Death Note has inspired three live-action films, a TV drama series as well as a stage musical. The series has also inspired numerous copycat crimes outside of Japan.

The manga was published in English by VIZ Media under the Shonen Jump Advanced imprint from October 10, 2005 and July 3, 2007 and again in 2-in-1 omnibuses (subtitled Black edition) from December 28, 2010 to November 1, 2011. There have been several more rereleases of the series: a special hardcover edition of the first volume on September 16, 2008, a complete box set on October 7, 2008, which included a guidebook titled Death Note 13: How to Read, and a complete omnibus on September 5, 2017. It was also published in Italy by Planet Manga from November 2006 to September 2008; in Brazil by JBC from June 2007 to August 2008, and again in 2-in-1 edition (Black Edition) from June 2013 to December 2013; in Argentina by LARP Editores from May 20, 2009 to April 2012;

and in Spanish by Glénat España from June 30, 2006 to Septmber 30, 2007. Norma Editorial republished the series in Spanish as the Black edition from April 11 to September 27, 2013.