Netflix reveals Naruto as 2025’s most-watched anime: Here’s why it still maintains its popularity

Eight years after its final episode, Naruto has just pulled off something remarkable! It is on top of Netflix’s anime charts in the first half of 2025!

According to Netflix’s official viewership report released on July 18, Naruto racked up a staggering 45 million hours viewed in the first half of the year, leaving even hot new titles in its shadow.

For comparison, Sakamoto Days, which is one of Shonen Jump’s fastest-rising stars, secured an impressive 24 million hours viewed, and Studio Ghibli’s timeless Spirited Away logged 6 million. That means Masashi Kishimoto’s ninja epic didn’t just win, it had double the viewership of one of the most hyped new anime series of the decade!

Normally, older anime see viewership spikes only when a remake, sequel, or major anniversary rolls around. Naruto hasn’t had a new mainline anime episode in nearly a decade. Yes, its spin-off, Boruto, has kept parts of the franchise in the public eye, but that’s not what Netflix is streaming here; we’re talking the original journey from the loud-mouthed prankster to the hero of the Hidden Leaf.

In theory, newer shows like Sakamoto Days should dominate. It’s fresh, well-animated, and backed by the momentum of an ongoing manga. Yet this series isn’t just competing, it is outpacing them. This isn’t merely a case of “long series equals more watch time” either, though it's hundreds of episodes that certainly help. The truth is that Naruto has something that transcends release dates: emotional universality.

Netflix has been strategic about acquiring legacy anime with long episode counts and loyal fanbases. It is aware of the fact that while new anime generate hype, older series with proven staying power and, yes, nostalgia, play a big role. For millennials and older Gen Z, watching this anime series on Netflix isn’t just about the story; rather, it’s about revisiting a piece of their formative years.

Why is Naruto still relevant to this day?

When people ask if Naruto is the “best anime ever,” they often judge it purely on plot quality, comparing it to high-intensity, tightly written series like Attack on Titan or Death Note.

But storytelling is only half the equation. The other half is the experience that is the hype, community, cultural moments, and emotional investment that make Naruto more than just a show.

Plot-wise, this anime is solid, if not groundbreaking. The canon arcs move at a steady pace, character bonds develop naturally, and long-term payoffs are deeply satisfying.

For instance, Madara’s decade-long build-up is one of the most iconic reveals in shonen history. Even fillers, while sometimes divisive, often carry a charming, feel-good quality that keeps viewers engaged rather than dragging them down.

My experience watching this series

Back in high school, this series was “the anime for the kids running around with headbands and pretending to be ninjas”. I dismissed it as cringeworthy. Years later, I decided to give it a shot. My thinking was simple: if something is that popular, there must be something worthwhile in it.

I hit play on Episode 1. Two months later, I had finished all 720 episodes, plus the movies. I even took a week to read the entire manga. And somewhere along the way, this series I once mocked became one of my favorites of all time.

That’s the thing about Naruto: it wins over skeptics. Whether you’re 14 or 40, it has something that clicks, and once it does, you’re hooked.

Final verdict

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Netflix didn’t just crown an anime champion; it reminded us why some stories never fade. Naruto isn’t riding on nostalgia alone; it’s earning every one of those 45 million hours because it still speaks to people, perhaps even more now than when it first aired.

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