Yu Yu Hakusho watch order
Street punk Yusuke Urameshi dies saving a child, gets a second chance at life and becomes a Spirit Detective, hunting demons with Kuwabara, Kurama and Hiei. Studio Pierrot's 112-episode adaptation of Yoshihiro Togashi's manga, plus two films and a handful of video extras.
First time? Watch the TV series straight through (episodes 1–112), slotting in The Golden Seal after episode 25 and Poltergeist Report after episode 66 if you want the films. Finish with the 2018 OVA, Two Shots / All or Nothing.
First-timer order
The TV series in one go, with each film after the arc it follows, and both halves of the 2018 OVA at the end. Two Shots is technically a prequel, but it lands better once you know Kurama and Hiei.
- Yu Yu Hakusho: Spirit Detective (episodes 1–25)
Yusuke dies, earns his way back to life and starts work for Koenma as a Spirit Detective. Introduces Kuwabara, Kurama, Hiei and Genkai, and ends with the Four Saint Beasts at Maze Castle.
- Yu Yu Hakusho: The Movie (The Golden Seal) (optional)
A 30-minute original story: Koenma is kidnapped by two Netherworld demons after King Enma's Golden Seal, and Botan pulls Yusuke and Kuwabara off their summer break to rescue him. Not from the manga; fits after episode 25.
- Yu Yu Hakusho: Dark Tournament (episodes 26–66)
Yusuke trains with Genkai and meets the Toguro brothers, then the team is forced into the Dark Tournament, a demon fighting tournament. The longest arc of the series.
- Yu Yu Hakusho the Movie: Poltergeist Report (optional)
A feature-length (about 90-minute) original film: the banished Netherworld floods Spirit World and its king Yakumo tries to seize five sources of spiritual energy on Earth, so Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama and Hiei fight his demons. Not from the manga; fits after episode 66, with the whole team working together.
- Yu Yu Hakusho: Chapter Black (episodes 67–94)
A former Spirit Detective, Sensui, plans to open a tunnel between the human world and Demon World, and the team gets new human allies with strange powers.
- Yu Yu Hakusho: Three Kings (episodes 95–112)
Yusuke, Kurama and Hiei are each drawn to one of the three kings who rule Demon World, leading to a tournament to decide its future. The final arc; the last episode jumps two years ahead.
- Yu Yu Hakusho OVA: Two Shots
A 15-minute episode adapting a bonus chapter from the manga's seventh volume: how Kurama and Hiei first met, before the series begins. Released with the 25th-anniversary Blu-ray box. A prequel, but it's best saved until you know the two characters.
- Yu Yu Hakusho OVA: All or Nothing
The second 15-minute episode of the 2018 OVA, adapting the manga's second-to-last chapter, which the TV series skipped: the team reunites to rescue Koenma and Botan when the Gate of Judgment is seized. Watch it after episode 112 as an epilogue.
Story order
In-story order, with Two Shots first because it shows how Kurama and Hiei met. The films are original side stories and sit where the cast and setting fit. The Eizou Hakusho recaps are left out.
- Yu Yu Hakusho OVA: Two Shots
A 15-minute episode adapting a bonus chapter from the manga's seventh volume: how Kurama and Hiei first met, before the series begins. Released with the 25th-anniversary Blu-ray box. A prequel, but it's best saved until you know the two characters.
- Yu Yu Hakusho: Spirit Detective (episodes 1–25)
Yusuke dies, earns his way back to life and starts work for Koenma as a Spirit Detective. Introduces Kuwabara, Kurama, Hiei and Genkai, and ends with the Four Saint Beasts at Maze Castle.
- Yu Yu Hakusho: The Movie (The Golden Seal) (optional)
A 30-minute original story: Koenma is kidnapped by two Netherworld demons after King Enma's Golden Seal, and Botan pulls Yusuke and Kuwabara off their summer break to rescue him. Not from the manga; fits after episode 25.
- Yu Yu Hakusho: Dark Tournament (episodes 26–66)
Yusuke trains with Genkai and meets the Toguro brothers, then the team is forced into the Dark Tournament, a demon fighting tournament. The longest arc of the series.
- Yu Yu Hakusho the Movie: Poltergeist Report (optional)
A feature-length (about 90-minute) original film: the banished Netherworld floods Spirit World and its king Yakumo tries to seize five sources of spiritual energy on Earth, so Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama and Hiei fight his demons. Not from the manga; fits after episode 66, with the whole team working together.
- Yu Yu Hakusho: Chapter Black (episodes 67–94)
A former Spirit Detective, Sensui, plans to open a tunnel between the human world and Demon World, and the team gets new human allies with strange powers.
- Yu Yu Hakusho: Three Kings (episodes 95–112)
Yusuke, Kurama and Hiei are each drawn to one of the three kings who rule Demon World, leading to a tournament to decide its future. The final arc; the last episode jumps two years ahead.
- Yu Yu Hakusho OVA: All or Nothing
The second 15-minute episode of the 2018 OVA, adapting the manga's second-to-last chapter, which the TV series skipped: the team reunites to rescue Koenma and Botan when the Gate of Judgment is seized. Watch it after episode 112 as an epilogue.
Release order
Everything in the order it came out. The two films came out while the Dark Tournament and Chapter Black arcs were airing.
- Yu Yu Hakusho: Spirit Detective (episodes 1–25)
Yusuke dies, earns his way back to life and starts work for Koenma as a Spirit Detective. Introduces Kuwabara, Kurama, Hiei and Genkai, and ends with the Four Saint Beasts at Maze Castle.
- Yu Yu Hakusho: Dark Tournament (episodes 26–66)
Yusuke trains with Genkai and meets the Toguro brothers, then the team is forced into the Dark Tournament, a demon fighting tournament. The longest arc of the series.
- Yu Yu Hakusho: The Movie (The Golden Seal) (optional)
A 30-minute original story: Koenma is kidnapped by two Netherworld demons after King Enma's Golden Seal, and Botan pulls Yusuke and Kuwabara off their summer break to rescue him. Not from the manga; fits after episode 25.
- Yu Yu Hakusho: Chapter Black (episodes 67–94)
A former Spirit Detective, Sensui, plans to open a tunnel between the human world and Demon World, and the team gets new human allies with strange powers.
- Yu Yu Hakusho the Movie: Poltergeist Report (optional)
A feature-length (about 90-minute) original film: the banished Netherworld floods Spirit World and its king Yakumo tries to seize five sources of spiritual energy on Earth, so Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama and Hiei fight his demons. Not from the manga; fits after episode 66, with the whole team working together.
- Yu Yu Hakusho: Three Kings (episodes 95–112)
Yusuke, Kurama and Hiei are each drawn to one of the three kings who rule Demon World, leading to a tournament to decide its future. The final arc; the last episode jumps two years ahead.
- Yu Yu Hakusho: Eizou Hakusho (optional)
Two video releases of Dark Tournament fight clips set to character songs, with only a couple of short new scenes. A recap; skippable.
- Yu Yu Hakusho: Eizou Hakusho II (optional)
Four best-of compilations, one each for Yusuke, Kurama, Hiei and Kuwabara, with music, a little new animation and cast interviews. A recap; skippable.
- Yu Yu Hakusho OVA: Two Shots
A 15-minute episode adapting a bonus chapter from the manga's seventh volume: how Kurama and Hiei first met, before the series begins. Released with the 25th-anniversary Blu-ray box. A prequel, but it's best saved until you know the two characters.
- Yu Yu Hakusho OVA: All or Nothing
The second 15-minute episode of the 2018 OVA, adapting the manga's second-to-last chapter, which the TV series skipped: the team reunites to rescue Koenma and Botan when the Gate of Judgment is seized. Watch it after episode 112 as an epilogue.
Explained
Does Yu Yu Hakusho have filler?
Almost none. The TV series follows the manga closely from start to finish, with no filler arcs or recap episodes to skip. The two films are anime-original side stories, and the Eizou Hakusho releases are clip compilations.
Are the movies canon?
No. The Golden Seal and Poltergeist Report are original stories made for cinemas and aren't referenced in the series. They're fun extras: watch The Golden Seal any time after episode 25 and Poltergeist Report after episode 66, or skip them.
Does the anime end the same way as the manga?
Mostly, but it rearranges the ending: the last episode jumps ahead two years, and the anime skips the manga's final mission chapter. That chapter was finally animated in 2018 as All or Nothing, which is why it makes a good epilogue.
Is there an English dub?
Yes. Funimation dubbed the whole series (it aired on Cartoon Network as Yu Yu Hakusho: Ghost Files), with Justin Cook as Yusuke; the series now streams on Crunchyroll. The 2018 OVA got an English dub with the same cast on the 30th-anniversary Blu-ray. Poltergeist Report's English dub is an older one by a different company and cast.
Is there a new anime or a remake?
Not as of October 2026. Netflix made a five-episode live-action series in 2023 that covers the early arcs; it's a separate retelling, not part of this order.