A brilliant, bored high schooler finds a supernatural notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it. The cat-and-mouse thriller built around that discovery became one of the most acclaimed anime ever made. Anyone searching for where to watch Death Note wants Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata’s classic series, animated by Madhouse. This guide covers exactly where the anime streams, rents, or sells right now. Every detail here reflects current listings, not old data.
This show’s access is unusually generous. It streams on multiple major subscription services in the US, alongside several genuinely free, ad-supported options. As a result, where to watch Death Note is one of the easier questions this guide has answered. There are plenty of ways in, regardless of which platforms someone already has. This guide separates subscription access from rental and purchase. It also breaks down availability across ten major anime markets, including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. A cast rundown and the show’s critical reception follow, useful for anyone confirming they’ve found the right series.
Last Updated: July 2026
How This Guide Was Structured
- Verified subscription access at the time of writing, across ten major anime markets
- Rental and purchase routes across major digital storefronts
- Regional availability patterns for the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, and five additional major anime markets
- Series identification and production background
- Critical reception and cultural legacy
- Related viewing guides for further reading
Fans of psychological anime specifically can find more genre picks through ForeverWatch’s watch anime online hub.
About the Show
Death Note follows Light Yagami, a brilliant but disillusioned high school student. He discovers a supernatural notebook capable of killing anyone whose name is written in its pages. Light begins using it to eliminate criminals under the alias Kira. That draws the attention of L, an equally brilliant detective determined to catch him. Madhouse built the series around an escalating battle of wits between the two. That tightly plotted cat-and-mouse structure is a big reason it’s still considered one of the best mystery anime ever produced.
- Genre: Psychological thriller, mystery, supernatural, crime
- Japanese premiere: October 4, 2006
- Japanese finale: June 27, 2007
- Episodes: 37, complete series
- Episode runtime: Approximately 24 minutes
- Age rating: TV-14
- Country of origin: Japan
- Animation studio: Madhouse
- Based on the manga by: Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata
Cast and Key Crew
- Mamoru Miyano as Light Yagami (original Japanese voice)
- Kappei Yamaguchi as L (original Japanese voice)
- Shido Nakamura as Ryuk (original Japanese voice)
- Aya Hirano as Misa Amane (original Japanese voice)
- Director: Tetsuro Araki
- Based on the manga by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata
Miyano’s performance as Light captures the character’s slow descent from idealistic vigilante to genuinely dangerous megalomaniac. That transformation has made Light one of the more frequently cited best villains in anime. It’s a strange distinction, given he’s technically the show’s protagonist. Yamaguchi’s L, by contrast, brings an odd, endearing humanity to a character defined almost entirely by intellect. That kind of morally ambiguous character work still stands out. So does a plot built on genuine strategic tension rather than typical action beats. It’s a big reason Death Note keeps showing up in discussions of anime with the best story.
Where to Watch Death Note Online
Anyone confirming where to watch Death Note right now will find a genuinely generous picture. Few anime this guide has covered offer this many routes in.
Subscription Streaming
Current listings show Death Note included with a Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, or Crunchyroll subscription in the US. The UK carries it through Netflix and Crunchyroll as well. Canada, Australia, France, the Philippines, Brazil, and Mexico all carry it through Crunchyroll. That’s consistent with the platform’s broad footprint for classic, widely licensed anime. Japan accesses the series through its original domestic broadcast history rather than the international catalog. Confirming where to watch Death Note through a subscription is rarely difficult, given how many services carry it.
Rental and Purchase
For anyone who’d rather buy episodes individually, Fandango at Home, Amazon Video, and Apple TV Store cover the US. Sky Store adds a fourth option in the UK. Similar storefronts cover other confirmed markets too. Several free, ad-supported options also exist in the US specifically, including Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Tubi, and Hoopla. These routes stay a dependable fallback for where to watch Death Note whenever a subscription isn’t preferred.
Where to Watch Death Note by Region
Regional access for where to watch Death Note is confirmed in nine of the ten markets checked, with the US offering the widest mix of subscription, free, and purchase options of any anime this guide has covered.
| Region | Typical Access | Common Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Subscription access confirmed on multiple services, plus several free ad-supported options | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Crunchyroll, Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Tubi |
| United Kingdom | Subscription access confirmed | Netflix, Crunchyroll |
| Canada | Subscription access confirmed | Crunchyroll |
| Australia | Subscription access confirmed | Crunchyroll |
| Japan | Confirmed through original domestic broadcast history rather than a streaming subscription | Domestic broadcast |
| France | Subscription access confirmed | Crunchyroll |
| Philippines | Subscription access confirmed | Crunchyroll |
| Brazil | Subscription access confirmed | Crunchyroll |
| Mexico | Subscription access confirmed | Crunchyroll |
| Global | Confirmed across most major markets through Netflix and Crunchyroll’s combined catalogs | Netflix, Crunchyroll |
Release Performance and Reception
Death Note premiered in Japan on October 4, 2006. It ran for 37 episodes before concluding in June 2007, adapting the chapters of Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata’s manga. That manga had sold roughly 30 million copies in print by the time the anime wrapped. The series is widely regarded as one of the strongest manga-to-anime adaptations ever made. That reputation shows up in an IGN ranking that placed it among the 100 greatest animated TV series ever.
Critical response has stayed remarkably consistent since its original broadcast. The series holds a near-perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes and sits around a 9 out of 10 on IMDb. Hundreds of thousands of user ratings back up that consensus. That combination of manga sales, critical acclaim, and a genuinely wide streaming footprint still stands out. It helps explain why Death Note remains a common recommendation for viewers new to anime altogether.
Official Trailer
Before committing to a subscription, the official trailer offers a fast way to confirm the show’s tone and pacing. This helps anyone deciding whether a slower, dialogue-heavy psychological thriller is the right fit compared to more action-focused anime. It captures the show’s tense atmosphere without spoiling how the Light-versus-L rivalry resolves.
FAQs About Where to Watch Death Note
Is Death Note available on Netflix?
Yes, current listings confirm it in the US and UK, with broader international access likely depending on region.
Where to watch Death Note for free?
In the US, Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Tubi, and Hoopla all carry it free with ads. No confirmed free option currently exists in the other markets checked.
Is Death Note included with a Crunchyroll subscription?
Yes, current listings confirm it in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, France, the Philippines, Brazil, and Mexico.
How many episodes of Death Note are there?
37 episodes, comprising the complete series. It concluded in June 2007.
What is Death Note rated?
It carries a TV-14 rating for violence, disturbing themes, and mature content.
Is Death Note available dubbed and subbed?
Yes. Most platforms that carry it offer the original Japanese audio with subtitles alongside an English dub.
Does Death Note’s availability differ by region?
Slightly less than most anime this guide has covered. Crunchyroll and Netflix together cover most markets checked, with Japan working differently through domestic broadcast history.
Can I buy Death Note on physical media?
Yes, Blu-ray editions are available through UK retailers, among others.
Did Death Note win any awards?
It predates most formal anime award circuits, though it earned a place on IGN’s list of the 100 greatest animated TV series of all time and holds a near-perfect critical score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Will where to watch Death Note change again soon?
It’s unlikely to shift dramatically, given how many platforms already carry it. Checking a current listing before assuming otherwise is still worth doing.
Final Thoughts
Death Note is one of the easier titles in this guide to actually watch. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Crunchyroll are all confirmed in the US alone, plus several genuinely free options. Crunchyroll extends that access across most of the other markets this guide checked. Japan works differently through its own broadcast history. The show’s tightly wound cat-and-mouse plotting explains part of its lasting reputation. Its near-perfect critical scores, sustained for nearly two decades, explain the rest. For a recap, Crunchyroll and Netflix together cover where to watch Death Note most reliably across nearly every region checked. Before finalizing a choice, double-check the displayed price or subscription status, since listings can lag behind what’s actually available.
