Naruto Watch Order 2026: Where to Start, Filler & Where to Watch

Watch Naruto (220 episodes) → Naruto Shippuden (500 episodes) → The Last → Boruto, skipping the filler, which makes up about 41% of both series. In the US, Crunchyroll is the safest single subscription for both shows, while Netflix, Hulu and Prime Video carry the original Naruto. That's the whole answer; the rest of this guide shows you what to skip and where the franchise is heading after this October's New York Comic Con announcements.

The Naruto watch order

Where to slot The Last: it takes place during the final stretch of Shippuden. Many fans watch it after Shippuden episode 493, before the last epilogue episodes; simply watching it after you finish Shippuden works too.

Naruto filler guide

Anime Filler List counts 90 filler episodes out of 220 in Naruto (41%) and 203 out of 500 in Shippuden (about 41%). That's a lot of hours you can get back.

Naruto (original series)

Our advice: when the long filler block starts at episode 143, jump straight to Naruto Shippuden episode 1. Watch episode 220 only if you want the send-off. (There are a few smaller filler episodes earlier in the series too; Anime Filler List has the full list.)

Naruto Shippuden filler blocks

Filler ranges from Anime Filler List; arc labels are our own shorthand.

Opinion: filler worth keeping. Not all Shippuden filler is padding. The Kakashi Anbu backstory (episodes 349–361) and Itachi Shinden (451–458, mixed canon) are among the most-recommended "non-essential" episodes for good reason. Watch those if you have time.

Where to watch Naruto (US, late 2026)

Source: JustWatch US listings checked November 1, 2026. Netflix and Hulu catalogues vary a lot by country; outside the US, check JustWatch or your local Crunchyroll catalogue. Avoid free "Naruto streaming" sites; they're unlicensed and often loaded with malware.

What about Boruto?

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations ran 293 episodes, ending on March 26, 2023. The story continues in the manga Boruto: Two Blue Vortex. An anime of Two Blue Vortex has been widely reported as being in production at Studio Pierrot, but as of November 1, 2026 we couldn't find an official premiere date, so treat any date you see as a rumour.

Our take: Boruto is the weakest part of the franchise for newcomers, but the second half (from roughly the Kara arc onward) gets much better. If you've just finished Shippuden, watch the Boruto movie and then decide.

New Naruto projects announced at NYCC 2026

Naruto held a "What's Next?" panel at New York Comic Con on October 10, 2026 (Naruto's birthday). Announced:

• A limited anime series crossing Naruto with Ninku, Koji Kiriyama's 1990s Jump series, which Studio Pierrot also adapted in 1995. Masashi Kishimoto appeared in the trailer crediting Ninku as an influence. No release date or episode count yet.
• A new manga, Naruto: Shadow Rising, with more details promised at Jump Festa 2027 in December.
• A message from Destin Daniel Cretton, director of the live-action Naruto film, which is still in development.

Sub or dub?

English dubs exist for both Naruto and Shippuden, but which audio tracks a given service carries varies by country, so check before you commit. Beyond that, it's personal taste. Our opinion: the Japanese track is the safer default for Shippuden, where the big emotional scenes carry more weight in the original performances, while the English dub of the original Naruto is a nostalgia favourite for a lot of fans who grew up with it on TV. Switching between them mid-series is fine; the names and terms stay the same.

Our recommended route for newcomers

Opinion, for people who want the story without burning out:

1. Naruto 1–142, skipping the scattered fillers along the way.
2. Naruto Shippuden, skipping the filler table above, but keep the Kakashi ANBU episodes.
3. The Last: Naruto the Movie.
4. Stop and decide on Boruto. Watch Boruto: Naruto the Movie first; if it clicks, continue with the series.

How long does it take to watch Naruto?

All of Naruto and Shippuden is 720 episodes, roughly 290 hours at 24 minutes each. Cut the filler and you're down to about 430 episodes, or around 170 hours: one episode a night gets you through in just over a year, three a night in about five months.

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