The Naruto Movies: A Complete Guide to All 11 Films
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Eleven feature films, only two that matter. The Naruto movie saga can get confusing fast: this guide separates the bonus adventures of the original era — Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow (2004), Legend of the Stone of Gelel (2005), Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom (2006) — from the six films of the Shippuden era, then singles out the only two canon titles, The Last and Boruto. Release dates, canon or non-canon status, and place in the story are all gathered in a summary table.
Eleven feature films, but only two that really matter to the official story: the Naruto movie saga can get confusing fast. Here is the complete guide to the Naruto movies, from the "bonus" adventures of the original era to the two canon films supervised by creator Masashi Kishimoto, along with their release dates and their place in the timeline.
Contents
The Naruto Movie Saga at a Glance
Between 2004 and 2015, Studio Pierrot produced eleven Naruto movies released in theaters in Japan. Two families have to be told apart: nine non-canon films (standalone adventures with no impact on the main plot) and two canon films — The Last (2014) and Boruto: Naruto the Movie (2015) — supervised by Kishimoto and folded into the official timeline.
A fun little detail: the nine non-canon films all came out in the middle of summer (July-August), while The Last broke the habit with a December release.
The canon film The Last seals the romance between Naruto and Hinata: the perfect figure for fans of the couple.
The Naruto-Era Trilogy (2004-2006)
The first three movies run alongside the first part of the series, when Naruto Uzumaki and Team 7 take on one escort mission after another:
- Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow (August 21, 2004), released in France under the title Naruto et la Princesse des neiges:Team 7 escorts actress Yukie to the Land of Snow.
- Legend of the Stone of Gelel (August 6, 2005): Naruto, Shikamaru, and Sakura are caught up in the struggle over the mysterious Stone of Gelel.
- Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom (August 5, 2006): Team 7 and Rock Lee protect a prince from a coup.
The Six Shippuden-Era Movies (2007-2012)
With Naruto Shippuden, six new films see the light of day. They all remain non-canon, even the last one despite Kishimoto's involvement:
- Naruto Shippuden the Movie (August 4, 2007): Naruto protects the priestess Shion, who has predicted Naruto's death.
- Bonds (August 2, 2008): ninja from the Land of the Sky attack Konoha; Naruto briefly crosses paths there again with Sasuke.
- The Will of Fire (August 1, 2009): holders of kekkei genkai go missing, against the backdrop of a looming new war.
- The Lost Tower (July 31, 2010): Naruto is thrown twenty years into the past.
- Blood Prison (July 27, 2011): wrongly accused, Naruto is imprisoned in Hozuki Castle.
- Road to Ninja (July 28, 2012): the first film for which Kishimoto wrote the story and new designs, but the plot unfolds in an alternate reality created by a genjutsu — so it remains non-canon.
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The Two Canon Movies: The Last and Boruto
These are the only films that move the official story forward, because Kishimoto personally supervised them:
- The Last: Naruto the Movie (December 6, 2014): set about two years after the Fourth Great Ninja War , it pits the heroes against Toneri Otsutsuki to stop the Moon from crashing down — and it seals the romance between Naruto and Hinata. It bridges the gap to the manga's epilogue.
- Boruto: Naruto the Movie (August 7, 2015): Boruto, the son of Naruto, now Hokage, faces Momoshiki and Kinshiki during the Chunin Exams. It launches the next generation.
🦊 The Hidden Sand ninja Gaara and the other heroes can keep you company in plush form too: find them in our Naruto plush toys.
Summary Table of the 11 Movies
| Movie | Release (Japan) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow | August 21, 2004 | Non-canon |
| Legend of the Stone of Gelel | August 6, 2005 | Non-canon |
| Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom | August 5, 2006 | Non-canon |
| Naruto Shippuden the Movie | August 4, 2007 | Non-canon |
| Bonds (Kizuna) | August 2, 2008 | Non-canon |
| The Will of Fire | August 1, 2009 | Non-canon |
| The Lost Tower | July 31, 2010 | Non-canon |
| Blood Prison | July 27, 2011 | Non-canon |
| Road to Ninja | July 28, 2012 | Non-canon |
| The Last: Naruto the Movie | December 6, 2014 | Canon |
| Boruto: Naruto the Movie | August 7, 2015 | Canon |
The orange hero in cuddly form: the Naruto Uzumaki plush toy, perfect for a movie marathon night.
FAQ
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How many Naruto movies are there?Eleven feature films were released in theaters in Japan between 2004 and 2015, produced by Studio Pierrot.
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Which Naruto movies are canon?Only two: The Last: Naruto the Movie (2014) and Boruto: Naruto the Movie (2015), both supervised by Masashi Kishimoto. The other nine are non-canon adventures with no impact on the main plot.
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What is the first Naruto movie?Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow, released in Japan on August 21, 2004 (French title: Naruto et la Princesse des neiges).
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Is Road to Ninja canon, since Kishimoto took part in it?No. Kishimoto wrote its story and new designs, but the plot unfolds in an alternate reality created by a genjutsu: the film remains non-canon.
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Where do The Last and Boruto fall in the timeline?The Last takes place about two years after the Fourth Great Ninja War, before the manga's epilogue; Boruto is set after that epilogue, at the time when Naruto has become Hokage.
In summary
For the Naruto movies, the rule is simple: the first nine are bonuses you can watch whenever you like, while The Last and Boruto: Naruto the Movie are the ones to watch to follow the official story through to the new generation.
🛍️ Extend the saga at home with our selection of Naruto figures: your favorite movie characters, ready to join your shelf.
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