Overview
The Last: Naruto the Movie is a 2014 anime film from Studio Pierrot that serves as a major turning point for the Naruto series. It matters because it gives long-overdue narrative weight to the relationship between Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata Hyuga, placing their bond at the center of a world-threatening crisis. As the tenth Naruto film, it was created with original story input from Masashi Kishimoto and features adult designs for the cast, marking a clear transition from the teenage years of Naruto Shippuden.
The experience blends martial arts action, supernatural fantasy, and romance. A mission to stop the moon from falling and to rescue Hanabi Hyuga from Toneri Ootsutsuki provides the action framework, while the emotional core explores first love, sacrifice, and the courage to protect what matters most. The film's pacing and animation deliver the spectacle expected of a Naruto movie, but its lasting impact comes from the intimate character moments that pay off years of storytelling.
This work is most approachable for viewers already familiar with the Naruto series, as it references established relationships and assumes knowledge of the characters' histories. Fans who have followed Naruto and Hinata's journey will find the film rewarding, while newcomers may struggle without that context. Those who enjoy action-driven romance with high stakes and a canonical emotional payoff will appreciate what this movie offers. It is available with an English dub and can be streamed on Crunchyroll and Netflix.
Synopsis
Set some time after the Fourth Great Ninja War, this animated feature follows an older Naruto Uzumaki and his comrades as a new crisis descends on the ninja world. The moon has slipped from its orbit and is falling toward Earth, giving humanity a limited window to prevent catastrophe. Amid the panic, Hanabi Hyuga, the younger sister of Hinata Hyuga, is abducted by Toneri Ootsutsuki, a powerful figure who blames humanity for the weaponization of chakra and intends to take Hinata as his bride.
Naruto leads a small rescue team that includes Hinata, Sai, Shikamaru, and Sakura, each bringing their own skills to a mission that spans from familiar villages to the lunar surface. Hinata's personal stake in recovering her sister places her at the center of the unfolding conflict, while her long-standing feelings for Naruto come into sharper focus as the two work side by side. The film presents its cast as young adults, with new character designs reflecting the distance they have traveled since their academy days.
The primary conflict sets the team against Toneri and the forces behind the falling moon, forcing Naruto to confront both an enemy of immense power and the question of what he is willing to protect. The story balances large-scale action with a quieter thread about first love, tying the fate of the planet to the choices of a single ninja and the people fighting beside him.
Trailer
Should You Watch It?
Watch it if you enjoy
- Watch if you have followed Naruto and Naruto Shippuden and want the series' romantic turning point for Naruto and Hinata.
- Watch if you enjoy martial arts action, supernatural fantasy, and romance blended into a feature-length ninja mission.
- Watch if you want to see the cast as young adults with new Kishimoto designs, set after Shippuden episode 493.
- Watch if you want an English-dubbed film available on Crunchyroll and Netflix.
It may not suit you if
- May not suit viewers new to Naruto, as it references established relationships and assumes knowledge of character histories.
- May not suit those seeking a fully standalone ninja adventure, since it is positioned within Shippuden continuity.
- May not suit viewers uninterested in romance, because Naruto and Hinata's bond is central to the emotional core.
The primary starting work is a movie, so the full film is the natural Volluble Test Drive. This gives you the complete story instead of applying an episodic trial to a feature-length work.
Why It Connects With Audiences
Why people love it
- It gives long-overdue narrative weight to Naruto and Hinata's relationship, placing their bond at the center of a world-threatening crisis.
- Kishimoto contributed new adult character designs, marking a clear transition from the teenage Shippuden era.
- The film delivers Studio Pierrot action spectacle while paying off years of emotional buildup.
- Its original screenplay with Kishimoto input lets the movie focus on first love and sacrifice within a familiar ninja world.
Common criticisms
- Its emotional payoff relies heavily on long-running franchise investment, so the romance and stakes may land less for newcomers.
- The dual focus on a moon-fall crisis and Naruto-Hinata romance may feel uneven to viewers wanting one over the other.
- As the tenth Naruto film, it builds on Shippuden continuity rather than offering a clean entry point.
- The original story is not a direct manga adaptation, so it may feel supplemental to readers following the source.
Volluble DNA
A quick profile of the title’s dominant storytelling ingredients.
Characters and Voice Actors25 characters
Naruto Uzumaki
Main character- Japanese: Junko Takeuchi
- English: Maile Flanagan
Kakashi Hatake
Main character- Japanese: Kazuhiko Inoue
- English: Dave Wittenberg
Sakura Haruno
Main character- Japanese: Chie Nakamura
- English: Kate Higgins
Hinata Hyuuga
Main character- Japanese: Nana Mizuki
- English: Stephanie Sheh
Sai
Main character- Japanese: Satoshi Hino
- English: Benjamin Isaac Diskin
Shikamaru Nara
Main character- Japanese: Shoutarou Morikubo
- English: Tom Gibis
Toneri Ootsutsuki
Main character- Japanese: Jun Fukuyama
- English: Robbie Daymond
Sasuke Uchiha
Supporting character- Japanese: Noriaki Sugiyama
- English: Yuri Lowenthal
Rock Lee
Supporting character- Japanese: Youichi Masukawa
Guy Might
Supporting character- Japanese: Masashi Ebara
Gaara
Supporting character- Japanese: Akira Ishida
Chouji Akimichi
Supporting character- Japanese: Kentarou Itou
Ino Yamanaka
Supporting character- Japanese: Ryouka Yuzuki
Iruka Umino
Supporting character- Japanese: Toshihiko Seki
Tsunade Senju
Supporting character- Japanese: Masako Katsuki
Pain
Supporting character- Japanese: Kenyuu Horiuchi
Kiba Inuzuka
Supporting character- Japanese: Kousuke Toriumi
Konohamaru Sarutobi
Supporting character- Japanese: Ikue Ootani
Shizune
Supporting character- Japanese: Keiko Nemoto
- English: Megan Hollingshead
Kurenai Yuuhi
Supporting character- Japanese: Rumi Ochiai
Kurama
Supporting character- Japanese: Tesshou Genda
Katsuyu
Supporting characterHayate Gekkou
Supporting characterHanabi Hyuuga
Supporting character- English: Colleen O’Shaughnessey
Izumo Kamizuki
Supporting characterProduction and Staff26 credits
View all 14 additional credits
Production Background
The Last: Naruto the Movie is a 2014 Japanese animated film produced by Studio Pierrot and directed by Tsuneo Kobayashi. It stands as the tenth feature film tied to Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto manga and anime franchise, yet its screenplay is credited as original material rather than a direct adaptation of an existing manga storyline. The film premiered on 6 December 2014 and runs 112 minutes. Kishimoto contributed new character designs for the production, a necessary step because the cast appears as young adults rather than the teenage versions seen throughout Naruto Shippuden. The narrative is positioned after episode 493 of that television series, with the now grown members of Naruto Uzumaki's ninja team sent to stop the moon from falling and to rescue Hanabi Hyuga from Toneri Ootsutsuki.
The Japanese voice cast includes Junko Takeuchi as Naruto, Nana Mizuki as Hinata, Chie Nakamura, Showtaro Moritubo, Satoshi Hino, Kazuhiko Inoue and Noriaki Sugiyama. An English dub was produced, and the film has been made available through the streaming services Crunchyroll and Netflix, giving the feature a continuing reach beyond its theatrical debut.
Franchise Path
- Franchise path: watch Naruto Shippuden through episode 493, then The Last: Naruto the Movie as the tenth Naruto film and an anime-continuity movie step.
- The film is original material with Kishimoto designs, not a direct manga adaptation, so treat it as a feature within the Naruto anime timeline.
After You Finish
Continue with
- After finishing, return to Naruto Shippuden after episode 493 to continue the main anime timeline; The Last itself is a complete film with no further part.
- No sequel to this specific movie is identified in the supplied data.
Community Verdict
Quick reader and viewer signals from the Volluble community.
Would you recommend this?
Did the ending satisfy you?
Would you watch it again?
Report an issue
Spot something wrong on this page? Tell us what needs attention.
0 Comments
Be the first to comment.

