Where to start withDeath Note
3 versions · originally a film, 2006
Themes: Justice vs. Evil, Moral Ambiguity, God Complex, Cat and Mouse, Genius Protagonist.
Start with Death Note (Shusuke Kaneko, 2006) — the film. Death Note exists in 3 versions across media, beginning as a film in 2006; each is ranked below by what it does best.
Death Note is a high-stakes psychological thriller exploring the moral decay of a vigilante wielding absolute power over life.
✦ Most fans start here
Death Note (2006)
The original movie
✦ Start hereDeath Note
Shusuke Kaneko · Film · 2006
The 2006 Death Note film serves as the definitive cinematic origin, focusing on the taut, immediate intellectual collision between Light Yagami and the detective L in a grounded, suspenseful format.
2006 series
Death Note
Series · 2006
The 2006 Death Note TV series expands the supernatural premise, providing a more deliberate pacing that explores the arrival of the Shinigami and Light's transformation into a self-styled god.
2006 film
Death Note: The Last Name
Film · 2006
Death Note: The Last Name (2006) functions as the direct conclusion to the film franchise, introducing Misa Amane and escalating the conflict through a complex web of secondary Kira followers.
Common questions
What order should I watch the Death Note adaptations?
You should start with the 2006 Death Note movie, followed by its direct sequel, Death Note: The Last Name, also released in 2006. These two films provide a complete cinematic narrative. The 2006 Death Note television series serves as a separate adaptation of the original source material.
Is Death Note: The Last Name a sequel to the 2006 movie?
Yes, Death Note: The Last Name is the direct sequel to the 2006 Death Note movie. Both films were released in the same year and together conclude the specific cinematic story arc presented in those live-action adaptations of the original work.
How long is the Death Note television series compared to the movies?
The 2006 Death Note television series is a distinct production from the 2006 Death Note movie and Death Note: The Last Name. While the films offer a condensed cinematic experience, the television series provides a longer, episodic adaptation of the source material.
Are the 2006 movies and the Death Note television series the same story?
Both the 2006 Death Note movies and the 2006 Death Note television series are adaptations of the same source material. However, they are separate productions with different formats, meaning the pacing and specific narrative delivery differ between the film duology and the television series.