So you want to watch all of Naruto. The original series, Shippuden, the movies nobody quite remembers exist, the OVAs your friend swears are "actually important", and yes, Boruto too. *Deep breath.* Good news: you don't have to work out the order yourself. That's what this page is for.
Here's the thing about the Naruto franchise: it never released in the order you're supposed to watch it. Movies dropped mid-season, specials got bundled onto random DVDs, and one particular OVA (we're looking at you, The Cross Roads) came out years after the arc it actually belongs to. Watch everything strictly by release date and you'll be hopping across the timeline like a rookie genin with no sensei. *Not ideal.*
So where does each movie and special actually go? Answer: wherever the story naturally pauses for it, not wherever the release date happened to land. That's the whole logic behind this list. The original Naruto runs first, with its early specials and movies tucked in around episodes 34, 63, 97, and onward. Then Shippuden takes over, and its own run of movies slots in the same way, including two that most guides quietly get backwards. After that comes Rock Lee's spin-off, the Boruto movie, and finally Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.
One honest note before you start: not everything on this list is essential. A few of these are pure fan-service specials you could skip and lose zero plot. We've called those out below, entry by entry, so pick your own level of completionist. *Whatever your preference is, we're game.*
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1
Season 1 NarutoWhere it all begins. Ninja academy, Team 7, and the arc that turns a loud orphan into someone worth rooting for.
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2
Special Naruto: Find the Crimson Four-leaf Clover!A light, low-stakes side mission. Skippable if you're in a hurry, fun if you're not.
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3
Special Naruto: The Lost Story - Mission: Protect the Waterfall VillageAnother breather special that doesn't touch the main plot, but it's classic early-Naruto goofiness.
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4
Movie Naruto the Movie 1: Ninja Clash in the Land of SnowThe first movie, and it shows: simple stakes, snow, and a princess who needs rescuing. Fun, not essential.
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5
Movie Naruto the Movie 2: Legend of the Stone of GelelMore ambition this time: an ancient artifact and a genuinely solid villain. Still non-canon, still enjoyable.
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6
OVA Naruto: Finally a Clash!! Jounin vs. Genin!A short, tournament-style bonus episode. Mostly an excuse for the cast to fight each other. *We're not complaining.*
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7
Movie Naruto the Movie 3: Guardians of the Crescent Moon KingdomThe strongest of the original trilogy. Higher stakes, better fights, genuinely worth the watch.
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8
Special Naruto: The Cross RoadsReleased years later, but the story belongs right here, before Team 7 as you know it changes for good. Don't let the release date fool you.
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9
Season 2 Naruto ShippudenTwo and a half years later. Everyone's taller, stronger, and the story finally gets serious.
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10
Special Naruto Shippuden: Konoha Gakuen - SpecialA comedic 'what if they were all in high school' detour. Purely for laughs, zero plot impact.
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11
Movie Naruto Shippuden the Movie 1Naruto's first Shippuden-era movie, and honestly one of the weaker ones. Watch it for completeness, not for stakes.
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12
Movie Naruto Shippuden the Movie 2: BondsBetter than the first, with a real emotional core tied to the Hyuga clan.
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13
Movie Naruto Shippuden the Movie 3: The Will of FireA darker premise, kekkei genkai users vanishing one by one, and one of the more underrated entries.
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14
Movie Naruto Shippuden the Movie 4: The Lost TowerTime travel, young Minato, and a genuinely fun standalone adventure.
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15
Movie Naruto: The Magic Genie and the Three WishesA gentle, kid-friendly short. Easy to skip, easy to enjoy if you do watch it.
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16
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17
Movie Naruto Shippuden: Chunin Exam on Fire! Naruto vs. Konohamaru!A quick, low-stakes rivalry short. A nice palate cleanser between the heavier arcs.
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18
Movie Naruto Shippuden the Movie 6: Road to NinjaThe fan-favorite alt-universe movie. Genuinely worth watching, not just filler with better animation.
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19
Movie Naruto Shippuden the Movie 7: The LastThis one's canon. Naruto and Hinata's story gets its proper send-off here, so don't skip it.
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20
Season 3 Naruto Spin-Off: Rock Lee & His Ninja PalsA full chibi comedy spin-off. Entirely optional, but if you love the side cast, it's a treat.
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21
Movie Boruto: Naruto the MovieThe torch passes. Naruto's now a father, and Boruto gets his real introduction.
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22
Special Boruto: Naruto the Movie - The Day Naruto Became HokageA short, sweet epilogue that fills in exactly what the title promises.
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23
Special Boruto: Jump Festa 2016 SpecialA brief preview special, mostly for franchise completionists before the TV series starts.
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24
Season 4 Boruto: Naruto Next GenerationsThe next generation takes over. A slower burn at first, but it earns its place in the family.
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25
Road of NarutoA 20th-anniversary highlight reel: not canon, not required. Just a nice victory lap once you've finished everything else.