The Criterion Channel is adding Neon Genesis Evangelion, Evangelion: Death (True)², and The End of Evangelion on September 1, 2026, per Anime News Network. It's the first time both films have had a steady North American streaming home since ADV Films' Platinum Edition DVDs went out of print — GKIDS picked up the rights back in 2020 and ran the two movies in U.S. theaters on July 21-22.
Quick answer
Neon Genesis Evangelion is Hideaki Anno's 1995 Gainax TV series (26 episodes) about teenage EVA pilots and the mecha-that-isn't-a-mecha war against the Angels. Starting September 1, 2026, the Criterion Channel streams the original series plus Evangelion: Death (True)² and The End of Evangelion; Netflix already carries the 1995 TV series worldwide. According to SenpaiRanks, Evangelion sits in the top tier of the sci-fi ranking board with an adjusted score of 8.05 on the Consensus axis — one of the highest-scoring older titles we track.
Why this matters
For years the honest answer to "where can I legally watch The End of Evangelion" was "you basically can't." The films fell into a licensing hole after ADV shut down in 2009. Criterion adding them alongside the show fixes the most annoying gap in the franchise — you can finally watch the series and its proper ending in one place. Criterion has been quietly building an anime shelf, too: Gunbuster, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, the K-ON! film, and Gatchaman already live there.
Here's the classic trailer if you need a refresher on why this show still owns the conversation 30 years on:
The two-axis read
This is where SenpaiRanks answers a question MyAnimeList's single number can't. Evangelion is both broadly beloved AND divisive — the ending splits people down the middle. Our Consensus axis (how widely liked) and Quality axis (how well it holds up) let you see that split instead of flattening it into one score. Rate it yourself and watch where your take lands versus the crowd — that's the part a static database can't give you.
Where else it lives
Netflix has streamed the remastered 1995 series globally since 2019, with the Director's Cut episodes and a re-dub. The theatrical Rebuild tetralogy (the Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 movies) streams separately on Amazon Prime Video in most regions — a different continuity from the TV series, worth knowing before you start.
If you're building a fall watchlist around sci-fi, cross-check our what to watch this fall hub and the new Ghost in the Shell anime where-to-watch guide — and see how our two-axis method stacks up against the incumbent in MyAnimeList alternative: dual-axis rankings. The full Evangelion ranking page has the score breakdown.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Where can I watch Neon Genesis Evangelion?
A: Netflix streams the original 1995 TV series worldwide. From September 1, 2026, the Criterion Channel adds the series plus the Death (True)² and The End of Evangelion films in North America.
Q: Where can I watch The End of Evangelion?
A: The Criterion Channel adds it on September 1, 2026 — the first stable North American streaming home for the film since ADV's out-of-print DVDs.
Q: Is Neon Genesis Evangelion good?
A: On SenpaiRanks it holds an 8.05 adjusted score in the top tier of the sci-fi board. It's a landmark, though the ending is famously polarizing — the Consensus vs Quality split is worth reading before you commit.
Q: Is the Netflix version the same as Criterion's?
A: Both use the original 26-episode series. Netflix carries a newer dub cast; older fans debate the translation choices. Criterion pairs the show with the two films Netflix doesn't have.
Q: Are the Rebuild movies on Criterion?
A: No. The Rebuild of Evangelion film tetralogy is a separate continuity and streams on Amazon Prime Video in most regions.
Q: How many episodes is Neon Genesis Evangelion?
A: 26 TV episodes, followed by The End of Evangelion as the alternate theatrical finale.