Jujutsu Kaisen Watch Order: Complete Guide Before Season 3 (2026)

New to Jujutsu Kaisen, or coming back to refresh your memory before Season 3? Here is the complete watch order — every season, the prequel movie, and exactly where the upcoming Culling Games arc fits in.

The short answer: Jujutsu Kaisen watch order

The easiest and best way to experience the series is in release order. It is how the story was designed to unfold, and it keeps every twist landing the way the creators intended:

1. Jujutsu Kaisen — Season 1 (2020, 24 episodes)
2. Jujutsu Kaisen 0 — the prequel movie (2021)
3. Jujutsu Kaisen — Season 2 (2023, 23 episodes)
4. Jujutsu Kaisen — Season 3: the Culling Games arc (Part 1 has aired)

If you only remember one rule: watch Season 1 first, then the movie, then Season 2, then jump into Season 3, whose first part is now out.

1. Jujutsu Kaisen — Season 1 (2020)

This is where everything begins. High-schooler Yuji Itadori swallows a cursed object to protect his friends and becomes the host of Ryomen Sukuna, the legendary "King of Curses." He is taken in by the secretive Tokyo Jujutsu High, where sorcerers learn to fight the curses born from human negativity. Season 1 introduces the core trio — Itadori, Megumi Fushiguro, and Nobara Kugisaki — and their impossibly powerful teacher, Satoru Gojo. It sets up the rules of cursed energy, domain expansions, and the looming threat of the cursed spirits scheming in the shadows.

2. Jujutsu Kaisen 0 — the movie (2021)

Released after Season 1, Jujutsu Kaisen 0 is actually a prequel. It follows Yuta Okkotsu, a boy haunted by the cursed spirit of his childhood friend, as he enrols at Jujutsu High roughly a year before Itadori's story starts. Although it came out second, the film stands on its own and deepens the world — especially the antagonist Suguru Geto, whose presence echoes through later seasons. You can comfortably watch it right after Season 1, which is what most fans recommend for a first run-through.

3. Jujutsu Kaisen — Season 2 (2023)

Season 2 is split into two arcs. The first, the Hidden Inventory / Premature Death arc, flashes back to Gojo and Geto's student days and shows how the strongest sorcerer of his generation became who he is. The second half is the brutal, fan-defining Shibuya Incident arc — a city-wide battle that reshapes the entire story and raises the stakes dramatically. This is widely considered the high point of the anime so far, and it leads directly into Season 3.

4. Jujutsu Kaisen — Season 3: the Culling Games

Season 3 adapts the Culling Games arc — a deadly nationwide survival game that forces sorcerers and ordinary people into lethal contests. Part 1 has now aired, picking up the fallout from the Shibuya Incident and throwing the surviving cast into their most desperate fights yet. Finishing Season 2 leaves you perfectly set up to dive straight in, with further parts of the arc still to come.

Where does Jujutsu Kaisen 0 go — before or after Season 1?

Both options work, and it comes down to taste:

• Release order (recommended): Season 1 → Movie → Season 2. You meet the main cast first, then the movie's references and cameos hit harder.
• Chronological order: Movie → Season 1 → Season 2. Since the film is set earlier in the timeline, some viewers prefer this. The trade-off is that a few emotional beats in the movie mean more after you already know the world.

For a first watch, release order is the smoother ride. Save chronological order for a rewatch.

Where to watch Jujutsu Kaisen

Jujutsu Kaisen and the JJK 0 movie are available through major legal anime streaming services. AniCodex does not host or stream episodes — we are a guide and database — so always watch through an official, licensed platform in your region to support the creators.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to watch Jujutsu Kaisen 0 before Season 1?

No. Even though the movie is a prequel, you do not need to watch it first. Most fans start with Season 1 and watch the movie afterward, because the references and returning faces land better once you know the world.

Is Jujutsu Kaisen 0 canon?

Yes. Jujutsu Kaisen 0 is fully canon. It is based on the original prequel volume by the same creator and directly connects to events and characters that matter later in the series.

What arc is Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2?

Season 2 covers two arcs: the Hidden Inventory / Premature Death arc (Gojo and Geto's past) followed by the Shibuya Incident arc, one of the most pivotal stretches of the entire story.

What happens in Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3?

Season 3 adapts the Culling Games arc — a nationwide survival game in the aftermath of the Shibuya Incident that throws the cast into a string of high-stakes battles. Part 1 has already aired, with more of the arc still to come.

How many episodes of Jujutsu Kaisen are there?

As of Season 2, there are 47 TV episodes (24 in Season 1 and 23 in Season 2), plus the standalone Jujutsu Kaisen 0 movie. Season 3 will add to that total when it airs.