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Cowboy Bebop
All 26 sessions. Most stand alone as single bounty jobs, while a handful follow Spike's past with the Red Dragon Syndicate and build to the two-part finale.
2 titles
Updated Sep 29, 2026
Cowboy Bebop Watch Order (2026 Guide)
A crew of bounty hunters travels the solar system chasing criminals and their own troubled pasts in a jazz-soaked sci-fi setting.
Recommended Order
Quick answer
- Cowboy Bebop
- Cowboy Bebop: The Movie – Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
2 titles · 26 episodes + 1 movie · ~12.5 hours
Watch all 26 TV sessions, then the movie. The film takes place before the last four episodes, but it plays best once you know the whole crew.
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Cowboy Bebop: The Movie – Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
A feature-length original story in which the crew hunts the man behind a bioterror attack on Mars. It stands on its own and changes nothing in the series, so it can be skipped without losing any of the main plot.
⚠ Set between Sessions 22 and 23, although it was released in 2001, after the TV series had finished.
Why This Order
Cowboy Bebop is one 26-episode series and one film, so the only real decision is where the movie goes. Start with Session 1 and watch the series in order. Most sessions are self-contained bounty jobs, but a thread about Spike's past with the Red Dragon Syndicate runs underneath and builds to the two-part finale, so don't skip around. Then watch Cowboy Bebop: The Movie. Its story happens between Sessions 22 and 23, before the series ends, but it is a stand-alone case that never touches the Syndicate plot, so nothing is lost by saving it for last. Watching it after the finale means you already know Spike, Jet, Faye, Ed and Ein well, and it keeps the final stretch of episodes leading into the ending uninterrupted.
How Many Episodes and Seasons Does Cowboy Bebop Have?
Cowboy Bebop has 1 season and 1 film in the main run — 26 episodes altogether.
Main Run
| Title | Type | Episodes | Aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboy Bebop | TV Series | 26 episodes | April 1998 |
| Cowboy Bebop: The Movie – Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door | Movie | September 2001 |
2 titles · 26 episodes + 1 movie · ~12.5 hours
Source Material
Cowboy Bebop is an original anime, so there is no source to continue reading after the show. The two manga, Cowboy Bebop: Shooting Star (2 volumes, art by Cain Kuga) and Cowboy Bebop (3 volumes, art by Yutaka Nanten), tell their own side stories rather than adapting the series. Both were released in English by Tokyopop.
Cowboy Bebop Watch Order FAQ
Where should I start with Cowboy Bebop?
Start with Session 1, Asteroid Blues, of the 26-episode TV series. There is no prequel or earlier season, and the movie is best saved for later.
What is the correct order to watch Cowboy Bebop?
Watch the TV series (Sessions 1-26), then Cowboy Bebop: The Movie. If you prefer strict story order, watch the movie between Sessions 22 and 23 instead.
When should I watch Cowboy Bebop: The Movie?
Its story takes place between Session 22 (Cowboy Funk) and Session 23 (Brain Scratch), a placement confirmed by director Shinichiro Watanabe. For a first watch, saving it until after the finale works just as well, because the film is a self-contained case that doesn't affect the series.
Do I need to watch the Cowboy Bebop movie?
No. The movie is a stand-alone story and nothing in the series depends on it. It runs about 115 minutes and features the same crew, so it is worth watching if you want more Cowboy Bebop, but skipping it leaves no gap in the plot.
Is Cowboy Bebop based on a manga?
No. Cowboy Bebop is an original anime created by Sunrise. Two manga were published alongside it, Cowboy Bebop: Shooting Star (2 volumes) and Cowboy Bebop (3 volumes), but both tell their own stories rather than serving as the source for the show.
What is Cowboy Bebop Session XX (Mish-Mash Blues)?
Session XX, also listed as Yoseatsume Blues, is a clip show made from existing footage. It aired on TV Tokyo on June 26, 1998, when the original broadcast was cut short, and contains no new story. It is not part of the 26 sessions and is left out of this watch order. The one-minute Ein's Summer Vacation, a Blu-ray extra showing Ein on holiday in still illustrations, is also left out for the same reason.
Why were some Cowboy Bebop episodes not shown on TV at first?
TV Tokyo's first broadcast, from April to June 1998, aired only 12 episodes plus the Session XX special, reportedly because of concerns about the show's violent content. All 26 sessions premiered on the satellite channel WOWOW from October 1998 to April 1999, and every home and streaming release includes the full series.
Is there an English dub?
Yes. The English dub was produced by Animaze for Bandai and premiered on Adult Swim on September 2, 2001. The main cast is Steve Blum as Spike, Beau Billingslea as Jet, Wendee Lee as Faye and Melissa Fahn as Ed, and all four return in the movie, so the cast stays the same from the first session through the film.
Are there any filler episodes?
No. Cowboy Bebop is an original anime with no manga to adapt, so the filler label doesn't apply. Most sessions are stand-alone stories by design, but every one of them is canon.
Where can I watch Cowboy Bebop?
In the US, the TV series streams on Crunchyroll with both subtitles and the English dub. The movie is not on a subscription service there at the moment and is sold digitally through stores such as Apple TV and Amazon. Availability differs by region.
Is there a Cowboy Bebop Season 2?
No. The anime ended in April 1999, and the 26 sessions plus the 2001 movie are everything. Netflix's 2021 live-action series is a separate adaptation rather than a continuation, and it was cancelled after one season.
How long does it take to watch Cowboy Bebop?
The 26 sessions take about 10.5 hours. Adding the 115-minute movie brings the total to about 12.5 hours.