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Death Note Watch Order
4 entries · · community-maintained
The Death Note watch order is 37 anime episodes followed, optionally, by three live-action films. Start with episodes 1 through 37, which tell the complete story from beginning to end — this is the only animated content and the only part most viewers need. If you want more, the three movies come next: the original Death Note film and its sequel The Last Name retell the story as a live-action duology with a different ending, and L Change the WorLd is a spin-off centered on L. Because those films are an alternate retelling rather than a continuation, they are not required to understand the anime; watch them only if you want the live-action take. For the correct order, then, the answer is simple — all 37 episodes first, then the films if you are curious. There are no OVAs or specials to slot in anywhere.
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Watch the 37 anime episodes in order. They tell the whole Death Note story, so nothing else is needed.
Checked October 2026
Chronological order
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Season 1
#1–4 · 4 entries
- 1Episodes 1-37
All 37 episodes (2006-07), the complete story. A student finds a notebook and a detective starts hunting him. Start here.
3 people are here, including hoshinomaruf, Nash and Ienfeirfn0/37 - 2Death Note MovieOptional
Live-action film (June 2006), not the anime. Optional: a separate take on the story; skip it if you only want the anime.
5 people are here, including dachshund, GingerNinja and gotieMovie - 3Death Note: The Last Name MovieOptional
Live-action sequel (October 2006). Optional; watch it only after the first live-action film, not the anime.
Movie - 4Death Note: L Change the WorLd MovieOptional
Live-action spin-off about L (February 2008). Optional: a side story that the anime and the first two films do not need.
Movie
More on where to start
Checked October 2026
The three live-action films are separate adaptations, not part of the anime. They are optional extras, and the first two make a pair.
L: Change the WorLd is a spin-off about L, and it is the one to skip first.
What to skip
- Watch first
- Start with Episodes 1-37 (Season 1).
- What to skip
- 3 entries are optional: Death Note Movie (Season 1), Death Note: The Last Name Movie (Season 1), and Death Note: L Change the WorLd Movie (Season 1). The story still tracks without them.
- Filler notes
- Death Note Movie (Season 1). Live-action film (June 2006), not the anime.
- Death Note: L Change the WorLd Movie (Season 1). Live-action spin-off about L (February 2008).
- Death Note: The Last Name Movie (Season 1). Live-action sequel (October 2006).
The correct order to watch Death Note, as one listShowHide
Watch Death Note in this order. 4 entries, chronological.
- Season 1: Episodes 1-37
- Season 1: Death Note Movie (movie) — optional
- Season 1: Death Note: The Last Name Movie (movie) — optional
- Season 1: Death Note: L Change the WorLd Movie (movie) — optional
How this order works
AnimeChrono watch orders put every season, movie, OVA, ONA and special for a franchise in chronological story order, the order the events happen. When an OVA or movie takes place partway through a season, the episode range is split so it sits where it belongs. Entries you can skip are marked optional, and each order says where to start. Release order, sorted by air date, is a secondary view once every entry has a date. The orders began as a hand-curated set, and episode counts and air dates come from AniList. Fans maintain the orders from there. Any signed-in user can edit one. Edits from trusted contributors go live right away and the rest are reviewed first. Every change is versioned and can be reverted, and each order shows when it was last updated and last checked.
Something wrong or missing?
This order is maintained by the community. Report a problem, or sign in to fix it yourself.
Death Note watch order FAQ
What order should I watch Death Note in?
Watch the 37 anime episodes in order. They tell the whole Death Note story, so nothing else is needed. The three live-action films are separate adaptations, not part of the anime. They are optional extras, and the first two make a pair. L: Change the WorLd is a spin-off about L, and it is the one to skip first.
Do I need to watch the Death Note live-action movies?
No. The 37-episode anime is the complete story. The three films (2006 and 2008) are live-action adaptations with their own casts and tell the story differently, so treat them as optional extras after the anime.
Is there a second season?
No. Death Note is one 37-episode season (October 2006 to June 2007) that adapts the manga from start to finish. The story does not continue in a later TV season.
What is the chronological order of Death Note?
Start with Episodes 1-37 (Season 1), then continue with Death Note Movie (Season 1), Death Note: The Last Name Movie (Season 1), and Death Note: L Change the WorLd Movie (Season 1). The full Death Note watch order on this page has 4 entries, listed in chronological viewing order.
What is the release order of Death Note?
In the order they aired, start with Death Note Movie (Season 1), then Episodes 1-37 (Season 1), Death Note: The Last Name Movie (Season 1), and Death Note: L Change the WorLd Movie (Season 1). Release order follows air dates and is not the recommended chronological order.
How many episodes is Death Note?
Death Note has 37 TV episodes in this order, plus 3 movies.
Where do the Death Note movies fit in the watch order?
Death Note Movie comes right after Episodes 1-37 (Season 1), Death Note: The Last Name Movie comes right after Death Note Movie (Season 1), and Death Note: L Change the WorLd Movie comes right after Death Note: The Last Name Movie (Season 1).
Can I skip anything in Death Note?
Yes. 3 entries are marked optional: Death Note Movie (Season 1), Death Note: The Last Name Movie (Season 1), and Death Note: L Change the WorLd Movie (Season 1). Everything else is part of the main story.
Is Death Note finished?
Yes. Death Note has finished airing, and this order covers everything released so far in chronological viewing order.
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