Demon Slayer is one of those anime that looks straightforward at first, until its mix of television seasons and theatrical releases starts to complicate things.
If you are trying to figure out the Demon Slayer watch order, you are not alone.
Between different seasons, movie arcs, and story continuations that overlap in content, it is easy to second-guess where to start or what to skip.
Here is the correct viewing order for every season and movie, so you can follow Tanjiro Kamado’s journey without confusion or unnecessary repetition.
What is Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba?
Demon Slayer began as a manga created by Koyoharu Gotouge. It was first published by Shueisha in Weekly Shonen Jump, with serialization running from February 15, 2016, to May 18, 2020. The series steadily built an audience before becoming one of the most commercially successful manga of its era.
The anime adaptation was produced by ufotable and premiered on April 6, 2019. Its first season aired until September 28, 2019, immediately standing out for its animation quality and action choreography.
Subsequent seasons continued adapting the manga in chronological order, reinforcing the need for a clear viewing sequence as the franchise expanded.
In addition to its television seasons, the series includes multiple theatrical films. The first, Demon Slayer Mugen Train, was released in Japan on October 16, 2020, and went on to become a historic box office success. It became the highest-grossing film ever in Japan and the highest-grossing Japanese anime film worldwide, cementing the franchise’s mainstream appeal.
The story’s final arc, Infinity Castle, is being adapted as a trilogy of theatrical films, officially positioning the anime’s conclusion on the big screen.
While these films have not yet completed their release cycle, they are widely regarded as the franchise’s most anticipated entries, following the unprecedented success of Mugen Train and the anime’s continued global popularity.
The correct Demon Slayer watch order
Demon Slayer follows a linear timeline set during Japan’s Taisho era (1912–1926). There are no time skips in the main story, only short flashbacks that appear naturally as part of a character’s backstory. These are meant to be watched in sequence and do not change the overall viewing order.
Most of the confusion about the watch order comes from the franchise’s movies. Some films adapt full story arcs that also exist as TV episodes, while others are compilation releases that combine the end of one season with the opening episodes of the next.
Knowing which entries overlap helps avoid unnecessary rewatching.
How to watch Demon Slayer in order: All seasons and movies
| TITLE | RELEASE DATE | EPISODE COUNT/MOVIE DURATION | MANGA CHAPTERS | STORY ARCS | SEASON/MOVIE OVERLAP | DESCRIPTION |
| Season 1 | April 6 to September 28, 2019 | 26 episodes | Chapters 1 to 53 | Final Selection First Missions Asakusa Tsuzumi Mansion Mount Natagumo Rehabilitation Training | None | The complete first season and the starting point of the series. |
| Mugen Train movie | October 16, 2020 | 1 hour 57 minutes | Chapters 54 to 69 | Mugen Train | Season 2 episodes 1 to 7 | Continuation of season 1, adapted as a theatrical film. |
| Season 2 | October 10, 2021 to February 13, 2022 | 18 episodes | Chapters 54 to 97 | Mugen Train Entertainment District | The opening of the To the Swordsmith Village movie | Episodic version of the Mugen Train movie with the Entertainment District arc. If you’ve seen the Mugen Train movie, go straight to episode 8. |
| To the Swordsmith Village movie | February 3, 2023 | Season 2 finale and season 3 premier | Chapters 97–101 | Entertainment District finale Swordsmith Village opening | Season 2 episode 10 and 11 Season 3 episode 1 | If you’ve seen season 2, go straight to season 3. |
| Season 3 | April 9 to June 18, 2023 | 11 episodes | Chapters 100–127 | Swordsmith Village | The second half of the To the Swordsmith Village movie | Direct continuation of the Demon Slayer story from season 2. |
| To the Hashira Training | February 2, 2024 | Season 3 finale and season 4 premiere | Chapters 127–136 | Swordsmith Village finale Hashira Training opening | Season 3 episodes 9, 10, and 11 Season 4 episode 1 | If you’ve seen season 3, go straight to season 4. |
| Season 4 | May 12 to June 30, 2024 | 8 episodes | Chapters 128–136 | Hashira Training | The opening of the To the Hashira Training movie | Direct continuation of the Demon Slayer story from season 3. |
| Infinity Castle Part 1 | July 18, 2025 | 2 hours and 35 minutes | Chapters 137 onward | Infinity Castle | None | First theatrical film adapting the Infinity Castle arc. Start of the anime’s final trilogy. |
What comes after the current watch order?
As of now, there has been no official announcement for a Demon Slayer season 5. Instead, the anime’s final storyline, the Infinity Castle arc, is being adapted into a trilogy of theatrical films rather than a traditional TV season.
The first film, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle part 1, released in 2025. Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle part 2 is expected to be released in 2027 while part 3 wraps up the series in 2029.
