Netflix continues to expand its anime offering and while July is noticeably light on new additions compared to previous months, Naruto fans have something to look forward to.
As highlighted by What's On Netflix, three Naruto movies are set to arrive on the streaming platform in July: Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie (2012), The Last: Naruto The Movie (2014), and Boruto: Naruto the Movie (2015).
Directed by Hayato Date, Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie follows Naruto and Sakura as they are transported to an alternate reality. Their friends' personalities are polar opposites of their original demeanor, Naruto's parents are alive, and Sakura's parents have died as heroes. Trapped by Madara and unable to find a way home, the two begin to settle into their new lives when a mysterious new threat arrives.
Long ago, a masked shinobi unleashed the Nine-Tailed Fox onto the Village Hidden in the Leaves to spread chaos and destruction. But the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, and his wife, Kushina Uzumaki, sealed the Tailed Beast into their newborn son Naruto to save the village, foiling the shinobi's plans.
Years later, Naruto and his friends succeed in driving away the infamous Akatsuki, who have mysteriously returned from the dead. Upon returning to the village, the young shinobi are praised by their families for completing a dangerous mission. Reminded of how alone he is, Naruto begins to wonder what it's like to have parents, when a strange masked figure appears before him - the same masked shinobi responsible for the death of his parents!
Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie was significant in that it was the first Naruto film to have Masashi Kishimoto directly involved with its production.
The Last: Naruto The Movie is the tenth film based on Masashi Kishimoto's manga and anime, and the first to be canon. The film is set before the finale of Naruto and focuses on Naruto Uzumaki's ninja team as they go on a mission to stop the moon from falling, and rescue Hanabi Hyuga from Toneri Otsutsuki.
Two years after the fourth Great Ninja War, the moon is beginning a collision path towards the Earth. The countdown for the survival of the planet begins. Amongst the havoc, Hinata's younger sister Hanabi is captured by the mysterious enemy, Toneri Ootsutsuki. Naruto must overcome great danger on a mission to save Hanabi and the world along with Hinata, Sai, Shikamaru, and Sakura. Witness the conclusion of a story that has been in the making for fifteen years and the beginning of a new era!
The third Naruto film to arrive on Netflix next month, Boruto: Naruto the Movie is set years after the finale of Naruto and focuses on Boruto Uzumaki, son of Naruto Uzumaki. Wishing to surpass his father's legacy, Boruto prepares to enter the Chnin exams alongside Sarada Uchiha and the mysterious Mitsuki.
All three of these Naruto movies were met with fairly positive reception upon release with scores in the mid to high 7s. All three should make for good additions to Netflix's anime catalog when they arrive on July 7th.
In recent news, it was confirmed that brand new episodes of Naruto — planned as part of the anime's 20th anniversary celebration — could be releasing soon. The four new episodes were announced in March 2023 with the first episode scheduled to premiere in September of that year. Unfortunately, it was postponed to "increase the quality." A new premiere date has not been announced, but there are reports it could be released during this fiscal year, which ends in March 2025.