My Hero Academia Watch Order & Filler List: Ultimate Guide
My Hero Academia (Boku no Hero Academia) is one of the foundational pillars of modern superhero anime. With its vibrant cast of characters, emotional underdog story, and spectacular animation by Studio Bones, it has captured the hearts of millions around the globe.
While the main television series is cleanly divided into straightforward seasons, the franchise becomes surprisingly confusing when you introduce its four highly successful theatrical movies. Because these movies are considered canon to the timeline, knowing exactly when to pause the TV show to watch them is a massive pain point for new fans.
This ultimate episode guide cuts through the confusion. We provide the definitive My Hero Academia chronological watch order, explain exactly where each movie fits into the timeline, and outline which “recap” filler episodes you should skip. Before diving into U.A. High School, check out our about us page, or explore more anime watch orders on our site.
- Watch on Crunchyroll (Full Series & Most Movies)
- Watch on Hulu (Full Series Available – US Only)
- Watch on Netflix (Available in select international regions)
The Complete My Hero Academia Chronological Watch Order
To experience Izuku Midoriya’s journey to becoming the world’s greatest hero perfectly, you must intertwine the movies with the television seasons. Here is the ultimate chronological timeline:
- Season 1 – Watch Episodes 1–13
- OVA: Save! Rescue Training! (Optional)
- Season 2 – Watch Episodes 14–38
- Movie 1: Two Heroes – Watch after Season 2.
- Season 3 – Watch Episodes 39–63
- Season 4 – Watch Episodes 64–88
- Movie 2: Heroes Rising – Watch after Season 4.
- Season 5 – Watch Episodes 89–113
- Movie 3: World Heroes’ Mission – Watch after Season 5.
- Season 6 – Watch Episodes 114–138
- Season 7 – Watch Episodes 139–159
- Movie 4: You’re Next – Takes place right before the final battles of Season 7.
Franchise Canon vs. Filler Breakdown
My Hero Academia has a very low filler percentage. The anime is notorious for making the first episode of almost every new season a “Recap Episode.” Aside from those seasonal recaps and a few movie tie-in episodes, almost everything is strictly manga canon.
| Series / Season | Total Episodes | Manga Canon | Filler / Anime-Original | Filler Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0% |
| Season 2 | 25 | 24 | 1 (Ep 32) | 4% |
| Season 3 | 25 | 23 | 2 (Ep 39, 58) | 8% |
| Season 4 | 25 | 24 | 1 (Ep 64) | 4% |
| Season 5 | 25 | 23 | 2 (Ep 89, 104) | 8% |
| Season 6 | 25 | 24 | 1 (Ep 114) | 4% |
| Season 7 | 21 | 21 | 0 (Excluding “Memories”) | 0% |
Detailed Season & Arc Episode Guide
Use the expandable accordions below to read a spoiler-free summary of each season and find out exactly which recap episodes you can skip.
1. Season 1 & 2: U.A. Beginnings & Sports Festival (Episodes 1–38)
- Status: Mostly Canon
- Filler Episodes: Episode 32 (“Everyone’s Internships”)
- Summary: In a world where 80% of the population has a superpower (“Quirk”), Izuku Midoriya is born quirkless. After a fateful encounter with his idol, All Might, he inherits the ultimate power and enrolls at the prestigious U.A. High School. Season 2 covers the explosive U.A. Sports Festival.
- Verdict: MUST WATCH (Skip Episode 32).
- Movie Placement: Watch My Hero Academia: Two Heroes immediately after finishing Season 2.
2. Season 3: Training Camp & Hideout Raid (Episodes 39–63)
- Status: Mostly Canon
- Filler Episodes: Episode 39 (Recap), Episode 58 (Movie 1 Tie-in)
- Summary: A summer training camp goes horribly wrong when the League of Villains attacks the students. This season features one of the most iconic clashes in anime history: All Might vs. All For One.
- Verdict: MUST WATCH (Skip the recap in Episode 39 and the filler in Episode 58).
3. Season 4: Shie Hassaikai & School Festival (Episodes 64–88)
- Status: Mostly Canon
- Filler Episodes: Episode 64 (Recap)
- Summary: Midoriya begins his work study under the former sidekick of All Might, Sir Nighteye. They team up with the authorities to raid the Yakuza group “Shie Hassaikai” to save a young girl named Eri from a terrible fate.
- Verdict: MUST WATCH (Skip the recap in Episode 64).
- Movie Placement: Watch My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising after completing Season 4.
4. Season 5: Joint Training & My Villain Academia (Episodes 89–113)
- Status: Mostly Canon
- Filler Episodes: Episode 89 (Recap), Episode 104 (Movie 3 Tie-in)
- Summary: Class 1-A squares off against Class 1-B in a joint training exercise. In the second half of the season, the perspective shifts completely to Tomura Shigaraki and the League of Villains as they battle the Meta Liberation Army.
- Verdict: MUST WATCH (Skip the recap in Episode 89 and the filler in Episode 104).
- Movie Placement: Watch My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission after completing Season 5.
5. Season 6 & 7: Paranormal Liberation War & Final Act (Episodes 114–159)
- Status: 100% Canon
- Filler / Recap: Episode 114 is a recap. Also skip the four “MHA: Memories” special episodes aired right before Season 7.
- Summary: The pro heroes launch an all-out, coordinated assault on the Paranormal Liberation Front. The fallout from this massive war plunges hero society into chaos, leading directly into the grim, high-stakes final battles of Season 7.
- Verdict: MUST WATCH
- Movie Placement: Watch My Hero Academia: You’re Next as it takes place right before the final war in Season 7.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the My Hero Academia movies actually canon?
Yes, they are canon. Unlike movies in franchises like Bleach or early Naruto, original creator Kohei Horikoshi actively provided character designs and plot supervision for all the My Hero Academia movies. Characters introduced in the films occasionally make cameos in the official manga.
Why are the first episodes of every season filler?
To refresh viewers who may not have watched the show in over a year, Studio Bones historically uses the premiere episode of a new season as a “Recap Episode.” These usually feature a flimsy original plot (like a reporter interviewing the students) just to replay old clips. You can safely skip them.
Do I have to watch the OVA episodes?
No. The Original Video Animation (OVA) episodes (like Training of the Dead or Make It! Do-or-Die Survival Training) are fun, lighthearted side stories bundled with manga volumes or Blu-rays. They are strictly optional and do not impact the main storyline.