Anime fan for 15 years. Covers shonen, seasonal previews, and the occasional deep dive.
How to Watch Jujutsu Kaisen in Order
Jujutsu Kaisen has a small but real watch order problem: a prequel film, Jujutsu Kaisen 0, was released between Season 1 and Season 2. Some fans recommend watching it first; others insist Season 1 should come first. Both have merit — but only one is the intended order.
Here's the cleanest way to experience the whole series so far.
The Recommended Watch Order
This is the order MAPPA and the manga's author Gege Akutami recommend:
- 1Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1 (Episodes 1–24)
- 2Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (the film)
- 3Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 (Episodes 1–23)
- 4Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 (currently airing / completed)
Why this order? Jujutsu Kaisen 0 is technically a prequel set one year before the main story, but it works much better as an emotional payoff after Season 1. Watching Season 1 first gives you the context to recognize and care about the characters who appear in JJK 0. The film also drops major spoilers about Season 2's main themes — watching it first dilutes them.
The Alternative: Chronological Order
Some viewers prefer to watch in story-chronological order:
- 1Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (the film)
- 2Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1
- 3Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2
- 4Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3
Pros of chronological: You see events unfold in story-order, and Yuta Okkotsu (the JJK 0 protagonist) is set up properly before his Season 2 cameo.
Cons of chronological: JJK 0 was made after Season 1 with the assumption you'd seen it. Several emotional beats land harder if you already know the main cast. You also miss the experience of Season 2's plot twists landing fresh.
Our verdict: Watch in release order (the recommended order above). It's how the team intended the story to unfold.
Episode Count and Arc Breakdown
Here's what you're committing to.
Season 1 (24 episodes)
- Cursed Womb arc (eps 1–4): Yuji's introduction to Jujutsu Tech
- Vs. Mahito arc (eps 5–13): Junior High mission
- Kyoto Goodwill Event (eps 14–21): Inter-school tournament
- Origin of Obedience (eps 22–24): Setup for Season 2
Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (the film, ~105 minutes)
A self-contained prequel about Yuta Okkotsu and the curse of his childhood friend Rika.
Season 2 (23 episodes)
- Hidden Inventory / Premature Death arc (eps 1–5): Gojo's past — essential viewing
- Shibuya Incident arc (eps 6–23): The arc that broke the internet, widely considered one of the greatest in modern shounen
Season 3
The Culling Game arc, currently airing as of 2026.
Where to Watch
Jujutsu Kaisen is available on:
- Crunchyroll — All seasons, simulcast
- Netflix — Available in many regions, often a season behind
- Hulu — Available in the US
Jujutsu Kaisen 0 the film:
- Crunchyroll — Available to stream
- Apple TV / Amazon — Available to rent or buy
What If You're Coming from the Manga?
If you've already read the JJK manga and want to know where the anime is:
- Season 1 covers chapters 1–63 (mostly faithful, some tweaks)
- JJK 0 adapts the prequel one-shot
- Season 2 covers chapters 64–136 (the most acclaimed adaptation work MAPPA has done)
- Season 3 continues from chapter 137 onward
Pacing Tips
- The Hidden Inventory arc in Season 2 is the best 5-episode run of the entire series so far. Don't skip ahead because it's "backstory."
- Episode 17 of Season 2 is the single most talked-about JJK episode. Watch it well-rested and not on a phone.
- JJK 0 movie runs around 105 minutes — a perfect post-Season-1 movie night.
Continue Exploring
Want similar shows after JJK? Try Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War for another high-budget shounen, or Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku for similar dark fantasy energy. Browse our shows directory for more.
If you've seen a JJK frame online and can't pin down the episode, our screenshot identifier will find it instantly — JJK fans share screenshots constantly, and they're easy to lose track of.