Watch Naruto (2002), then Naruto Shippuden (2007), then The Last: Naruto the Movie and Boruto. Both shows contain filler arcs you can skip without losing the story.
- Titles
- 5
- Films
- 2
- Series
- 3
- Watch time
- 400 hours
- Box office
- $58 million
- Avg IMDb
- 7.7
Naruto shows in release order
Here is every Naruto title in the order it came out, 2002 to 2017: 2 films and 3 series. Optional entries are marked; you can skip them on a first watch.
| # | Title | Year | Type | Runtime | IMDb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naruto | 2002 | Series | 88h | 8.4 |
| 2 | Naruto Shippuden | 2007 | Series | 191h 40m | 8.7 |
| 3 | The Last: Naruto the Movie | 2014 | Film | 1h 54m | 7.6 |
| 4 | Boruto: Naruto the Movie optional | 2015 | Film | 1h 35m | 7.7 |
| 5 | Boruto: Naruto Next Generations | 2017 | Series | 117h 19m | 6.3 |
Naruto timeline: shows in chronological order
The same titles in story order, by when they take place, with the year or era each one is set in.
| # | Title | Set in | Released |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naruto | Part I | 2002 |
| 2 | Naruto Shippuden | Part II | 2007 |
| 3 | The Last: Naruto the Movie | After the war | 2014 |
| 4 | Boruto: Naruto Next Generations | Years later | 2017 |
| 5 | Boruto: Naruto the Movie | The Chunin Exams | 2015 |
Release or chronological: which order is best?
Release order and story order disagree on 2 titles here. In release order you start with Naruto (2002); in story order you start with Naruto, set in Part I.
First time through, watch in release order. That is how the twists, returning characters and callbacks were built to land, and later entries assume you have seen the earlier ones. On a rewatch, try story order. It turns Naruto into one continuous story and makes the prequels play as setup instead of backstory.
Where to start
Start with Naruto and go in release order, skipping the 1 optional titles on the first pass.
The essentials are 4 titles and about 399 hours, 0% less than the full run.
The three highest rated: Naruto Shippuden (8.7), Naruto (8.4), and Boruto: Naruto the Movie (7.7).
Every Naruto title, 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 · 2002 · Series · 88h
Naruto
Naruto Uzumaki, a mischievous adolescent ninja, struggles as he searches for recognition and dreams of becoming the Hokage, the village's leader and strongest ninja.
Why it matters: Naruto at the Academy and the Chunin Exams; skip the filler arcs.
- Starring
- Junko Takeuchi, Noriaki Sugiyama, and Chie Nakamura
- Scores
- IMDb 8.4
- Episodes
- 220 across 4 seasons
No. 02 · 2007 · Series · 191h 40m
Naruto Shippuden
After 2 and a half years Naruto finally returns to his village of Konoha, and sets about putting his ambitions to work. It will not be easy though as he has amassed a few more dangerous enemies, in the likes of the shinobi organization; Akatsuki.
Why it matters: Two and a half years later, through the Fourth Great Ninja War.
- Starring
- Junko Takeuchi, Noriaki Sugiyama, and Chie Nakamura
- Scores
- IMDb 8.7
- Episodes
- 500 across 20 seasons
No. 03 · 2014 · Film · 1h 54m
The Last: Naruto the Movie
Two years after the events of the Fourth Great Ninja War, the moon that Hagoromo Otsutsuki created long ago to seal away the Gedo Statue begins to descend towards the world, threatening to become a meteor that would destroy everything on impact. Amidst this crisis, a direct descendant of Kaguya Otsutsuki named Toneri Otsutsuki attempts to kidnap Hinata Hyuga but ends up abducting her younger sister Hanabi. Naruto and his allies now mount a rescue mission before finding themselves embroiled in a final battle to decide the fate of everything.
Why it matters: Naruto and Hinata, between Shippuden's finale and Boruto.
- Starring
- Junko Takeuchi, Nana Mizuki, and Jun Fukuyama
- Director
- Tsuneo Kobayashi
- Box office
- $20 million
- Scores
- IMDb 7.6
No. 04 · 2015 · Film · 1h 35m · 5th in story order · optional
Boruto: Naruto the Movie
The spirited Boruto Uzumaki, son of Seventh Hokage Naruto, is a skilled ninja who possesses the same brashness and passion his father once had. However, the constant absence of his father, who is busy with his Hokage duties, puts a damper on Boruto's fire. He ends up meeting his father's friend Sasuke, and requests to become... his apprentice!? The curtain on the story of the new generation rises!
Why it matters: Retold in Boruto's early episodes; optional.
- Starring
- Yuko Sanpei, Cocoro Kikuchi, and Junko Takeuchi
- Director
- Hiroyuki Yamashita
- Box office
- $38 million
- Scores
- IMDb 7.7
No. 05 · 2017 · Series · 117h 19m · 4th in story order
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
The life of the shinobi is beginning to change. Boruto Uzumaki, son of Seventh Hokage Naruto Uzumaki, has enrolled in the Ninja Academy to learn the ways of the ninja. Now, as a series of mysterious events unfolds, Boruto’s story is about to begin!
Why it matters: Naruto's son and the next generation.
- Starring
- Yuko Sanpei, Cocoro Kikuchi, and Ryuichi Kijima
- Scores
- IMDb 6.3
- Episodes
- 293
Naruto box office and budgets
The 2 Naruto films with reported numbers have grossed $58 million worldwide. The biggest is Boruto: Naruto the Movie at $38 million, 66% of the franchise's total on its own, followed by The Last: Naruto the Movie ($20 million).
The best and worst rated Naruto shows
Across 5 rated titles, Naruto averages 7.7 on IMDb. The top of the list is Naruto Shippuden at 8.7, then Naruto (8.4) and Boruto: Naruto the Movie (7.7). At the bottom: Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (6.3) and The Last: Naruto the Movie (7.6).
- Naruto Shippuden8.7
- Naruto8.4
- Boruto: Naruto the Movie7.7
- The Last: Naruto the Movie7.6
- Boruto: Naruto Next Generations6.3
Who appears in the most Naruto shows
Junko Takeuchi leads with 5 appearances as Naruto Uzumaki, ahead of Chie Nakamura (5) and Kazuhiko Inoue (5). Counted from each title's top-billed cast.
| Actor | Role | Titles | First and latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junko Takeuchi | Naruto Uzumaki | 5 | Naruto (2002) to Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (2017) |
| Chie Nakamura | Sakura Haruno / Sakura Uchiha | 5 | Naruto (2002) to Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (2017) |
| Kazuhiko Inoue | Kakashi Hatake / Hatake Kakashi | 5 | Naruto (2002) to Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (2017) |
| Noriaki Sugiyama | Sasuke Uchiha | 4 | Naruto (2002) to Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (2017) |
| Showtaro Morikubo | Shikamaru Nara | 4 | Naruto (2002) to Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (2017) |
| Akira Ishida | Gaara | 3 | Naruto Shippuden (2007) to Boruto: Naruto the Movie (2015) |
| Nana Mizuki | Hinata Hyūga / Hinata Uzumaki | 3 | The Last: Naruto the Movie (2014) to Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (2017) |
| Koichi Tochika | Neji Hyuga | 2 | Naruto (2002) to Naruto Shippuden (2007) |
| Satoshi Hino | Sai | 2 | Naruto Shippuden (2007) to Boruto: Naruto the Movie (2015) |
| Masako Katsuki | Tsunade | 2 | Naruto Shippuden (2007) to The Last: Naruto the Movie (2014) |
| Yuko Sanpei | Boruto Uzumaki / Uzumaki Boruto | 2 | Boruto: Naruto the Movie (2015) to Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (2017) |
| Cocoro Kikuchi | Sarada Uchiha / Uchiha Sarada | 2 | Boruto: Naruto the Movie (2015) to Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (2017) |
Naruto directors and creators
2 filmmakers have directed or created Naruto.
- Tsuneo KobayashiThe Last: Naruto the Movie (2014)
- Hiroyuki YamashitaBoruto: Naruto the Movie (2015)
How long it takes to watch every Naruto show
All 5 titles add up to 400 hours: 3 hours of film and 397 hours of series, counting every episode. That is about 201 two-hour evenings, or 41 days of ten-hour binges. The essentials cut it to 399 hours. The longest film is The Last: Naruto the Movie at 1h 54m.
The 2 best rated films: Boruto: Naruto the Movie and The Last: Naruto the Movie.
Everything takes about 13 months; the essentials about 13 months.
Track what you've watched on the timeline and it counts the hours left.
Which Naruto shows can you skip?
1 title can go without losing the main story. They are side stories, spin-offs or entries the later films ignore. Dropping them saves 2 hours.
- Boruto: Naruto the Movie2015 · Film · 1h 35m · optionalRetold in Boruto's early episodes; optional.
Common questions
What order should I watch the Naruto shows in?
Watch Naruto (2002), then Naruto Shippuden (2007), then The Last: Naruto the Movie and Boruto. Both shows contain filler arcs you can skip without losing the story.
How many Naruto movies and shows are there?
There are 5 titles in the Naruto franchise: 2 films and 3 series, released from 2002 to 2017.
How long does it take to watch all the Naruto shows?
About 400 hours for all 5 titles, counting every episode. The essentials only (4 titles) take about 399 hours.
What is the first Naruto title in chronological order?
Naruto, set in Part I. In release order the first is Naruto (2002).
Which Naruto titles can I skip?
Boruto: Naruto the Movie. They are spin-offs, side stories or non-canon entries; the main story holds without them.
What is the best Naruto title?
By IMDb score, Naruto Shippuden (2007) at 8.7, followed by Naruto at 8.4.
What is the highest-grossing Naruto movie?
Boruto: Naruto the Movie (2015), with $38 million worldwide. Naruto films have made $58 million in total.
Who has appeared in the most Naruto shows?
Junko Takeuchi, in 5 of them as Naruto Uzumaki.
What is the longest Naruto movie?
The Last: Naruto the Movie, at 1h 54m.
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