While the overall fan reception of Boruto might be underwhelming, that is not a good enough reason to completely ignore its existence. Carrying Naruto’s legacy, the series has certainly had moments to shine, and the anime’s future appears to be all the more promising. However, because many viewers might struggle to understand the correct watch order for the anime, this guide becomes necessary.
From the chronological order of the Boruto anime to its release order, along with a breakdown of each arc highlighting which ones are recommended to watch and which are fillers, there is a lot to know before you dive into the series.
What’s the Best Order to Watch the Boruto Anime?
For those looking for a quick answer and who do not want to get spoiled by anything, not even a brief glimpse of the chronological order, this should be the best order to catch up with the Boruto anime up until its latest episode:
- The Last: Naruto the Movie
- Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (episodes 1-50)
- Boruto: Naruto the Movie
- Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (episodes 51-66)
- Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (episodes 67-293)
NOTE: You can technically skip Boruto: Naruto the Movie, since the movie’s events are retold and expanded in episodes 51-66 of the Boruto anime series.
A Chronological Listing of the Boruto Anime & Movies
Usually, the chronological order of an anime series is much more complicated to follow and is recommended for returning viewers who want to experience the story in the sequence the events took place. But as it turns out, the chronological order of the Boruto anime is also the best way to watch the series. After all, it is not that complicated to follow, with only two separate movies to consider.
1. The Last: Naruto the Movie
Although The Last: Naruto the Movie essentially serves as the conclusion to the Naruto: Shippuden series, it becomes a must-watch for those planning to get into the Boruto series. Why? Near the end of the movie, we get a better picture of Naruto’s current family situation, where you can even see a young Boruto. Therefore, even though it is technically not a Boruto movie, you cannot skip it.
2. Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (episodes 1-50)
The first 50 episodes of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations consist of anime-only canon episodes, meaning they are not direct manga adaptations but are still crucial for setting up the characters. These episodes cover many anime-original arcs that focus on Boruto’s early days as he grows up as the son of Naruto himself. The little father-son banter between them in these episodes is truly precious.
3. Boruto: Naruto the Movie / Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (episodes 51-66)
If you check the release order (mentioned in the next subheading), you will notice that Boruto: Naruto the Movie was released way earlier than the Boruto anime. This is because the movie served as a test project to see how successful a Boruto anime could be. It adapted the first 10 chapters of the Boruto manga, which covered the Chūnin Exam Arc (aka the Versus Momoshiki Arc).
However, since the events of this movie technically sit in the middle of the Boruto anime’s narrative, the film was later re-adapted into episodes 51-66 of the series with newly added scenes and upgraded animation. But if you are a completionist, you can watch both to compare the differences and form your own opinion. Otherwise, the episodes should be enough to understand the narrative.
4. Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (episodes 67-293)
The remaining episodes of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, from episode 67 to 293, can be watched without any further interruptions. This stretch of the anime again includes many anime-only canon episodes, but it also features several direct manga adaptations, moving the main storyline forward.
NOTE: The Boruto anime series does not conclude the storyline with episode 293, as a Part 2 has already been announced. It is set to adapt the time-skip arc from the manga, titled Boruto: Two Blue Vortex.
How to Watch the Boruto Anime in Release Order
Some fans may prefer to watch a franchise in its release order. So for them, here’s a table highlighting the release dates of both Boruto-focused movies and the anime, along with their current MyAnimeList scores:
| ANIME / MOVIE TITLE | RELEASE DATE / AIR DATE | MAL SCORE (as of July 31, 2026) |
| 1. The Last: Naruto the Movie | December 6, 2014 | 7.80/10 |
| 2. Boruto: Naruto the Movie | August 7, 2015 | 7.37/10 |
| 3. Boruto: Naruto Next Generations | April 5, 2017 to March 26, 2023 | 5.97/10 |
| 4. Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Part 2 | TBA | N/A |
What Are the Filler Episodes in the Boruto Anime?
If we go by the definition of “filler,” then the majority of Boruto episodes can be considered filler, given that they are not direct adaptations of manga chapters. However, most of these anime-original episodes help establish the groundwork for the main storyline to shine, so they cannot simply be skipped. That said, a few episodes can still be skipped (as they don’t aid the plot progression), which we have specifically highlighted in bold in the table below. So, let’s check them out.
| BORUTO ARC / EPISODE TITLE | EPISODE(S) | CANON / FILLER EPISODES |
|---|---|---|
| Academy Entrance Arc | 1-15 | Anime Canon Episodes |
| Academy Entrance Fillers | 16-17 | Anime-only Filler |
| Naruto Becomes Hokage | 18 | Anime Canon Episode |
| Naruto Gaiden: Sarada Uchiha Arc | 19-24 | Anime Canon Episodes |
| School Field Trip Arc | 25-32 | Anime Canon Episodes |
| Super Beast Scroll Slump | 33 | Anime-only Filler |
| Graduation Exam Arc | 34-38 | Anime Canon Episodes |
| Mitsuki’s Past | 39 | Manga Canon Episodes |
| Genin Mission Arc | 40-42 | Anime Canon Episodes |
| Byakuya Gang Arc | 43-47 | Anime Canon Episodes |
| Standalone Filler Episodes | 48-50 | Anime-only Filler |
| Chunin Exam Arc/ Versus Momoshiki Arc | 51-66 | Manga Canon Episodes |
| Cho-Cho Arc | 67-69 | Anime-only Filler |
| Metal Lee Anxiety Episode | 70 | Anime-only Filler |
| Mitsuki Disappearance Arc | 71-92 | Anime Canon Episodes |
| Parent and Child Day Arc | 93-95 | Anime Canon Episodes |
| Naruto Shinden Arc | 96, 97 | Anime-only Filler |
| Jugo Arc | 98-103 | Anime Canon Episodes |
| Mitsuki and the Lost Kitten | 104 | Anime-only Filler |
| Mitsuki and Orochimaru | 105 | Anime Canon Episode |
| Steam Ninja Scrolls Arc | 106-111 | Anime Canon Episodes |
| Standalone Filler Episodes | 112-115 | Anime-only Filler |
| Konohamaru’s Love Arc | 116-119 | Anime-only Filler |
| One Tail Escort Mission Arc | 120-126 | Anime Canon Episodes |
| Time Slip Arc | 127-136 | Anime Canon Episodes |
| Standalone Filler Episodes | 137-140 | Anime-only Filler |
| Mujina Bandits Arc – Prologue | 141-147 | Manga Canon Episodes |
| Mujina Bandits Arc | 148-151 | Manga Canon Episodes |
| Mujina Bandits Fillers | 152-156 | Anime-only Filler |
| Kara Actuation Arc | 157-175 | Anime Canon Episodes |
| Konoha Safety System | 176, 177 | Anime Canon Episodes |
| Vessel Arc/Ao Arc | 178-187 | Manga Canon Episodes |
| Kawaki Arc | 188-220 | Manga Canon Episodes |
| Chūnin Re-Examination Arc | 221-227 | Anime Canon Episodes |
| Ninja Duties Arc | 228-230 | Anime Canon Episodes |
| Tsubaki Filler | 231 | Anime-only Filler |
| Great Sea Battle of Kirigakure Arc | 232-255 | Anime Canon Episodes |
| Standalone Filler Episodes | 256-260 | Anime-only Filler |
| Kawaki & Himawari Academy Arc | 261-273 | Anime Canon Episodes |
| Labyrinth Game Arc | 274-281 | Anime Canon Episodes |
| Sasuke Retsuden Arc | 282-286 | Anime Canon Episodes |
| Code Assault Arc | 287-293 | Manga Canon Episodes |
NOTE: Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Part 2 is expected to continue the anime adaptation from the Omnipotence Arc, chapters 68 to 80.
Where to Watch the Boruto Anime Online?
There are multiple platforms where you can watch the entire Boruto: Naruto Next Generations anime series online. The most obvious one has to be Crunchyroll. Along with access to many seasonal and classic anime, you can watch all 293 episodes of Boruto’s ninja adventures on the platform.
Apart from Crunchyroll, Netflix also has Boruto in its streaming catalog, but it is not available for US viewers. If you’re in the States, you would need to use a VPN to access all of Boruto‘s episodes on Netflix. Hulu actually carries all 293 episodes of the anime subbed, as well as a large portion of the English dub. Alternatively, Apple TV offers all 293 episodes of the Boruto anime to stream online via purchase.
The Boruto anime series is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.
