Demon Slayer: How and where to watch the hit anime series (and movies!) in order

Although we know it’s coming, it’s going to be awhile before the fourth season of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba arrives on our screens. (We do know that the season is currently mid-production at time of writing, however.) While that’s a sad thing on one hand — no new Demon Slayer for months! — there is an upside: it gives you time to rewatch the entire series from the start.

(It’s possible that you’re reading this having never watched the series before. If that’s the case: welcome! Just ignore the “re” in “rewatch” in that last sentence, and everything will be fine.)

Known for its dramatic moments, high-stakes fights, and beautiful animation style, particularly when characters use their signature attacks, Demon Slayer — based on the manga by Koyoharu Gotouge — is filled with tragedy as well as sparks of hope and love that can flicker on even beyond death, making it irresistible to many. Despite being organized into several distinct arcs, knowing how to watch Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba in either chronological or release order can be tricky given that some sections are repeated in both the television series and the film. Here is everything you need to know about this hit anime, and what to expect from it next.

How to watch Demon Slayer in chronological order

The episodes of Demon Slayer play out largely in chronological order, despite the many flashbacks that the series features. These flashbacks usually only take up a portion of the episode and are used to flesh out the backstory of the demon that Tanjiro and his friends are currently facing; as such, they don’t really affect the watch order of the show, though they can have a big impact on its pacing.

The confusion comes from the inclusion of the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train, which covers the Mugen Train Arc of the manga. Portions of these two movies were then reused during the anime series with added scenes, meaning that there is some repeated material. Because of this repetition, we recommend watching either the movies or the the corresponding arcs of the anime.

Here is the chronological watch order for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba:

• The Final Selection Arc – Episodes 1-5
• Kidnapper’s Bog Arc – Episodes 6-7
• Asakusa Arc – Episodes 8-10
• Tsuzumi Mansion Arc – Episodes 11-14
• Mount Natagumo Arc – Episodes 15-21
• Rehabilitation Training Arc – Episodes 22-26
• Mugen Train Arc – Episode 27
• Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train
• Mugen Train Arc, continued – Episodes 28-33 (Note that content from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train was used in these episodes, effectively making it a repeat of the movie with limited additional scenes.)
• Entertainment District Arc – Episodes 34-44
• Demon Slayer: Kimestu no Yaiba – To The Swordsmith Village
• The Swordsmith Village Arc – Episodes 45 - 55 (Note that the first two episodes of this arc were included in the To The Swordsmith Village movie.

How to watch Demon Slayer in release order

It is much easier to watch Demon Slayer in release order since you don’t have to skip between the anime and the film. This is the approach we recommend you take. Again, we would suggest watching either the Mugen Train arc in the anime or in the film, as watching both creates unnecessary repetition.

Here is the release order for the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba anime:

Season 1

• The Final Selection Arc – Episodes 1-5
• Kidnapper’s Bog Arc – Episodes 6-7
• Asakusa Arc – Episodes 8-10
• Tsuzumi Mansion Arc – Episodes 11-14
• Mount Natagumo Arc – Episodes 15-21
• Rehabilitation Training Arc – Episodes 22-26

Season 2

• Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train
• Mugen Train Arc – Episodes 27-33
• Entertainment District Arc – Episodes 34-44

Season 3

• The Swordsmith Village arc - Episodes 45-55

Where can I watch Demon Slayer?

There are episodes for Demon Slayer on several different streaming platforms, depending on where you live. Netflix has the first 33 episodes of the show and, in some territories, the Mugen Train movie. You can also stream the first 26 episodes of the show on Amazon Prime, though it isn’t included in your Prime membership.

However, if you want to watch every episode of Demon Slayer and the film all in one place, you’ll want to stream it on Crunchyroll.

What is next for Demon Slayer?

As soon as the third season of the anime had completed, Japanese fans were given the good news with an announcement of an upcoming fourth season was aired immediately after the episode.

The new season will adapt the Hashira Training arc, the official synopsis of which runs as follows: "Tanjiro goes to see the Stone Hashira, Himejima, who intends to prepare him for the battles to come. The training to become a Hashira—a high-ranking member of the Demon Slayer Corps—is intense and demanding. Earning Himejima's approval seems impossible, but Tanjiro won't give up! Meanwhile, the demon lord Muzan continues to search for the location of Nezuko and Ubuyashiki."

No release date has been announced for the fourth season, but to date, Demon Slayer seasons have arrived in two-year intervals: Season 1 in 2019, Season 2 in 2021, and Season 3 this year. If this frequency continues, expect the fourth season at some point in 2025.

There are currently no other announced plans for more Demon Slayer films in the works, though that could change.

Want more information about the show straight from the mouth of Tanjiro’s English voice actor? We’ve got the full New York Comic Con 2022 Demon Slayer panel with Zach Aguilar for you to watch.