Death Note is the latest manga/anime to receive a Netflix live-action TV show adaptation. The new series will be produced by the Duffer Brothers’ production company Upside Down Pictures. Since the series is still in early development and lacks a release date, now is the perfect time to catch up on the franchise. This guide will explain how to watch every Death Note TV show and movie in order and online before the new series releases using popular streaming services like Netflix, Prime Video and more!
The franchise began in 2006 with Death Note, an anime series based on the manga of the same name. The show follows Light Yagami, a high school student who discovers a supernatural notebook with the power to kill anyone whose name he writes inside it. Under the eye of the notebook’s previous owner, the Shinigami Ryuk, Light decides to use the notebook to rid the world of all criminals. However, his naive pursuit of justice soon catches the attention of the police, including world-renowned detective L.
Death Note quickly captivated audiences with its haunting tale and morally ambiguous conflict. As a result, director Shusuke Kaneko wasted no time in helming the first live-action Death Note movie, followed by the sequel Death Note: The Last Name. The films received a positive reception and offered an alternate ending to the anime. Following the live-action movies, the franchise began moving towards original stories with the web series Death Note: New Generation and spin-off film Death Note: Light Up the New World, which follows a cyberterrorist who seeks to continue Light’s legacy.
The web series and spinoff received mixed reviews and, to date, are the only projects to tackle original stories. However, each manga adaptation has managed to set itself apart from the other. For example, the 2015 live-action Death Note series added a few unique twists and leaned more towards drama elements rather than horror. Meanwhile, Netflix’s 2017 film adaption, Death Note, put an American spin on the tale by setting it within Seattle and signing Nat Wolff, LaKeith Stanfield, and Willem Dafoe as the lead cast.
Unfortunately, the Netflix movie received poor reviews from viewers who felt that the adaptation had missed the themes and purpose of the original story. Despite the tepid reception to its film, Netflix decided to go ahead with a TV adaptation of Death Note, with promises to take into account the fan criticism of the movie and find a better direction for the show.
Given Netflix's recent success with live-action adaptations like One Piece and Avatar: The Last Airbender, the upcoming Death Note series has potential.
Where to watch every Death Note TV show and movie online
For those interested in delving into the franchise before the new series, there is only one watch order, as the chronological and release date orders are the same. Here is how to watch every Death Note TV show and movie in the United States!