Two brothers lose their bodies attempting a forbidden alchemy ritual to bring their mother back. The story built around their search for a cure produced one of the most acclaimed anime ever made. Anyone searching for where to watch Fullmetal Alchemist usually wants Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. That’s the series that follows Hiromu Arakawa’s manga faithfully through to its ending. It’s a distinct series from the earlier adaptation that diverges partway through. This guide covers exactly where Brotherhood streams, rents, or sells right now. Every detail here reflects current listings, not old data.
This show’s access is broad across the confirmed markets, since Crunchyroll and Netflix both carry Brotherhood in most regions checked. As a result, where to watch Fullmetal Alchemist is a fairly simple question. That’s true once someone confirms they want the Brotherhood version specifically. 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 legacy
- Related viewing guides for further reading
For readers exploring beyond this one franchise, ForeverWatch keeps a growing watch anime online hub covering dozens of other series.
About the Show
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood follows Edward and Alphonse Elric, two brothers who lose parts of their bodies. That happens after they attempt a forbidden ritual to bring their mother back from the dead. Their search for the Philosopher’s Stone, an object rumored to restore what they’ve lost, pulls them into a larger conspiracy. That conspiracy involves the country’s military and a group of inhuman antagonists. Director Yasuhiro Irie adapted Hiromu Arakawa’s manga in full for this version. That corrected the first anime’s need to improvise its own ending. That completeness is a big reason Brotherhood is so often named among anime with the best story ever told.
- Genre: Dark fantasy, adventure, military, shonen
- Japanese premiere: April 5, 2009
- Japanese finale: July 4, 2010
- Episodes: 64, complete series
- Episode runtime: Approximately 24 minutes
- Age rating: TV-14
- Country of origin: Japan
- Animation studio: Studio Bones
- Based on the manga by: Hiromu Arakawa
Cast and Key Crew
- Romi Park as Edward Elric (original Japanese voice)
- Rie Kugimiya as Alphonse Elric (original Japanese voice)
- Shin-ichiro Miki as Roy Mustang (original Japanese voice)
- Fumiko Orikasa as Riza Hawkeye (original Japanese voice)
- Vic Mignogna as Edward Elric (English dub)
- Director: Yasuhiro Irie
- Based on the manga by Hiromu Arakawa
Park’s performance as Edward captures the character’s stubborn pride alongside genuine vulnerability about everything he’s lost. That balance anchors the entire series emotionally. Miki’s Roy Mustang became one of the more layered supporting characters in the genre. He’s a war criminal turned reluctant reformer whose arc runs almost as deep as the Elric brothers’ own. That kind of consistently strong writing across its entire cast still stands out. It’s part of why Brotherhood remains a benchmark among best fantasy anime, years after its original broadcast ended.
Where to Watch Fullmetal Alchemist Online
Anyone confirming where to watch Fullmetal Alchemist right now should make sure they’re looking at Brotherhood specifically. The 2003 original has its own separate licensing and availability.
Subscription Streaming
Current listings show Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood included with a Netflix, Hulu, or Crunchyroll subscription in the US. Canada carries it through Netflix and Crunchyroll as well. The UK, 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 shonen anime. Japan accesses the series through its original domestic broadcast history. Confirming where to watch Fullmetal Alchemist through a subscription is straightforward across most markets checked. That’s true once the right version is confirmed.
Rental and Purchase
For anyone who’d rather buy episodes individually, Amazon and Apple TV Store both offer Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood in the US. Similar storefronts cover other confirmed markets too. No confirmed free option currently exists in any market checked. These routes stay a dependable fallback for where to watch Fullmetal Alchemist whenever a subscription isn’t preferred.
Physical Media
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has a physical media release available through retailers including Zavvi and Amazon, spanning the complete series on Blu-ray. It’s a solid option for anyone who wants a permanent copy that doesn’t depend on which platform currently holds the streaming rights.
Where to Watch Fullmetal Alchemist by Region
Regional access for where to watch Fullmetal Alchemist is confirmed in nine of the ten markets checked, all specifically for the Brotherhood version. Japan works differently, since access there runs through domestic broadcast history rather than the international catalog.
| Region | Typical Access | Common Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Subscription access confirmed on multiple services; no free option currently | Netflix, Hulu, Crunchyroll |
| United Kingdom | Subscription access confirmed | Crunchyroll |
| Canada | Subscription access confirmed on multiple services | Netflix, 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 Crunchyroll’s international footprint | Crunchyroll |
Release Performance and Reception
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood premiered in Japan on April 5, 2009. It ran for 64 episodes before concluding in July 2010, adapting Hiromu Arakawa’s manga faithfully from beginning to end. That completeness set it apart immediately from the original 2003 anime. That earlier series had been forced to improvise its own ending after catching up to the still-unfinished manga.
Critical reception has stayed remarkably strong for well over a decade. Brotherhood held the number one spot on MyAnimeList, the largest anime rating database, for many years. That run only recently ended when it was overtaken by a different series. That kind of sustained, community-driven acclaim is rare even among the most respected shows in the medium. It’s a big reason Brotherhood keeps appearing near the top of best anime of all time rankings.
Official Trailer
Before committing to a subscription, the official trailer offers a fast way to confirm the show’s tone and animation style. This helps anyone deciding whether to start with Brotherhood directly or watch the original 2003 series first for comparison. It captures the story’s blend of adventure and darker military intrigue without spoiling how the Elric brothers’ journey resolves.
FAQs About Where to Watch Fullmetal Alchemist
Is Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood available on Netflix?
Yes, current listings confirm it in the US and Canada.
Where to watch Fullmetal Alchemist for free?
No confirmed free option currently exists in any market checked. Rental remains the most reliable no-subscription route.
Is Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood included with a Crunchyroll subscription?
Yes, current listings confirm it in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, France, the Philippines, Brazil, and Mexico.
What’s the difference between Fullmetal Alchemist and Brotherhood?
The original 2003 series diverges from the manga partway through and creates its own ending, since the source material wasn’t finished yet. Brotherhood, released in 2009, follows the completed manga faithfully from start to finish and is generally considered the definitive version.
How many episodes of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood are there?
64 episodes, comprising the complete series. It concluded in July 2010.
What is Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood rated?
It carries a TV-14 rating for violence and disturbing thematic content.
Is Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood available dubbed and subbed?
Yes. Most platforms that carry it offer the original Japanese audio with subtitles alongside an English dub.
Does its availability differ by region?
Slightly. Crunchyroll consistently covers most markets checked, while Japan works differently through domestic broadcast history.
Can I buy Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood on physical media?
Yes, Blu-ray editions are available through retailers including Zavvi and Amazon.
Did Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood win any awards?
Its most notable recognition came through sustained audience acclaim rather than a single award: it held the number one spot on MyAnimeList, the largest anime rating community, for many years.
Will where to watch Fullmetal Alchemist change again soon?
It’s unlikely to shift dramatically, given how consistently Crunchyroll has held the license. Checking a current listing before assuming otherwise is still worth doing.
Final Thoughts
Crunchyroll offers the most consistent way to watch Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood across the markets this guide checked. Netflix and Hulu provide additional options in the US and Canada specifically. Japan remains the one region that works differently, relying on domestic broadcast history rather than the international catalog. The show’s genuinely complete adaptation of Arakawa’s manga explains part of why it’s held up so well. Its years-long run atop MyAnimeList’s community rankings explains the rest, a level of sustained acclaim few anime ever reach. For a recap, Crunchyroll covers where to watch Fullmetal Alchemist most reliably across nearly every market checked. Before finalizing a choice, double-check the displayed price or subscription status, since listings can lag behind what’s actually available.
