# Fullmetal Alchemist Watch Order

If you're new to Fullmetal Alchemist, start with Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and treat everything else as a bonus. It's the definitive version of Hiromu Arakawa's manga, tracking the Elric brothers as they hunt for a way to rebuild the bodies they wrecked in a single reckless act of alchemy. Across 64 episodes the show runs the whole arc from that opening mistake to the ending it was always building toward, so nothing feels padded or cut short. After the series, the standalone film The Sacred Star of Milos is a purely optional side-trip that sends the brothers into a fresh, self-contained adventure. That's the entire order: the complete series first, then the movie only if you're hungry for more.

> The big Fullmetal Alchemist question isn't really about order, it's about which anime. Our pick is Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, full stop, because it adapts Hiromu Arakawa's manga faithfully from the first chapter to the last. The other option, the original 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist series, shares those early beats but then breaks away into a darker, wholly original storyline that wraps up in its own feature film, Conqueror of Shamballa. That 2003 run is a genuinely good watch with its own devoted fans, but it isn't the canonical manga story and it isn't where a newcomer should begin. Watch Brotherhood first, then circle back to the 2003 version later if you want to see the road not taken.

## The order

1. **[Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood](https://hozuna.com/anime/fullmetal-alchemist-brotherhood)** — TV · 2009 · 64 eps
   The definitive series and the one truly essential watch: 64 episodes that adapt Arakawa's manga in full, from the brothers' fateful mistake to the conclusion it was always building toward. Start here, because everything else is a bonus.
   Streams on: Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll, Hulu, Netflix

2. **Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos** — Movie · 2011 · 1 eps _(optional)_
   A standalone side-story film, best saved for after Brotherhood: the Elric brothers get swept into a rebellion in a distant valley, in a self-contained adventure that stands apart from the main series. Completely optional, so skip it with no regrets if you only want the core story.

## FAQ

**Where should I start with Fullmetal Alchemist?**

Start with Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. It's the complete, self-contained telling of the story across 64 episodes, so you don't need any prior viewing or outside reading to jump in. Once it's done, the film The Sacred Star of Milos is there if you want a little more.

**What's the difference between Brotherhood and the 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist anime?**

They're two separate adaptations of the same source. Brotherhood follows Hiromu Arakawa's manga all the way through to its intended conclusion, while the 2003 series covers the same early story before splitting off into its own darker, original ending, which continues in the film Conqueror of Shamballa. Both are worth your time, but Brotherhood is the canonical, complete version and the one to watch first.

**Do I need to watch the 2003 series before Brotherhood?**

No. Brotherhood retells the story from the very beginning and carries it through in full, so it assumes zero knowledge of the 2003 anime. Newcomers can go straight to Brotherhood, and the 2003 series with its Conqueror of Shamballa finale is an optional companion for later, not a prerequisite.

**Where can I watch Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood?**

Brotherhood is easy to find legally: you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Netflix, which makes it one of the more accessible modern classics out there.

**Is The Sacred Star of Milos worth watching, and where can I find it?**

It's a fun, optional side-story rather than essential viewing, so save it for after the series if the world has hooked you. Be aware that the film is harder to track down on legal streaming than Brotherhood itself, so finding an official release may take some digging.