Jujutsu Kaisen Watch Order (2026): JJK 0, Seasons, and Culling Game
If you want the right Jujutsu Kaisen watch order in 2026, here it is: watch Season 1, then the Jujutsu Kaisen 0 movie, then Season 2, then Season 3 (The Culling Game). This guide gives you a release-order table and a chronological table, episode counts, streaming platforms, and where the story is headed next.
Jujutsu Kaisen Watch Order at a Glance (2026)
For almost everyone, the best Jujutsu Kaisen watch order is release order. It is how the anime was built, and it keeps the prequel movie's twists intact. Here is the full run in the order you should press play.
| Step | Title | Format | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1 | TV (2020–2021) | 24 |
| 2 | Jujutsu Kaisen 0 | Movie (2021) | 1 film |
| 3 | Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 | TV (2023) | 23 |
| 4 | Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 — The Culling Game Part 1 | TV (2026) | 12 |
That is 59 television episodes plus one feature film, all animated by studio MAPPA. A recap movie, Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution, sits between Season 2 and Season 3 for anyone who wants a refresher (more on that below).
Collecting while you catch up? Akibato ships Jujutsu Kaisen figures and gashapon from Japan if you are building a Gojo-and-Yuji shelf between episodes.
Release Order vs Chronological Order: Which Should You Pick?
Jujutsu Kaisen is one of the few shonen series where release order and chronological order genuinely differ, because two big chunks of the story are prequels.
Pick release order if you are new. Guides such as The Direct recommend it so "the story unfold[s] completely as intended by the creative team." Season 1 introduces the cast first, so the movie's cameos and the flashback arc in Season 2 land with the weight they were designed to have.
Pick chronological order only on a rewatch. Watching the prequels first flattens two major reveals, and it front-loads context you were meant to discover gradually. It is a fun re-read of the timeline, not a first-time experience.
The Full Chronological Timeline (In-Story Order)
If you do want the events in the order they happen in-universe, here is how the arcs line up. Note that this splits Season 2 in half.
| In-story order | Arc / title | Roughly when |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hidden Inventory / Premature Death (Season 2, ep. 1–5) | ~2006 |
| 2 | Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (movie) | ~2016 |
| 3 | Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1 | 2018 |
| 4 | Shibuya Incident (Season 2, ep. 6–23) | Oct 2018 |
| 5 | The Culling Game (Season 3) | late 2018 |
The earliest events are Gojo and Geto's student days, which the anime saves for Season 2. The movie's prequel sits about a decade later, roughly a year before Yuji Itadori's story begins.
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1: Where the Story Starts
Season 1 is the entry point. Its 24 episodes aired from October 3, 2020 to March 27, 2021 and adapt the Fearsome Womb, Vs. Mahito, and Kyoto Goodwill Event arcs, ending on the Origin of Obedience arc.
Here you meet Yuji Itadori, who swallows a cursed finger belonging to Ryomen Sukuna, and enrolls at Tokyo Jujutsu High under Satoru Gojo. Everything in the franchise builds on this foundation, which is why it belongs first even though it is not the earliest event.
Jujutsu Kaisen 0: The Prequel Movie (and Why Not to Watch It First)
Jujutsu Kaisen 0 is a prequel film released in Japan by Toho in December 2021. It follows Yuta Okkotsu and the cursed spirit Rika Orimoto, and it is set about a year before the main series.
Despite being a prequel, most guides place it after Season 1. Yuta returns in later arcs, and as Popverse notes, "the main character of Jujutsu Kaisen 0, Yuta, will be showing up in future seasons," so the film works best once you already know the world it is expanding. Slotting it in at step two also matches how the anime was released.
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2: Gojo's Past and the Shibuya Incident
Season 2 ran 23 episodes from July 6 to December 28, 2023, and it covers two very different arcs back to back.
- Hidden Inventory / Premature Death (episodes 1–5): a flashback to Gojo and Geto as students, and the fork that turns them into rivals.
- Shibuya Incident (episodes 6–23): the franchise's turning point, an 18-episode urban war that reshapes the entire cast.
Because the first five episodes are a prequel, chronological viewers watch them before the movie. In release order you simply watch the season straight through.
Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution — the Optional Recap Film
Before Season 3, MAPPA released a compilation film, Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution, in Japan in November 2025 and in U.S. theaters in December 2025. It recaps the Shibuya Incident arc and includes the first two episodes of the Culling Game.
It is optional. If you have just finished Season 2, skip straight to Season 3. If it has been a while, the recap is a clean way to refresh before the new arc.
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3: The Culling Game (2026)
Season 3, titled The Culling Game: Part 1, premiered with a one-hour special of its first two episodes on January 9, 2026, and ran 12 episodes through March 27, 2026. It adapts the first half of the manga's Culling Game arc.
This is the most recent piece of the Jujutsu Kaisen watch order, and it picks up straight after the Shibuya Incident's fallout. If you are marathoning in 2026, this is your finish line — for now.
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 4: What We Know About Culling Game Part 2
A continuation, The Culling Game Part 2 — commonly called Season 4 — has been teased. A super teaser visual for the Culling Game's second half appeared around Juju Fes 2026, confirming the arc will continue.
There is no confirmed premiere date as of this writing. A 2027 window is widely expected, but that is speculation, not an official MAPPA announcement, so treat any hard date you see with caution. We break down the teaser and what to expect in our Season 4 Culling Game Part 2 teaser guide.
Where to Watch Jujutsu Kaisen (Streaming in 2026)
Availability shifts by region, so always check your local service, but here is the general 2026 picture:
- Crunchyroll is the main global home for all three TV seasons outside Asia, with subbed and dubbed options.
- Netflix carries Season 1 and the Jujutsu Kaisen 0 movie in many regions.
- Disney+ added the Culling Game (Season 3) in Canada and parts of Europe from July 10, 2026.
The safest single subscription for the full watch order is Crunchyroll, since it hosts every TV season in most territories.
Jujutsu Kaisen Watch Order FAQ
Do I need to watch Jujutsu Kaisen 0 first?
No. Watch Season 1 first, then Jujutsu Kaisen 0. The movie is a prequel, but watching it first spoils reveals that Season 1 and Season 2 are built to deliver.
How many Jujutsu Kaisen episodes are there in total?
As of 2026 there are 59 TV episodes (24 + 23 + 12) plus the Jujutsu Kaisen 0 feature film. The recap movie Execution is optional and reuses Season 2 footage.
Where does the Culling Game fall in the watch order?
The Culling Game is Season 3 and comes last, right after the Shibuya Incident that closes Season 2.
When is Jujutsu Kaisen Season 4?
It has been teased as Culling Game Part 2 but has no confirmed release date yet. A 2027 window is expected but unofficial.
Build Your Jujutsu Kaisen Shelf While You Wait
With Season 4 still undated, the gap between binges is a good time to collect. If the Shibuya Incident made you a Gojo or Sukuna fan, browse Akibato's Jujutsu Kaisen figures, gashapon, and trading figures, shipped from Japan worldwide. For a deeper collector breakdown, see our Jujutsu Kaisen figure lines guide and the 5th Anniversary Ichiban Kuji guide. Marathoning other big series too? We also mapped the Demon Slayer watch order and the Chainsaw Man watch order.
Key Takeaways
- Best Jujutsu Kaisen watch order (release order): Season 1 → Jujutsu Kaisen 0 → Season 2 → Season 3 (Culling Game).
- Watch the movie after Season 1, not first — it is a prequel with reveals that land better later.
- Season 2 splits into Gojo's past (ep. 1–5) and the Shibuya Incident (ep. 6–23).
- Season 3, The Culling Game Part 1, ran January–March 2026; Season 4 is teased but undated.
- Crunchyroll is the most complete single home for the TV seasons; check regional availability.