Every Naruto Movie Ranked Worst To Best
"Naruto" began its life as a manga series in 1999. The story of the young ninja with a powerful nine-tailed fox sealed away inside him was eventually adapted into an anime television series in 2002, with a follow-up series, "Naruto: Shippûden," beginning in 2007 and ending in 2017. A second spin-off show, "Boruto: Naruto Next Generations," picks the story up from there, following the children of the original characters.
Along the way, 11 animated "Naruto" films have been released, most of which are only loosely connected to the canon of the show. Of course, some have more influence on the "Naruto" franchise's mythology than others. Most of the films are still worth watching for fans, and they're full of interesting stories, emotional themes, and intriguing characters.
If you're curious to find out which of the "Naruto" movies rise above the rest, read on as we rank the action-packed films from the absolute worst to the transcendent best.
11. Naruto Shippûden the Movie: The Will of Fire (2009)
The sixth overall "Naruto" film and the third tied directly into the "Naruto: Shippûden" series (set within its sixth season), "Naruto Shippûden the Movie: The Will of Fire" begins with the threat of a world war after ninjas begin disappearing from the lands of Lightning, Earth, Water, and Wind. With the Land of Fire seemingly free from attacks, they begin to be blamed for the disappearances. However, former Land of Fire villager Hiruko soon reveals himself to be the cause and seeks to obtain Kakashi's powers to help him conquer the world. It's then up to Naruto and the rest of his team to save their teacher Kakashi and stop the villainous Hiruko.
The film breaks with the familiar plotting of the five previous "Naruto" films — most of which focus largely on new characters and independent plotlines — and centers primarily on the characters from the anime, which pleased many fans. Though the film series was taking a much desired new course, the writing wasn't quite able to back it up. Fans complained of confusing plot threads and numerous elements that contradicted pre-established lore.
Barely earning an audience score of over 50% on Rotten Tomatoes, the film gave fans some of what they were asking for without putting in the effort required to make it all work.
10. Naruto Shippûden the Movie: The Lost Tower (2010)
When the rogue ninja Mukade opens a seal to a powerful reservoir of ancient chakra, he winds up blasting himself and Naruto decades into the past. Teaming up with his father Minato Namikaze, Naruto must protect the past from the power-hungry Mukade in order to save the future.
The fourth "Naruto: Shippûden," film "The Lost Tower" returns to some of the familiar beats the film series has historically been known to employ, such as a self-contained villain storyline and some more heavy-handed themes. The time travel twist and the inclusion of Naruto's father Minato help to keep things somewhat fresh, though some felt that Minato was underdeveloped and missed seeing the rest of the "Naruto" supporting cast.
While the movie left some fans disappointed, resulting in an audience score of less than 60% on Rotten Tomatoes, the film still managed to rake in over $16 million at the box office – the most of any "Naruto" film at the time.
9. Naruto Shippûden the Movie: Blood Prison (2011)
In "Naruto Shippûden the Movie: Blood Prison," Naruto finds himself accused of an attempted assassination, arrested, and imprisoned in the Hozuki Castle. With access to his chakra sealed off and the castle under siege by the demonic Satori, Naruto faces a seemingly impossible challenge in escaping the terrifying prison.
Much like "The Will of Fire," the fifth "Naruto: Shippûden" film moves away from the repetitive plot points of the previous entries in the franchise and attempts something new. This time around, it seems to have paid off with the fans, earning the prison break-themed adventure a better audience reception than the previous "Shippûden" films. It seems dropping the overused moral speeches and "protecting the princess" plotlines led to better reviews for the eighth "Naruto" film.
Unfortunately, effectively straying from the formula did not translate into financial success, as "Naruto Shippûden the Movie: Blood Prison" barely broke $9 million at the box office.
8. Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom (2006)
"Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom" is the final film released in the trilogy that coincides with the original "Naruto" anime, taking place in its 5th and final season. The film follows Naruto, Kakashi, Sakura, and Rock Lee as they protect prince Hikaru Tsuki and his father Michiru during their journey home to the Land of the Moon. After Michiru buys his son an entire circus, Naruto realizes that the king and his son are more focused on material things than on what really matters. However, they soon have to overcome this when they return to their kingdom and find it overtaken by the villainous Shabadaba.
While the film is the lowest-rated entry in the original trilogy, it still holds an audience score of over 70% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, many fans consider this third film to have the weakest plot and characterization. Even the fight scenes — other than the climactic battle — aren't really up to the standards established by the previous films.
Relying on a heavy-handed message of "friendship above all," the third film coasts on themes the franchise had already tackled more successfully in the past. In addition, many were disappointed that outside of his appearance in the action sequences, bushy-browed Rock Lee was given very little to do as a character.
7. Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel (2005)
The second theatrical excursion for Naruto sees him, Shikamaru, and Sakura hunting down a lost ferret. This simple mission is soon complicated by the appearance of mechanical warriors and a mysterious fighter named Temujin. Naruto is joined by Gaara and Kankurō to stop Temujin's master Haido, who wishes to bring about a utopia no matter how many innocent lives it costs along the way.
"Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel" earned slightly less than its predecessor with a little over $10 million at the global box office. In general, audiences thought the film was a slight step down from the previous movie as well, saying that the plot was less interesting and mildly confusing at times. While the film is set during season four of the anime series, fans were disappointed that it barely tied in with the show and relegated fan-favorite "Naruto" character Gaara to more of a background character.
However, many people also said that the animation and the fight scenes were a big step up from the first "Naruto" movie, "Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow," even if the pacing and plot left something to be desired.
6. Naruto Shippûden the Movie: Bonds (2008)
When Konoha is attacked by ninjas from the Land of the Sky in "Naruto Shippûden the Movie: Bonds," Naruto, Sakura, and Hinata are joined by Amaru and Doctor Shinnō to fight back. But when Amaru is possessed by Reibi, a zero-tailed monster, and the team is ultimately betrayed, things seem to be at their darkest. However, the surprising return of Sasuke might change the group's fortunes, even if his quest is ultimately in the aid of the evil "Naruto" villain Orochimaru.
Taking place after the anime's third season, the second "Naruto: Shippûden" film fared a little less well than the prior 2007 movie, but it still earned over $10 million at the box office and landed an audience score of over 75% on Rotten Tomatoes. Fans generally enjoyed the more mature tone, but they found the plot to be too similar to "Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel" with how it handled its villain reveal. While many were excited about the appearance of Sasuke in "Bonds," his limited screen time ultimately made it feel like the character was shoehorned in for fan service, rather than actually contributing to the story.
5. Naruto Shippûden the Movie (2007)
The first film released after the "Naruto" sequel series "Naruto: Shippûden" began, "Naruto Shippûden the Movie" begins with a scene sure to shock fans. While fighting a dragon-like monster, Naruto is unable to overcome the beast and winds up impaled to death by the creature. After an emotional funeral for the beloved character, the film takes us back to before the events of the opening. Naruto, Sakura, Neji, and Rock Lee are hired to protect a priestess named Shion who has the ability to foresee people's deaths. She alone can stop Mōryō, a spirit using the body of a man named Yomi to help him conquer the planet.
This darker take on the "Naruto" story and the film's increased focus on the main characters were well received, and they helped balance out some of the more formulaic aspects of the movie's plot. These structural tweaks also helped at the box office, with the film grossing over $13 million when it was released. After the disappointing third entry in the "Naruto" film franchise, "Naruto Shippûden the Movie" felt like a step back in the right direction, earning a spectacular audience score of over 80% on Rotten Tomatoes.
4. Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow (2004)
Set after the second season of the original "Naruto" anime, the first ever film in the franchise subtitled "Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow" was released in 2004. A mostly standalone story, the movie sees Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi attempting to protect actress Yukie Fujikaze while she films her new "Princess Gale" film. However, things become more complicated when they learn that she's secretly a real princess named Koyuki Kazahana, and that she's on the run from her father's murderer, her uncle Doto Kazahana. Doto wants to find Koyuki and take from her a device that could change the Land of Snow forever.
The film grossed over $11 million at the box office and performed incredibly well when it was released on DVD. With an audience score of well over 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, fans of the anime series were delighted to see the characters in a feature-length adventure full of beautiful scenery, exciting action sequences, and delightful humor.
While this first "Naruto" film contains little that directly ties into the series' ongoing narrative, the story and characters are interesting enough to carry it along on its own terms, making it not only a great Naruto movie, but one newcomers can enjoy as well.
3. Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie (2012)
Fighting who they believe to be Madara Uchiha, Naruto and Sakura suddenly find themselves in a parallel world in which all of their friends behave differently in "Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie." While Naruto initially wants to find a way back home immediately, he's tempted to stay when he discovers his parents, Minato and Kushina, haven't died in this universe. At the same time, Sakura discovers that her parents died here and initially enjoys her newfound freedom before loneliness begins to sink in.
"Road to Ninja" is the ninth overall "Naruto" film and the sixth set during the "Shippûden" era. Specifically, the movie takes place late in the show's twelfth season, with a tie-in episode called "Road to Sakura" showing the alternate universe version of Sakura being transported to the main series.
The inventive flipping of characters and the emotional plotlines of Naruto interacting with his long-lost parents and Sakura experiencing the loss of her own all elevate the film, adding to the consistently entertaining fight scenes for which the film series has always been known. With an audience score just shy of 80% on Rotten Tomatoes and a worldwide gross of nearly $18 million, "Road to Ninja" quickly became both a critical and financial hit.
2. The Last: Naruto the Movie (2014)
"The Last: Naruto the Movie" jumps past the events that the "Naruto: Shippûden" television show were following at the time in order to wrap up some loose ends from a time gap at the end of the manga series. Now young adults, Naruto and Hinata begin to explore their romantic feelings for each other, but all of that is threatened when Toneri Otsutsuki threatens to destroy the moon and kidnaps Hinata's sister Hanabi. In order to protect her younger sibling, Hinata agrees to marry Toneri. Heartbroken, Naruto must pull himself together to save the world and his love.
Though there were some minor complaints about the lackluster villain and the mildly confusing time jump in the film, most fans were overjoyed to see a "Naruto" movie that fully addressed canon events and provided emotional closure for the romantic relationship between Naruto and Hinata. In addition, the film progressed the narrative and laid the groundwork for the following film, which focuses on Naruto and Hinata's son Boruto.
The emotionally satisfying conclusion to Naruto's character arc landed the film a Rotten Tomatoes audience score of over 80% and a box office gross of nearly $17 million.
1. Boruto: Naruto the Movie (2015)
The latest film in the "Naruto" film franchise is also its best. Now an adult, Naruto finds himself being criticized by his son Boruto for spending more time being the Hokage than he does being with his family. Determined to be a better fighter than his father, Boruto seeks out training from Sasuke Uchiha. But when Naruto sacrifices himself to save the village, Boruto must put their differences aside and find a way to save his father's spirit.
"Boruto: Naruto the Movie" far succeeded any of the previous movies in the series, grossing over $38 million worldwide. With a whopping audience score of over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, fans clearly loved the film as well. Viewers especially appreciated the emotional and poignant relationship between the beloved Naruto and his passionate son Boruto.
While the film could have been a satisfying ending for the "Naruto" series, it ended up being just the beginning for "Boruto." The film was adapted into both a manga series and an ongoing anime series that expand on the events of the film and continue the narrative. Plus, with a live-action "Naruto" film rumored to be in the works, it's possible we'll see the powerful ninja Naruto Uzumaki on the big screen again soon.