How to watch

Arrowverse Watch Order in the correct order

How to watch the Arrowverse shows in order

Last updated: July 20 2026

Written by: ChronoBob

The Arrowverse is The CW's interconnected DC superhero universe, launched by Arrow in 2012 and expanding into one of the largest shared universes on television. With crossover events, spinoffs, and a final Crisis on Infinite Earths, knowing the right watch order is essential.

The Arrowverse began with Arrow in 2012 and grew into a sprawling interconnected universe spanning seven shows and nearly a decade of television. Oliver Queen's story inspired spinoffs including The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, Black Lightning, Batwoman, and Superman & Lois. Annual crossover events β€” culminating in the Crisis on Infinite Earths mega-event in 2019–2020 β€” united the casts in stories that rewrote the fabric of their shared universe. Navigating the Arrowverse is rewarding but requires a roadmap.

πŸ• Release Order

For the full Arrowverse experience, follow this release order. Crossover episodes are marked separately β€” watch them as they occur within each season.

  1. Arrow β€” Seasons 1–8 (2012–2020)
  2. The Flash β€” Seasons 1–9 (2014–2023)
  3. Legends of Tomorrow β€” Seasons 1–7 (2016–2022)
  4. Supergirl β€” Seasons 1–6 (2015–2021)
  5. Black Lightning β€” Seasons 1–4 (2018–2021)
  6. Batwoman β€” Seasons 1–3 (2019–2022)
  7. Superman & Lois β€” Seasons 1–4 (2021–2024)

Because all shows air simultaneously across multiple seasons, many fans choose to watch one show at a time and only sync up for crossover events. The Flash is widely considered the best entry point after Arrow.

πŸ“– Story Chronology

The Arrowverse's in-universe timeline largely follows broadcast order, with crossover events aligning characters across shows. A simplified chronological watch path:

  1. Arrow Seasons 1–3 + The Flash Season 1 (foundation of the universe, 2012–2015)
  2. All shows continue simultaneously with annual crossovers (2015–2019)
  3. Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event (Arrow Season 8, 2019–2020)
  4. Post-Crisis shows continue (2020–2024)

Which Order Should You Choose?

Start with Arrow Season 1, then add The Flash Season 1 once you've finished Arrow Season 2. You can watch these shows simultaneously or sequentially. The most important crossover events to watch in order are: The Flash/Arrow crossovers (Seasons 1–2), Invasion! (2016), Crisis on Earth-X (2017), Elseworlds (2018), and Crisis on Infinite Earths (2019–2020). Legends of Tomorrow is best started after finishing The Flash Season 1. Superman & Lois can be enjoyed on its own as a standalone family drama even if you haven't watched the other shows.

πŸ”— Related Guides

  • The Flash Watch OrderGuide
  • Smallville Watch OrderGuide
  • Marvel Cinematic Universe Watch OrderGuide

Did we miss anything? Let us know and we'll keep this guide up to date!