Evangelion Watch Order: The Series, The End of Evangelion, and the Rebuild Films

Evangelion has a reputation for being impossible to untangle, but its watch order is one of the cleaner ones once the recaps are set aside. The Evangelion watch order is the original 26-episode series, then The End of Evangelion, then the four Rebuild films in number order. That is the whole thing. The confusion comes from a pile of recap and re-edit films that are safe to ignore.

There are really two Evangelions. The 1995 TV series and its 1997 film ending, The End of Evangelion, are the original story. The Rebuild tetralogy, released from 2007 to 2021, is a reboot that starts familiar and then splits off into its own thing. You watch the original first, then Rebuild, and the recap films like Death & Rebirth add nothing you need.

Below we lay out the full Evangelion series order, sort the essential films from the skippable recaps, and explain what Rebuild actually is. We also cover the odd streaming split. Learn how to watch Evangelion in order once and one of anime's defining works plays out cleanly, mind-melting ending and all.

The Evangelion watch order

The core franchise is two series' worth of story plus a reboot, and it runs in a simple line. This table shows the recommended Evangelion anime order, or how to watch Neon Genesis Evangelion in order at a glance, with the essentials marked and the recaps flagged.

Skip Death & Rebirth without a second thought. Its first half recaps the series and its second half is just the opening of The End of Evangelion, so it adds nothing. The same goes for the re-edits floating around, like Death(True) and Revival of Evangelion, which recombine the same footage. The only pieces that matter are the TV series, The End of Evangelion, and the four Rebuild films.

The TV ending, The End of Evangelion, and the recaps

The part that confuses newcomers most is the ending, because there are two of them. The TV series wraps up with episodes 25 and 26, an abstract, introspective finale that landed during a troubled production. The End of Evangelion is the 1997 film that retells that ending on a far bigger canvas, showing the external events the series only hinted at. Watch the full 26-episode series, then watch The End of Evangelion, and you get both halves of one of the most talked-about endings in anime.

Death & Rebirth sits between them by release date, but it is a recap you can skip. If you are a completionist, the Director's Cut versions of episodes 21 to 24 add extra footage worth a look, though they are an enhancement rather than a requirement.

What is Rebuild of Evangelion?

Rebuild is where people get the wrong idea, since it looks like a sequel and is actually a reboot. The four films retell the story of the original series with sharper animation, then deliberately diverge, introducing new characters and a new direction that make the second half its own beast. Watch them in order: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone, 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance, 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, and 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time, which closes the whole saga out.

You could technically start with Rebuild, since 1.0 reintroduces the world from scratch, but we would not. The original series and The End of Evangelion give Rebuild its weight, since so much of it plays as a response to the 1995 story. See the original first, then let Rebuild reframe everything you thought you knew.

Where to watch Evangelion

The streaming split is the one genuine hassle. Netflix carries the original Neon Genesis Evangelion series, Death & Rebirth, and The End of Evangelion in most regions, having rescued them from years of unavailability. The four Rebuild films, though, live on Amazon Prime Video, so you will likely need both services to watch everything. Availability shifts by region, so check what is live where you are before you begin.

Get in the robot and start with episode one

For a series this dense, the Evangelion watch order is mercifully clear: the 26-episode original, then The End of Evangelion, then the four Rebuild films in order, with every recap safe to skip. Watch the original story first and let Rebuild reinterpret it afterward, and do not let the pile of re-edits scare you off. Start with episode one, get in the robot, and let one of anime's most influential works do its work on you.

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FAQ

What is the Evangelion watch order?

The Evangelion watch order is the original Neon Genesis Evangelion series (26 episodes), then The End of Evangelion, then the four Rebuild films: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 3.0+1.0. That is the complete story in release order. Recap films like Death & Rebirth are optional and safe to skip.

Do I watch the TV ending or The End of Evangelion?

Both. Watch all 26 episodes of the TV series, which end with the abstract episodes 25 and 26, then watch The End of Evangelion, the film that retells the ending with the external events shown in full. They are two sides of the same conclusion, and seeing both is the intended experience.

Is Rebuild of Evangelion a sequel or a reboot?

A reboot, mostly. The four Rebuild films retell the original story before diverging into new characters and a new ending. They are best watched after the original series and The End of Evangelion, since much of Rebuild works as a response to the 1995 version.

Should I watch Death & Rebirth?

No, you can skip it. Death & Rebirth is a compilation film: the first half recaps the TV series and the second half is the opening of The End of Evangelion. It adds nothing new, so most viewers skip straight from the series to The End of Evangelion.

Where can I watch Evangelion?

Netflix carries the original Neon Genesis Evangelion series and The End of Evangelion in most regions, while the four Rebuild films stream on Amazon Prime Video. You will likely need both to watch everything. Availability changes by region, so check what is streaming near you before you start.