You can watch Fullmetal Alchemist in a couple of different “right” orders, but the safest and most commonly recommended path is:

Watch the 2003 anime and its movie as one complete story, then watch Brotherhood and its extras as a separate story.

Below is a detailed, SEO‑friendly guide that fits your “how to watch full metal alchemist in order” query, with both release and recommended orders.

Best recommended watch order

If you want the fullest experience without timeline confusion, use this order:

  1. Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) – Episodes 1–51
    • This is the first TV adaptation, loosely following the manga at the start but diverging into its own original story in the second half.
  1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballa (2005 movie)
    • Direct sequel and true ending to the 2003 series, so only watch it after finishing episode 51.
  1. Take a short break (optional but recommended)
    • Helps reset your expectations, because Brotherhood is a different canon with different pacing and plot choices.
  1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009) – Episodes 1–64
    • Faithful adaptation of the manga, with faster pacing at the beginning and a bigger, more epic scope overall.

  1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood OVAs / specials (optional but fun)
    Often watched after episode ~30 or after finishing the series:

    • “The Blind Alchemist”
    • “Simple People”
    • “The Tale of Teacher” / “The Master’s Story”
    • “Yet Another Man’s Battlefield” / “Another Man’s Battleground”
      These are side stories that flesh out characters but are not required for the main plot.
  1. Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos (2011 movie, optional)
    • Takes place during the Brotherhood continuity, usually slotted somewhere in the mid‑series timeline (after the main cast is well established).
    • Completely side-story; you won’t miss core plot points if you skip it.

This path gives you:

  • One complete, self‑contained story (FMA 2003 + Shamballa).
  • One complete, manga‑faithful story (Brotherhood + optional extras).
  • No mixing of canons, which many fans warn against because it muddies themes and character arcs.

Alternative orders fans suggest

Anime forums and Reddit discussions show several common strategies.

1) Brotherhood first, then 2003

  • Some people start with Brotherhood , then go back to the 2003 series and its movie to see an alternate take.
  • Reasoning:
    • Brotherhood is widely considered the stronger overall adaptation and has a more satisfying “shonen epic” conclusion.
    • If you’re not sure you’ll commit to watching both canons, this guarantees you see the manga story first.

Potential downside: Viewers sometimes report it’s harder to enjoy 2003 afterward, because Brotherhood’s later arcs feel more polished and climactic.

2) Only Brotherhood route (time‑saving)

If you just want the “main” story in modern anime discourse:

  • Watch Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood episodes 1–64.
  • Optionally add the OVAs + Sacred Star of Milos.

Fans often tell newcomers that Brotherhood alone is enough if you don’t have time for both series.

3) Only 2003 route

Less common today, but some viewers deeply prefer the mood and themes of the 2003 series:

  • Watch FMA 2003 episodes 1–51.
  • Then Conqueror of Shamballa.

This gives you a complete emotional arc with a darker, more introspective tone.

Should you mix episodes between 2003 and Brotherhood?

Most experienced fans say no.

  • Even though the early parts cover similar events, the shows diverge in tone, pacing, and story structure.
  • Jumping between them can:
    • Spoil better versions of certain scenes.
    • Create confusion about which character arcs and themes “count.”

A frequent community tip is:

Treat them as two separate universes and watch each one straight through.

Release order vs chronological order

If you care about “historical” context and want to experience the franchise as fans did originally, go by release order :

  1. Fullmetal Alchemist (2003)
  2. Conqueror of Shamballa
  3. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
  4. Brotherhood OVAs / specials
  5. Sacred Star of Milos

A strict in‑universe chronological order is less important here, because:

  • The 2003 series and Brotherhood are separate canons, not a single linear timeline.
  • Even watch‑order videos on YouTube emphasize picking a canon (or both) rather than trying to splice episodes chronologically.

Streaming and “latest news” context

  • As of the last major guides and discussions online, both FMA 2003 and Brotherhood remain staples on major anime platforms; availability may differ by region, so check your local streaming services (e.g., Netflix, Crunchyroll, Prime Video, etc.).
  • Fan forums and Reddit threads about “how to watch Fullmetal Alchemist in order” keep resurfacing, especially with new fans discovering the series through streaming and recommending the “two‑canon” experience.

TL;DR:
If you want the most complete, spoiler‑friendly path:
FMA 2003 → Conqueror of Shamballa → (break) → Brotherhood → OVAs → Sacred Star of Milos (optional).

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.