The Last: Naruto the Movie

The Last: Naruto the Movie
Japanese film poster
Directed by	Tsuneo Kobayashi
Screenplay by	Maruo Kyozuka
Story by	Masashi Kishimoto Maruo Kyozuka
Based on	Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto
Produced by	Takuyuki Hirobe Naoji Hohnokidani Shoji Matsui
Starring	Junko Takeuchi Nana Mizuki Chie Nakamura Showtaro Morikubo Satoshi Hino Kazuhiko Inoue Noriaki Sugiyama
Cinematography	Atsuho Matsumoto
Edited by	Seiji Morita
Music by	Yasuharu Takanashi Yaiba
Production company	Studio Pierrot
Distributed by	Toho
Release date	6 December 2014 (2014-12-06)
Running time	112 minutes
Country	Japan
Language	Japanese
Budget	¥120 million[1]
Box office	¥2.0 billion (US$19.84 million)

The Last: Naruto the Movie is a 2014 Japanese animated action-romance film produced by Studio Pierrot and directed by Tsuneo Kobayashi. It is the tenth film based on Masashi Kishimoto's manga and anime Naruto. It stars Junko Takeuchi, Nana Mizuki, Chie Nakamura, Showtaro Morikubo, Satoshi Hino, Kazuhiko Inoue and Noriaki Sugiyama. Set before the finale of Naruto, the film focuses on Naruto Uzumaki's ninja team as they go on a mission to stop the moon from falling, and rescue Hanabi Hyuga — Hinata Hyuga's sister — from Toneri Otsutsuki, a man who wishes to marry Hinata and punish mankind for weaponising chakra.

The film premiered on 6 December 2014. Kishimoto created new designs for the characters, since they are now young adults rather than teenagers as depicted in Naruto: Shippuden. Kishimoto and the writers focused on the romantic relationship between the main characters; although Kishimoto was uncomfortable depicting romantic scenes, he enjoyed seeing the output. The film's theme song is Sukima Switch's "Hoshi no Utsuwa".

The Last had been the franchise's highest-grossing film before it was surpassed by its sequel, Boruto: Naruto the Movie (2015). The film was also a critical success, with a number of writers praising its story, for its focus on Naruto and Hinata's relationship, animation and superbly-animated action sequences. However, its lack of an appealing antagonist was criticised. The film's Japanese home-media release was one of the year's best sellers.

It is notably the only film in the franchise that is considered canonical with the events of the main series prior to the start of Boruto.