As one of the longest-running and most popular Shonen manga in the last 20 years, it's no surprise that Naruto would also get the feature film treatment somewhere along the way. While it hasn't had as many films under its belt as other franchises, it has more than enough to fill a fan's binge-watching quota several times over.
While most Naruto fans will find these films entertaining, not all of them are worth the time it takes to watch them. The majority of these films are also not a part of the canon story, so missing out on one or two won't leave the audience missing any crucial information. Which is the best Naruto movie? Which is the weakest?
Updated April 27, 2023, by Suzail Ahmad: Naruto is easily one of the biggest anime franchises in the world. Masashi Kishimoto's manga has received several anime adaptations, light novels, spin-offs, video game titles, and movies. Almost every single thing inspired by Naruto has drawn a great deal of attention, which is the main reason why it kept on adding different items to its catalog. The Naruto movies are the culmination of the hard work of the animators and the writers. It is because of their effort that the movies were successful. To make them more interesting, each Naruto movie was given a unique villain. With eleven movies vying for the title of best Naruto movie, the main villains definitely make all the difference. Fans may be interested to learn more about the main villains of every Naruto movie and their special abilities.
11 Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom (6.3)
- Release Date: August 5, 2006
Taking place in Naruto's younger years, Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom sees Team 7, with the addition of Rock Lee in place of Sasuke, travel to the Land of the Moon to protect a young prince and his father. While the film is a standard fan-fare that most fans will enjoy, it also adds new Jutsu to both Rock Lee and Naruto's arsenal that are, unfortunately, never seen again due to the film being non-canon.
Highlight: While Sasuke was not a part of the movie, Rock Lee ensured that no one would miss the Uchiha. Rock Lee's synergy with Team 7 was outstanding, and his fighting style provided a unique experience for the viewers.
Main Villain: Guardians of the Cresent Moon is a unique movie in the sense that the main villain does not have any powerful ninjutsu. However, Shadababa is smart and capable of turning people against each other.
10 Legend of the Stone of Gelel (6.4)
- Release Date: August 6, 2005
Like the previous film, Legend of the Stone of Gelel sees an altered version of Team 7, this time with Shikamaru Nara in place of Sasuke rather than Rock Lee. Although the film begins with the team searching for a lost ferret, it quickly turns into a fight against strange robotic warriors and a man hell-bent on remaking the world in his image. Like Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom, this anime sees Naruto learn a new form of Rasengan that he also never uses again.
Highlight: The highlight of the movie is definitely Naruto's special Rasengan. The Rasengan that he uses is green and orange, and it proved to be enough to destroy the stone.
Main Villain: The Stone of Gelel was a highly coveted artifact that was blessed with an unbelievable amount of power. Haido, the main villain, wanted to get his hands on the stone in order to control everyone. Once he found the stone, Haido used its power to enhance his physical abilities to the point where he could take on multiple strong ninjas at the same time.
9 Clash in the Land of Snow (6.6)
- Release Date: August 21, 2004
This film is fairly standard for early Naruto features, seeing Team 7 go on what should have been a relatively simple mission that quickly spirals out of control when they dive in without knowing all the facts of the case. While Clash in the Land of Snow is notable for Sasuke actually appearing on his team, the reason why this film is memorable isn't that Naruto's emo best friend finally decided to show up for work.
Included in the Japanese release of the film was also a 10-minute short that showed Naruto's inability to go to the bathroom during a sporting event, which also portrayed almost every character in Naruto whether they were supposed to be alive at the time or not, including the Fourth Hokage.
Highlight: The movie lays stress on the main theme of the anime. It acts as a good means to reiterate the ideas of determination, guts, and confidence in one's own self.
Main Villain: The primary antagonist of the movie was Doto. He was the leader of the Land of Snow. Doto was skilled at using ice and snow. He would use them to create giant figurines that he would then use to attack his enemies.
8 Naruto Shippuden the Movie (6.7)
- Release Date: August 4, 2007
Naruto Shippuden the Movie is the first Shippuden film that shows a teenage Naruto rather than his younger self. This film follows Naruto, Sakura, Neji, and Rock Lee as they try to stop a demon named Moryo from destroying the world.
While the film is a little weird in some places, introducing several supernatural and cosmic elements that wouldn't come into play in the series until much later, it is notable for having Rock Lee drunkenly murder someone after eating an alcoholic candy and Naruto agreeing for father a priestesses child without knowing what he actually needed to do.
Highlight: The highlight of the movie is undoubtedly Naruto's goofiness. He is known to be a knucklehead, who is capable of doing all kinds of outrageous things. However, in this movie, he surpasses all of his previous stupid stunts when he unknowingly agrees to become the father of Shion's baby.
Main Villain: After completing its transformation, Moryo is able to wreak havoc with its incredible physical power. The creature could even create an army made of stones that was almost indestructible. Moryo's host also had their limitations removed.
7 Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Bonds (6.8)
- Release Date: August 2, 2008
Shortly after Konoha is attacked by the Land of the Sky in retribution for what happened during the Second Great Ninja War, Naruto, Sakura, and Hinata try to find a way to stop the Land of the Sky from carrying out their assault plans while also having to deal with another 'tailed" beast, this time the Zero-Tails that takes the form of a chakra absorbing leech. Bonds also sees Sasuke return to help Naruto, though he quickly leaves to keep training with Orochimaru once his work is done.
Highlight: The movie sees Sasuke Uchiha return to action after leaving the Hidden Leaf to train under Orochimaru. In the movie, Sasuke and Naruto team up to defeat Shinno. The two combine their attacks to take down the enemy.
Main Villain: Naruto had to face Shinno, who was a very well-rounded ninja. He was both physically and mentally strong enough to pose a threat to the Hidden Leaf ninjas. Shinno was well-versed in regeneration techniques, and he was a master of using dark chakra. He would often combine the dark chakra with his Body Revival technique to become stronger.
6 Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Lost Tower (6.8)
- Release Date: July 31, 2010
Many other Naruto stories tend to focus on someone trying to either destroy Konoha, the world, or simply gain power in one way or another. The Lost Tower takes these elements and adds a twist of time travel that sees Naruto and Yamato travel 20 years into the past to work together with Minato and a young Kakashi to seal off the power of a ninja named Mukade, who intends to use the power of an ancient chakra source for various evil shenanigans.
Highlight: Naruto's meeting with Minato is easily the highlight of The Lost Tower. The two of them work together and join their powers to create a special Rasengan to take down the enemy.
Main Villain: Mukade was a missing ninja who had big dreams. He wanted to change the past and become an influential minister. Mukade's original body was weak, but he did take control of a puppet that was fitted with various kinds of weapons. He could also travel through time by absorbing the seal placed on the Ryumyaku.
5 Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Will Of Fire (7.0)
- Release Date: August 1, 2009
After several people start to lose their Kekkei Genkai abilities, with the exception of Konoha, many high-ranking ninjas begin to suspect that the Land of Fire is planning to initiate another ninja war and plan to strike first before anything can come of it. Along with Sakura and Sai, Naruto attempts to get to the bottom of the mystery while having to deal with a mind-controlled Kakashi as well.
Most notable for this film is that, unlike many others that came before it, Naruto saves the day with a Rasengan that he has actually used before, the Wind Release Rasengan, rather than one made up for the film that is never used again.
Highlight: The Will of Fire ends on a very hilarious note as Naruto mistakes Kakashi's smile for something creepy. All the members of Konoha 11 give their opinion about Kakashi and his sexuality. In the meantime, Kakashi chases Naruto in order to clear up the confusion.
Main Villain: Hiruko wanted to start the Fourth Great Ninja War so that the world would be engulfed by chaos. In order to compensate for his lack of power, Hiruko used the Chimera Technique to steal Kekkei Genkai from other people.
4 Naruto the Movie: Blood Prison (7.1)
- Release Date: July 30, 2011
In a rather bold opening, Blood Prison sees Naruto arrested for, allegedly, attacking the Fourth Raikage, before having to deal with a plot to release a demon from a locked container while wearing a chakra inhibitor. The addition of a chakra inhibitor, of course, doesn't seem to affect Naruto all that much, though he does nearly die towards the end of the film and marks one of the few times where Naruto's life has actually been in danger.
Highlight: The movie showcases the use of a special Fire Release technique that is capable of sealing the chakra of an individual. Once the seal is placed on a user, they cannot mold chakra and if they stray too far from the applier, they burst into flames and die.
Main Villain: In Blood Prison, Naruto had to face many challenges, but the biggest of them all was fighting Muku. Like most Naruto villains, Muku had a rough past, which made him go down the wrong path. Muku was able to use Fire Release, and after becoming Satori's host, he gained the power to shoot energy balls and feathers.
3 The Last: Naruto the Movie (7.6)
- Release Date: December 6, 2014
One of the few canon Naruto films, The Last bridges the gap between Naruto and Sasuke's climactic fight at the end of Naruto Shippuden and the epilogue that begins the sequel series, Boruto: Naturo Next Generations. Two years after the conclusion of Shippuden, Hinata's sister is kidnapped by Toneri, a member of the Otsutsuki clan, in order to take her Byakugan eyes. As well as seeing just how far Naruto has come in those two years, The Last also finally sets up Naruto and Hinata's romance that had been teased for the majority of the series beforehand.
Highlight: After defeating an Otsutsuki during the Fourth Great Ninja War, Naruto faces another stern test while trying to fight Toneri Otsutsuki. During the fight, Naruto uses Six Paths Sage Mode to land a punch on Toneri, which results in the destruction of almost the entire moon.
Main Villain: Toneri's goal was to use the Tenseigan to carry out Hamura's wish. However, he had to gain enough power to go through with the undertaking. When Toneri stole Hanabi's Byakugan, he awakened the Tenseigan in his eyes. This enabled him to cause a lot of trouble for Naruto and Co.
2 Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie (7.6)
- Release Date: July 28, 2012
In a somewhat odd side story involving the Akatsuki, Tobi, and the White Zetsu, Naruto and Sakura are sent into a miniature version of the Infinite Tsukuyomi by Tobi while he tries to get his hands on the Red Moon Scroll. This film serves as a way for Naruto to not only see the kind of life he had missed, as this alternate reality shows life if his parents were still alive, but also allows him to come to terms with the family he already has, namely Iruka.
Highlight: The highlight of the movie is definitely the part that shows an alternate reality to the viewers. Naruto and Sakura see different versions of their friends, which teaches them a lot of valuable lessons.
Main Villain: Menma was revealed as the main villain toward the end of the movie. He was the alternate version of Naruto, so there was not much difference between him and the real deal. Menma possessed the black Nine-Tails, which was extremely dangerous. After Tobi took control over his body, Menma also temporarily gained the Sharingan.
1 Boruto: Naruto The Movie (7.8)
- Release Date: August 7, 2015
Shortly after The Last, another canon film featuring Naruto was released in Boruto. Taking place several years after the events of Shippuden, Boruto follows Naruto's son, the titular ninja, who has to deal with his father's job as the Seventh Hokage taking him away from his family while also training alongside Sasuke to free his father from new members of the Otsutsuki clan who have returned to claim Kuruma in order to make a chakra fruit that will make them immortal.
Boruto: Naruto The Movie is generally considered to be the best Naruto movie, by both fans and critics alike. The movie's success later led to its story being expanded upon for the first season of the sequel series, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, with a few notable changes made to the events.
Highlight: The standout moment of Boruto: Naruto the Movie is when Naruto and Sasuke unleash their true power and overwhelm Momoshiki. This leaves the Otsutsuki extremely perplexed as he cannot believe that two humans could defeat him.
Main Villain: Part of the movie's success was its incredibly powerful villain. Momoshiki Otsutsuki served as the main antagonist of the movie, and he had access to the Byakugan and the Rinnegan. Momoshiki could absorb all kinds of jutsu and release them with increased power.