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Death Note

2006·Show
37Episodes in1Season·TV-14
IMDb8.9Metacritic–9.1Rotten Tomatoes100%96%
Episode ratings

Where to watch

NetflixPrimeHuluCrunchyrollThe Roku

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

Death Note fingerprint

Relentless energy, masterful craft, light on feelings.

Energy

Nerve-racking and thrilling

Fast from start to finish.

  • Tension10
  • Adrenaline8
  • Fast Pace7

Heart

Cathartic

  • Catharsis7
  • Melancholy6
  • Pathos5

Humor

Plenty of sharp wit and dark humor

  • Wit & Wordplay9
  • Dark Humor5
  • Satire & Parody4

World

Crime, mystery, and the mind

Lived-in and easy to get lost in. Holds up on a rewatch.

  • World Immersion9
  • Dialogue Centrality9
  • Rewatchability8

Craft

Standout characters, direction, and storytelling

Layered plot that rewards full attention.

  • Character Depth10
  • Intrigue10
  • Direction9

Style

Standout score and editing

  • Music Composition9
  • Editing8
  • Music Centrality8

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensBinge-FriendlyThought-Provoking

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Suspense showsPsychological showsMind-Bending shows

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every show. Select a row to see all of them.

Episode ratings

IMDb rating of every episode, one row per season
SeasonEpisode 1Episode 2Episode 3Episode 4Episode 5Episode 6Episode 7Episode 8Episode 9Episode 10Episode 11Episode 12Episode 13Episode 14Episode 15Episode 16Episode 17Episode 18Episode 19Episode 20Episode 21Episode 22Episode 23Episode 24Episode 25Episode 26Episode 27Episode 28Episode 29Episode 30Episode 31Episode 32Episode 33Episode 34Episode 35Episode 36Episode 37
IMDb rating of every episode, one column per season
Episode
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Episode 14
Episode 15
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Episode 26
Episode 27
Episode 28
Episode 29
Episode 30
Episode 31
Episode 32
Episode 33
Episode 34
Episode 35
Episode 36
Episode 37

About

The human whose name is written in this note shall die.

Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects—and he’s bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But will Light succeed in his noble goal, or will the Death Note turn him into the very thing he fights against?
Intellectual Cat-and-MouseMoral AmbiguitySupernatural Detective ThrillerPsychological WarfareNihilistic PhilosophyTense PacingComplex Character DynamicsDark Fantasy Mystery

Crew

Directed by:
Tomohiko Ito, Tetsuro Araki, Hiroyuki Tsuchiya
Written by:
Toshiki Inoue, Shouji Yonemura, Yasuko Kobayashi
Produced by:
Masao Maruyama, Manabu Tamura, Toshio Nakatani
Composed by:
Hideki Taniuchi, Yoshihisa Hirano

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Death Note

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Death Note legally?

NetflixPrimeHuluCrunchyrollThe RokuHooplaFandango at Home FreePluto TV

Death Note is included with a subscription to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video with Ads in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Hoopla, Fandango at Home Free, and Pluto TV. You can also rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Death Note worth watching?

95
MasterpieceGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 95/100 (IMDb 8.9 and Rotten Tomatoes 100%). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Death Note rated?

TV-14ViolenceDisturbing imageryStrong language

It's rated TV-14 in the United States. Content advisories: violence, disturbing imagery, and strong language.

How many seasons does Death Note have?

1 season

It has 1 season with 37 episodes of about 22 minutes each.

Do critics and audiences agree on Death Note?

Critics100
Audiences92

Not quite. Critics rate Death Note higher (100) than audiences (92). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

When did Death Note air?

It ran from 2006 to 2007 and has ended.

What language is Death Note in?

Japanese

It was made in Japanese. Produced in Japan.

In how many countries can I watch Death Note?

119ADAEALAOARATAUAZBABEBGBHBOBR+105

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Death Note in 119 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Death Note use?

Protagonist Journey to VillainAlternative Character InterpretationAdaptational BadassSplit-Personality TakeoverThe Tape Knew You Would Say ThatAdaptational Nice GuySpared by the AdaptationAntagonist in MourningThese Hands Have KilledDramatic UnmaskWham ShotSmash the Symboland 51 more

TV Tropes lists 63 storytelling tropes for Death Note, including Protagonist Journey to Villain, Alternative Character Interpretation, Adaptational Badass.