of ten-hour binges. The longest film is Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time at 2h 35m.
The 4 best rated films: Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion, Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time, Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance, and Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone.
Everything takes about 3 weeks.
Track what you've watched on the timeline and it counts the hours left.
Common questions
What order should I watch the Evangelion movies in?
Watch Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995), then The End of Evangelion (1997), which replaces the last two episodes. The four Rebuild of Evangelion films (2007 to 2021) retell and then rewrite the story, so watch them after, in release order, ending with Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time.
How many Evangelion movies and shows are there?
There are 6 titles in the Evangelion franchise: 5 films and 1 series, released from 1995 to 2021.
How long does it take to watch all the Evangelion movies?
About 19 hours for all 6 titles, counting every episode.
What is the first Evangelion title in chronological order?
Neon Genesis Evangelion, set in Tokyo-3, 2015. In release order the first is Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995).
What is the best Evangelion movie?
By IMDb score, Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995) at 8.5, followed by Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion at 8.1.
What is the highest-grossing Evangelion movie?
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021), with $94 million worldwide. Evangelion films have made $252 million in total.
Who has appeared in the most Evangelion movies?
Megumi Ogata, in 6 of them as Shinji Ikari.
What is the longest Evangelion movie?
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time, at 2h 35m.
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