If you want to check out the best Naruto movies, you have come to the right place! This anime series has 11 movies due to its enormous popularity. Although not all films share the same level of quality, they've all got their own value to fans. The abundance of filler in Naruto has drawn a great deal of criticism, most of which is valid, but there is no disputing that the series features some of the most enjoyable non-canon movies in anime.
In this list, we'll rank the five best Naruto movies that you should definitely watch. We have even mentioned the best moments from each of these Naruto films, so you've got something exciting to look out for!
For another long-running anime, you'll want to check out One Piece. If you love watching Naruto, you're bound to enjoy that as well. Check out our list of the best One Piece movies or best One Piece Arcs to get started.
Here are the best Naruto movies
- Naruto The Movie: Guardians Of The Crescent Moon Kingdom (2006)
- Naruto Shippuden The Movie (2007)
- Naruto Shippuden The Movie: Bonds (2008)
- Naruto the Movie: Blood Prison (2011)
- The Last: Naruto The Movie (2014)
Naruto The Movie: Guardians Of The Crescent Moon Kingdom (2006)
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+ 5Our first film on the list takes place roughly during the events of the 200th episode of the original show, and is the third Naruto film released. To accompany the king's son, Naruto, Kakashi, Rock Lee, and Sakura are dispatched on a mission. Things go wrong after taking on what seemed to be a small task, as they often do for Naruto.
As a technically non-canon film, after the movie, the Crescent Moon Kingdom and Naruto's Crescent Rasengan have never been seen again. Understandably, this may turn off some fans. Rock Lee made sure that the Uchiha wouldn't be missed, even though Sasuke wasn't in the film. Rock Lee along with Team 7 worked incredibly well, and the film's unique combat style gave audiences a real treat.
Naruto Shippuden The Movie (2007)
click to enlarge + 5This movie follows Naruto, Neji, Rock Lee, and Sakura as they attempt to stop a monster by the name of Moryo from annihilating the world. It is the first Shippuden movie to portray a teenage Naruto, instead of his childhood self.
The movie is notable for Rock Lee murdering someone after consuming an alcoholic treat. That's far from its quirkiest moment: Naruto consents to father a priestess' baby without understanding what he truly needed to do. Despite being a little strange at times, and incorporating several otherworldly and celestial elements that wouldn't be used in the show until much later, its unique elements make it worth a watch
Naruto's shenanigans are the film's high point. He is regarded as a knucklehead with the capacity to do a wide range of crazy things but here he outdoes all of his past foolish actions in this film. You'll never see him characterised quite like he is here!
Naruto Shippuden The Movie: Bonds (2008)
click to enlarge + 5Contrary to several other Naruto films, which are simply filler, this one genuinely added to the overall story of the series. While accompanying a young ninja and her teacher to their ravaged village, Naruto, Hinata, and Sakura crossed paths with Sasuke's plan for Orochimaru.
A while after, the Land of the Sky attacks Konoha in retaliation for what transpired in the Second Great Ninja War. From there, the gang attempts to find a way to thwart the Land of the Sky's plans. That's while also battling another 'tailed' creature, this time the Zero-Tails, which assumes the form of a chakra-sucking leech.
To find out about Orochimaru's reincarnation, Sasuke goes to the same town, as a character-driven side quest. Throughout the remainder of the series, the missing ninja would benefit from that research. It's a wonderful little addition to Orochimaru's tale, and it still makes for a fun movie where Naruto and Sasuke are compelled to work together for a little while to fight a common foe.
Naruto The Movie: Blood Prison (2011)
click to enlarge + 5Even by Naruto's high standards, the Blood Prison is a sinister place. It is therefore a little strange that a child would be put there, but the Naruto series has never adhered to the norm. In the film, Naruto is framed for an attempt to kill the Raikage, thus winding up in jail. As expected, Naruto doesn't behave like a perfect inmate while in the Blood Prison. Instead, he consistently fights against the adult prisoners, aware that something is wrong.
Naruto must then deal with a conspiracy to let a demon out of a locked container. Naturally, the presence of a chakra inhibitor doesn't seem to have much of an impact on Naruto, even though he almost perishes near the end of the movie, one of the few instances in which Naruto's life has been in danger.
The usage of a unique Fire Release technique, which has the power to seal a person's chakra, is demonstrated in the film. Once the seal has been applied, the person is unable to shape chakra, and if they venture far away from the caster, they perish in a fiery explosion. That's much more intense than your average Naruto movie.
The Last: Naruto The Movie (2014)
click to enlarge + 5The final entry in our list is a unique kind of Naruto franchise film. Fans will attempt to determine where the other films fit into the timeline, but only this one has been formally acknowledged as canon. To cover some of the voids left by the time skip, it takes place between chapters 699 and 700.
In the film, Hinata embarks on a quest to protect the world with Naruto, Shikamaru, Sakura, and Sai. Naruto confronts yet another difficult challenge as he attempts to combat Toneri Otsutsuki after beating an Otsutsuki in the Fourth Great Ninja War. Toneri, an Otsutsuki clan member, kidnaps Hinata's sister to steal her Byakugan eyes.
The Last not only demonstrates how far Naruto has come within these two years, but it also establishes his romantic life, which had been hinted at for the entirety of the series prior. During the conflict, Naruto punches Toneri while in Six Paths Sage Mode, nearly destroying the moon in the process. Fans eventually witnessed Naruto's emotions, as he completely realised the extent of his affection for Hinata, who had cherished Naruto ever since she was a young child.
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Although not all of the Naruto films on our list are regarded as canon for the series, they all offer some intriguing alliances and adventures. Some feature time travel, some are romantic stories, and others highlight locations not previously featured in the series, to further develop the fictitious setting.
Even though most Naruto fans will consider these movies amusing, not all of them are good enough to justify the time required to watch. Most of these movies are also not canon, so missing a few won't prevent the audience from learning important details.
And with this, we come to the end of our list of the best Naruto Movies. As an anime fan, feel free to also check out our list of the best new anime of 2022. If you're a gamer, you can also take a look at the best One Piece Roblox games.