Death Note (2006)
Kernel Score: 78% · 772 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller
Released: 2006-06-17
Runtime: 126 minutes
Overview
Light Yagami finds the "Death Note," a notebook with the power to kill, and decides to create a Utopia by killing the world's criminals, and soon the world's greatest detective, "L," is hired to find the mysterious murderer. An all out battle between the two greatest minds on earth begins and the winner will control the world.
Death Note parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that this thriller centers on a supernatural notebook used to kill people, involving murder and moral ambiguity.
- Violence & scariness: Strong — Central premise involves killing people via a supernatural notebook, including murder and suicide.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Death Note
If you liked Death Note, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Death Note: The Last Name (2006) — 78%
- The Accountant² (2025) — 79%
- Death Note Relight 1: Visions of a God (2007) — 86%
- I See You (2019) — 79%
- Confessions (2010) — 85%
- The Witch: Part 2. The Other One (2022) — 81%
- The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil (2019) — 89%
- 10 Rillington Place (1971) — 82%
Director
Shusuke Kaneko
Cast
- Tatsuya Fujiwara as Light Yagami
- Kenichi Matsuyama as L
- Asaka Seto as Naomi Misora
- Shigeki Hosokawa as Raye Iwamatsu
- Erika Toda as Misa Amane
- Shunji Fujimura as Watari
- Takeshi Kaga as Soichiro Yagami
- Yuu Kashii as Shiori Akino
- Shido Nakamura as Ryuk (voice)
- Sota Aoyama as Touta Matsuda
Death Note FAQ
Is Death Note good?
Death Note has a 78% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 772 audience ratings.
Is Death Note OK for kids?
Death Note is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that this thriller centers on a supernatural notebook used to kill people, involving murder and moral ambiguity.
What movies are like Death Note?
If you liked Death Note, try Death Note: The Last Name, The Accountant², Death Note Relight 1: Visions of a God and I See You.