City Hunter watch order

Ryo Saeba is Shinjuku's best 'sweeper', a gun-for-hire who takes cases left on a message board at the station, as long as the client is a beautiful woman. His partner Kaori keeps him in line with a giant mallet. Tsukasa Hojo's action comedy ran as four TV series, three films and three TV specials, then came back with two modern films.

Start with City Hunter (1987) and City Hunter 2, which are mostly self-contained cases. Once you know Ryo and Kaori, jump to Shinjuku Private Eyes and Angel Dust; the other films and specials fit anywhere.

First-timer order

The four TV series are the heart of it. The two modern films land best once you know the characters; the older films and specials are extra cases you can add whenever you like.

City Hunter TV, 1987–88, 51 episodes
Sunrise's first series, directed by Kenji Kodama. It sets up Ryo, Kaori and the regulars like Saeko and Umibozu (Falcon) through one-, two- and three-part cases. Many episodes are anime-original, but there's no recap filler, and the case-of-the-week format makes it easy to pick up.
City Hunter 2 TV, 1988–89, 63 episodes
The longest series, continuing straight on from the first with more cases in the same style. It ends with the three-part 'Good Luck My Sweeper'.
City Hunter 3 TV, 1989–90, 13 episodes
A short third series with the same staff, continuing the episodic cases.
City Hunter '91 TV, 1991, 13 episodes
The fourth and last TV series, directed by Kiyoshi Egami; its last three episodes aired together as a special block. It doesn't wrap up the manga's story.
City Hunter: Shinjuku Private Eyes Movie, 2019, 1 episode
The franchise's return after 20 years, set in modern-day Tokyo with Kodama and most of the original voice cast back. It's a standalone case but leans on nostalgia, and the thieves from Hojo's Cat's Eye make a guest appearance. Discotek released it with an English dub.
City Hunter The Movie: Angel Dust Movie, 2023, 1 episode
The follow-up to Shinjuku Private Eyes, billed as the start of the anime's final chapter. It brings in parts of the manga's last arc that the TV series never touched, including Ryo's past and his adoptive father, so watch it last.

Story order

City Hunter is almost entirely self-contained cases, so story order is release order. The films and specials don't fit inside the TV story; they're standalone adventures set in the same status quo. Angel Dust is the only one that moves the bigger story forward.

City Hunter TV, 1987–88, 51 episodes
Sunrise's first series, directed by Kenji Kodama. It sets up Ryo, Kaori and the regulars like Saeko and Umibozu (Falcon) through one-, two- and three-part cases. Many episodes are anime-original, but there's no recap filler, and the case-of-the-week format makes it easy to pick up.
City Hunter 2 TV, 1988–89, 63 episodes
The longest series, continuing straight on from the first with more cases in the same style. It ends with the three-part 'Good Luck My Sweeper'.
City Hunter: .357 Magnum Movie, 1989, 1 episode
The first theatrical film (also called Magnum of Love's Destination), released between the second and third series. A standalone case that doesn't tie into the TV story; watch it after City Hunter 2.
City Hunter 3 TV, 1989–90, 13 episodes
A short third series with the same staff, continuing the episodic cases.
City Hunter: Bay City Wars Movie, 1990, 1 episode
A 45-minute film shown as half of a 1990 double bill with Million Dollar Conspiracy. A standalone case; some English releases list it as an OVA.
City Hunter: Million Dollar Conspiracy Movie, 1990, 1 episode
The other half of the 1990 double bill, another 45-minute standalone case. Watch it right after Bay City Wars.
City Hunter '91 TV, 1991, 13 episodes
The fourth and last TV series, directed by Kiyoshi Egami; its last three episodes aired together as a special block. It doesn't wrap up the manga's story.
City Hunter: The Secret Service Special, 1996, 1 episode
The first of three 90-minute TV specials made after the series ended. Like all the specials, it's an original standalone story with the TV cast.
City Hunter: Goodbye My Sweetheart Special, 1997, 1 episode
The second TV special, another standalone story. ADV released it in English as 'City Hunter: The Motion Picture', which is easy to mix up with the real films.
City Hunter: Death of the Vicious Criminal Ryo Saeba Special, 1999, 1 episode
The third and last TV special, another standalone story. It was the last City Hunter animation for twenty years.
City Hunter: Shinjuku Private Eyes Movie, 2019, 1 episode
The franchise's return after 20 years, set in modern-day Tokyo with Kodama and most of the original voice cast back. It's a standalone case but leans on nostalgia, and the thieves from Hojo's Cat's Eye make a guest appearance. Discotek released it with an English dub.
City Hunter The Movie: Angel Dust Movie, 2023, 1 episode
The follow-up to Shinjuku Private Eyes, billed as the start of the anime's final chapter. It brings in parts of the manga's last arc that the TV series never touched, including Ryo's past and his adoptive father, so watch it last.

Release order

Everything in the order it came out in Japan.

City Hunter TV, 1987–88, 51 episodes
Sunrise's first series, directed by Kenji Kodama. It sets up Ryo, Kaori and the regulars like Saeko and Umibozu (Falcon) through one-, two- and three-part cases. Many episodes are anime-original, but there's no recap filler, and the case-of-the-week format makes it easy to pick up.
City Hunter 2 TV, 1988–89, 63 episodes
The longest series, continuing straight on from the first with more cases in the same style. It ends with the three-part 'Good Luck My Sweeper'.
City Hunter: .357 Magnum Movie, 1989, 1 episode
The first theatrical film (also called Magnum of Love's Destination), released between the second and third series. A standalone case that doesn't tie into the TV story; watch it after City Hunter 2.
City Hunter 3 TV, 1989–90, 13 episodes
A short third series with the same staff, continuing the episodic cases.
City Hunter: Bay City Wars Movie, 1990, 1 episode
A 45-minute film shown as half of a 1990 double bill with Million Dollar Conspiracy. A standalone case; some English releases list it as an OVA.
City Hunter: Million Dollar Conspiracy Movie, 1990, 1 episode
The other half of the 1990 double bill, another 45-minute standalone case. Watch it right after Bay City Wars.
City Hunter '91 TV, 1991, 13 episodes
The fourth and last TV series, directed by Kiyoshi Egami; its last three episodes aired together as a special block. It doesn't wrap up the manga's story.
City Hunter: The Secret Service Special, 1996, 1 episode
The first of three 90-minute TV specials made after the series ended. Like all the specials, it's an original standalone story with the TV cast.
City Hunter: Goodbye My Sweetheart Special, 1997, 1 episode
The second TV special, another standalone story. ADV released it in English as 'City Hunter: The Motion Picture', which is easy to mix up with the real films.
City Hunter: Death of the Vicious Criminal Ryo Saeba Special, 1999, 1 episode
The third and last TV special, another standalone story. It was the last City Hunter animation for twenty years.
City Hunter: Shinjuku Private Eyes Movie, 2019, 1 episode
The franchise's return after 20 years, set in modern-day Tokyo with Kodama and most of the original voice cast back. It's a standalone case but leans on nostalgia, and the thieves from Hojo's Cat's Eye make a guest appearance. Discotek released it with an English dub.
City Hunter The Movie: Angel Dust Movie, 2023, 1 episode
The follow-up to Shinjuku Private Eyes, billed as the start of the anime's final chapter. It brings in parts of the manga's last arc that the TV series never touched, including Ryo's past and his adoptive father, so watch it last.

Explained

Do I have to watch everything in order?

Not really. Almost every episode, film and special is its own case, often two or three episodes long, so you can dip in anywhere. The things that do build up are Ryo and Kaori's relationship and, in Angel Dust, Ryo's past. Starting from the first series is still the easiest way to meet the regulars.

Is there any filler?

There are no recap episodes in the four TV series. Many episodes are original stories made for the anime rather than adapted from the manga, but since the whole show is episodic, they don't feel like filler and there's no need to skip them.

What about Angel Heart?

Angel Heart (anime in 2005–06, 50 episodes) is Hojo's alternate-world take on City Hunter: it shares the characters, but in its world Kaori has died. It isn't a sequel and isn't part of this order; watch it separately if you're curious.

Which City Hunter movie is the 'real' movie?

The theatrical films are .357 Magnum (1989), Bay City Wars and Million Dollar Conspiracy (1990), Shinjuku Private Eyes (2019) and Angel Dust (2023). Goodbye My Sweetheart was a 1997 TV special, despite being sold in English as 'City Hunter: The Motion Picture'. The 1993 Jackie Chan film, the 2019 French film and Netflix's 2024 Japanese film are live-action adaptations, not part of the anime.

Where can I watch it, and is more coming?

Discotek holds the anime in North America and has released all four TV series, the older films and specials, and Shinjuku Private Eyes on Blu-ray. Angel Dust got a cinema and Blu-ray release from Anime Limited. No new anime has been announced since Angel Dust; the next thing announced is Netflix's live-action City Hunter 2 for 2027.