Walk into any Hot Topic or scroll through a "Top 10 Anime" thread on Reddit, and you’ll see it. That black notebook. The apple-munching shinigami. It’s everywhere. But when we talk about the rating of Death Note, we aren't just talking about a number on a screen. We’re talking about a cultural phenomenon that somehow bridges the gap between casual viewers and hardcore otaku.
Most people just glance at the IMDb or MyAnimeList score and move on. They see a 9.0 and think, "Okay, cool, it’s good." But that’s lazy. To really understand why the show holds that rank, you have to look at the psychological weight it carries. It’s dark. It’s messy. Honestly, it’s kind of messed up that we all rooted for a serial killer for thirty-seven episodes, right?
Light Yagami isn't your typical hero. He's a straight-A student who finds a notebook that lets him kill anyone whose name he writes in it. Simple premise. Terrifying execution. The show asks a question most of us are too scared to answer: if you could get away with it, would you "fix" the world by getting rid of the "bad" people? That moral ambiguity is exactly why the rating of Death Note stays so high while other series fade into obscurity.
What Do the Numbers Actually Say?
If you want the raw data, it’s staggering. On MyAnimeList (MAL), one of the most respected databases in the community, Death Note consistently sits in the top tier. As of early 2026, it maintains a score hovering around 8.62, based on millions of user votes. It is frequently the #1 most popular anime on the entire platform.
Over on IMDb, it’s even higher, often sitting at a 9.0. That puts it in the same league as Breaking Bad or The Wire. Think about that for a second. An anime about a teenager and his invisible monster friend is rated alongside the greatest prestige television dramas in history.
But why the discrepancy? MAL users are critics. They nitpick the second half of the show (we’ll get to that). IMDb users are the general public. To the average person, Death Note is a gateway drug. It’s the show you show your friend who "doesn't like cartoons."
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The "Near" Problem: Why the Rating Dips
Ask any fan about the last third of the show. Go ahead. They’ll probably sigh.
For many, the rating of Death Note takes a massive hit after a specific, spoiler-heavy event involving the character L. When Near and Mello enter the fray, the vibe changes. It feels rushed. The cat-and-mouse game that defined the first 25 episodes gets... weird.
The manga actually handles this better. It gives Near and Mello room to breathe. The anime, however, hammers through chapters like it's in a race to the finish line. This is the biggest "but" in the history of the series. "It’s a 10/10... but the ending." Even with that dip, the sheer brilliance of the first arc is usually enough to keep the overall score in the stratosphere.
It’s Not Just for Kids: The Age Rating Factor
Parents search for the rating of Death Note for a very different reason. They want to know if their twelve-year-old is going to be scarred for life.
In the United States, the show is typically rated TV-14. In other regions, it’s a 15 or even an R.
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- There’s no "fan service" or explicit nudity.
- There’s very little gore compared to something like Attack on Titan.
- The violence is mostly people clutching their chests and falling over (heart attacks).
The "maturity" comes from the themes. It deals with nihilism, the corruption of power, and the terrifying realization that a bored god could end your life on a whim. It’s a "thinking person's" thriller. It’s basically Columbo if Columbo was a socially awkward genius who crouched on chairs and ate nothing but sugar.
Comparing the Live Action Disasters
We have to talk about the Netflix movie. We just do.
When you look at the rating of Death Note on Google, you might accidentally stumble upon the 2017 live-action adaptation. Avoid it. It sits at a dismal 37% on Rotten Tomatoes. It fundamentally misunderstood Light Yagami. In the anime, Light is a cold, calculating sociopath who thinks he’s a god. In the Netflix version, he’s a screaming teenager who gets manipulated into using the book.
The Japanese live-action films from the mid-2000s, however, are actually pretty decent. They even changed the ending in a way that some fans prefer over the original manga. If you’re looking for a complete experience, those are the "hidden gems" of the franchise.
Why the Animation Quality Keeps the Rating High
Studio Madhouse did something special in 2006. They took a story that is mostly people sitting in rooms talking and made it look like an action movie.
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The dramatic lighting. The aggressive pen-strokes when Light writes a name. The "potato chip" scene. It’s iconic. Even twenty years later, the animation doesn't look dated. It has this gritty, gothic aesthetic that perfectly matches the soundtrack. Speaking of which, the music by Yoshihisa Hirano and Hideki Taniuchi is half the reason the show works. It sounds like a Gregorian chant mixed with a heavy metal concert.
The Verdict on the Rating of Death Note
Is it overrated? Maybe a little. The second half is definitely flawed.
But is it essential? Absolutely.
The rating of Death Note reflects its status as a masterpiece of suspense. It’s a show that respects the intelligence of its audience. It doesn't over-explain. It assumes you can keep up with the complex gambits and double-blinds.
If you haven’t seen it, the numbers don't lie. It’s one of the few pieces of media that actually lives up to the hype. Just be prepared for the fact that after you watch it, every other "smart" thriller will feel a little bit slower by comparison.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans and Newcomers
- Watch the Japanese Audio first: The voice acting by Mamoru Miyano (Light) and Kappei Yamaguchi (L) is legendary. The English dub is actually very good, but the original Japanese captures the "insanity" of the later episodes better.
- Read Volume 13: If you finished the anime and felt confused by the ending, pick up Death Note Vol. 13: How to Read. It contains character profiles, interviews, and the original "pilot" chapter that explains the lore in more detail.
- Check the C-Kira and A-Kira One-Shots: Written years after the original series ended, these short stories show how the world changed after Kira. They are fascinating looks at how modern technology (like surveillance cameras and the internet) would make the Death Note much harder—or easier—to use.
- Listen to the Soundtrack: Put on "L's Theme" when you need to focus. It’s a productivity hack used by thousands of students worldwide.
- Ignore the 2017 Movie: Save your time. Re-watch the first episode of the anime instead.
The legacy of the series isn't just in its high scores; it's in the way it forces you to look in the mirror. Most shows tell you who the good guy is. Death Note gives you the pen and lets you decide for yourself.