Naruto Watch Order (2026): Every Series, Filler List & Where to Watch

If you have ever typed “Naruto watch order” into a search bar and been buried under 1,000-plus episodes, three series, and eleven movies, this guide fixes that. Below is the full Naruto watch order for 2026 — the original Naruto, Naruto: Shippuden, and Boruto — in the order that makes the story land, plus a filler list so you can skip the padding, the two films that actually matter to the timeline, and where to stream everything legally.

The short version: watch in release order. Naruto’s saga was written to be experienced the way it aired, and the small amount of context you gain from a strict chronological cut is not worth the whiplash of jumping between series and films. Start with episode 1 of the original series and move forward. The rest of this article breaks down each series, how long it runs, and which stretches you can comfortably fast-forward.

The Naruto watch order at a glance (2026)

The correct Naruto watch order is release order, and it is only three shows long. Watch the original series, then Shippuden, then Boruto. That is 1,013 episodes of anime in total across the three television series.

A few movies slot in between these, but every film except two is a standalone story you can watch in any order (or skip). More on that below.

If revisiting the saga has you eyeing a display shelf, Akibato ships anime figures from Japan worldwide — you can browse the anime figures collection while you catch up. Akibato does not stock a dedicated Naruto line right now, but ships shonen figures and Ichiban Kuji prizes internationally.

Naruto (2002–2007): where the story begins — 220 episodes

Start here. The original Naruto ran for 220 episodes on TV Tokyo from October 3, 2002 to February 8, 2007. It covers Naruto Uzumaki’s academy days, Team 7 forming under Kakashi, the Chunin Exams, the invasion of Konoha, and the Sasuke Retrieval arc.

This is the era that establishes every relationship the rest of the franchise leans on, so watch it first even though the animation and pacing are older. The one catch is filler: the original series is roughly 41% padding, concentrated in a long block after the Sasuke Retrieval arc ends. The filler section below tells you exactly where to skip.

Naruto: Shippuden (2007–2017): the war saga — 500 episodes

Naruto: Shippuden is the second half of the main story and the longest of the three series at 500 episodes, airing from February 2007 to March 2017. It picks up after a two-and-a-half-year time skip and runs through the Akatsuki hunt, Pain’s assault on the Leaf, and the Fourth Great Ninja War.

Shippuden is where the plot most fans remember lives, but it is also where filler is most disruptive — whole 15-to-24-episode arcs sit between canon chapters. Keep the filler list open on your phone as you go.

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations and Two Blue Vortex

After Shippuden comes Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, a 293-episode series that Studio Pierrot broadcast from April 5, 2017 to March 26, 2023. It follows Naruto’s son Boruto and the next generation of Leaf ninja.

A second part — adapting the ongoing Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga by Masashi Kishimoto and Mikio Ikemoto — has been announced as in development, but as of 2026 there is no confirmed premiere date. If you finish the original 293 episodes and want to keep going, the story continues in the manga, which is serialized in Shonen Jump.

Do you have to watch Boruto?

No. Boruto is a sequel, not a continuation of the main plot, so the original Naruto and Shippuden form a complete story on their own. Treat Boruto as optional and watch it only if you want the next generation’s arc.

Naruto filler list: which episodes to skip

Both main series carry a high filler load — about 41% each — so knowing the big skippable blocks saves you dozens of hours. These are the largest continuous filler stretches; you can drop them without losing the main plot.

Naruto (original) filler

• Episodes 101–106 — filler arc
• Episodes 136–140 — filler
• Episodes 143–219 — the longest filler run in the series (77 episodes); the canon story resumes at the finale

Naruto: Shippuden filler

• Episodes 91–112 — Three-Tails / Orochimaru hideout arc
• Episodes 223–242 — island and character filler
• Episodes 303–320 — reanimated-forces filler
• Episodes 347–361 — Kakashi ANBU backstory (technically filler, but well-liked — consider keeping this one)
• Episodes 427–450 — Jiraiya ninja-scrolls arc

Note that some episodes are “mixed” canon and filler, so a strict skip of these ranges will occasionally clip a minor canon beat. If you want zero gaps, follow a per-episode filler tracker rather than skipping whole blocks.

Where do the Naruto movies fit? Canon vs. standalone

There are eleven Naruto films, and the great majority are non-canon side stories — fun, but they do not affect the main plot, so you can watch them any time or ignore them. Two are the exception and are worth placing in your watch order:

• The Last: Naruto the Movie (2014) — widely treated as canon. It resolves the Naruto and Hinata relationship and bridges the gap between the end of Shippuden and the Boruto era. Watch it after the Shippuden finale.
• Boruto: Naruto the Movie (2015) — overlaps the early Boruto anime, retelling the Chunin Exams arc that the series also adapts. Watch it around the start of Boruto.

Everything else — the other nine theatrical films — is optional and can be slotted in whenever you want a self-contained adventure.

Where to watch Naruto in 2026

The full run is available on major legal streaming services, though catalogs shift by region, so confirm what is licensed in your country before you start:

• Crunchyroll — carries the original Naruto, Shippuden, and Boruto in subtitled and dubbed form in most regions.
• Hulu — streams Naruto and Shippuden in the United States.
• Netflix — availability is region-dependent; some countries carry parts of the series, others do not.

Because licensing changes, the safest move is to search each series title inside your streaming app rather than assume a platform still has it.

Frequently asked questions

How many Naruto episodes are there in total?

The three television series total 1,013 episodes: 220 for the original Naruto, 500 for Shippuden, and 293 for Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.

Should I watch Naruto in chronological or release order?

Release order. The saga was built to be watched the way it aired, and jumping to strict chronological order mostly means shuffling non-canon movies into the middle, which hurts the pacing more than it helps.

Can I skip filler and still follow the story?

Yes. The main plot lives in the manga-canon episodes, so dropping the large filler blocks above keeps the story intact. Only the “mixed” episodes carry occasional minor canon beats.

Is the Boruto: Two Blue Vortex anime out yet?

Not as of 2026. A second Boruto anime part has been announced as in development, but no premiere date is confirmed. The Two Blue Vortex story is currently available only as a manga.

Key takeaways

• Watch in release order: Naruto → Naruto: Shippuden → Boruto — 1,013 episodes total.
• Both main series are about 41% filler; the biggest skippable block is original-series episodes 143–219.
• Only two movies matter to the timeline: The Last (2014) after Shippuden and Boruto: Naruto the Movie (2015) around early Boruto.
• Boruto is optional; the main story is complete after Shippuden.
• Two Blue Vortex has no confirmed anime date — it is manga-only for now.

Working through more than a thousand episodes is the perfect excuse to start a shelf. Akibato ships anime and shonen figures from Japan worldwide — browse the figures collection when a rewatch leaves you wanting the merch. For more marathons, see our One Piece watch order, JoJo watch order, and Gundam watch order guides.