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Pokémon is a media franchise created by video game designer Satoshi Tajiri that centers on fictional creatures called Pokémon. As of 2024, there have been 23 animated films, several anime/special movies, three short movies, a fan made film, and one live action film. The first 19 animated films are based on the anime television series of the same name, with the original film being remade into the 22nd. The 20th, 21st, and 23rd films are set in an alternate continuity to the anime. The 20th is a retelling of the anime's first episode, Pokémon, I Choose You! while the 21st and 23rd are completely original films.
The films are produced by the animation studios OLM, Inc., Production I.G, Xebec, and Wit Studio, and distributed in Japan by Toho, with various studios distributing the films in North America. Warner Bros. Pictures licensed the first three animated films in North America, and Miramax licensed the following four films. In these four movies distributed by Miramax, there were partly or completely different dubbing casts than in the TV series in many countries. Starting with the 8th, Viz Media is the only North American licensee. The movies were dubbed by 4Kids Entertainment for the first eight movies and TPCi since the ninth movie. They were directed by Kunihiko Yuyama (Motonori Sakakibara co-directed for the 22nd) and Tetsuo Yajima (21st and 23rd), and written by Takeshi Shudo, Hideki Sonoda, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Shoji Yonemura, Eiji Umehara, and Aya Takaha.
The films star the Pokémon Trainer Ash Ketchum, alongside his friends and his Pokémon Pikachu with a Legendary or Mythical Pokémon (except for the 8th and 13th) playing a central role in those films. The locations in which the movies take place have been, since the 5th are based on real-world locations outside of Japan. Pokémon movies are usually released in July (except for the 23rd). 10 out of the 23 movies aired with their corresponding Pikachu short.
The launch of the mobile game Pokémon GO in 2016 reignited mainstream interest back into the Pokémon franchise in the Western market since its initial peak in the early 2000s; various Hollywood film companies approached The Pokémon Company to gain film rights. Eventually, Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Entertainment struck a deal to produce a live-action adaptation of the 2016 video game, Detective Pikachu film is based on the 2018 Nintendo 3DS video game Detective Pikachu and stars Ryan Reynolds as the motion capture role of Detective Pikachu, with Justice Smith and Kathryn Newton as the lead human roles.
These special films, which run longer than the normal half-hour and are not usually separated into more than one episode in either the original or the dub, are often considered TV Pokémon movies, not counting towards the running total. They never appear in theaters, but are instead broadcast on the same networks that the regular anime is broadcast for their premieres. Though they may air around the same time as other episodes of the anime, usually in the anime's normal timeslot, they are not assigned episode numbers. The TV movies and specials include two animated television specials that were broadcast on TV Tokyo (sequel to the first movie and a 10th anniversary special), two TV movies based on Pokémon Crystal (part of Pokémon Chronicles in the English dub, with a split into three episodes) and Pokémon Legends: Arceus (serves as a TV movie of Pokémon Journeys: The Series on streaming apps) and a special aired on Pokémon Channel. There are also five short films (four are produced by Pokémon Shanghai and one from CoMix Wave Films Inc.).
A fan-made movie directed by Kial Natale and produced by Dylan Innes and Lee Majdoub was released in 2010.
Titles[]
The full titles of Pokémon movies typically begin with some variant of the phrase Pokémon the Movie. In Japan, the film series is called Pikachu the Movie.
In English, from the 14th movie onward (except for the 22nd), all full movie titles begin with Pokémon the Movie. The first three movies also include some variant of the phrase in their titles.
In Japanese, all movies except those in Pokémon the Series: XY begin with the phrase 「劇場版ポケットモンスター」 (Pocket Monsters: Movie Version). The Pokémon the Series: XY movies instead begin with the phrase 「ポケモン・ザ・ムービー」 (Pokémon the Movie, similar to English).
List of films[]
The following are a list of Pokémon movies.
Main films[]
| Poster | Name | Logo | Distributor | Info |
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Pokémon the First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back |  
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Warner Bros. Pictures and Toho | First movie of the series. Two featured Pokémon are Mewtwo and Mew. |
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Pokémon the Movie 2000: The Power of One |  
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Warner Bros. Pictures and Toho | Second movie, only Orange Islands arc movie. The featured Pokémon is Lugia, Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres. |
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Pokémon 3: The Movie: Spell of the Unown: Entei |  
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Warner Bros. Pictures and Toho | Third movie. The featured Pokémon are Entei and Unown. First Gold and Silver era movie. |
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Pokémon 4Ever: Celebi: Voice of the Forest |  
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Miramax and Toho | Fourth movie. The featured Pokémon are Suicune and Celebi. |
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Pokémon Heroes: Latios and Latias |  
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Miramax and Toho | Fifth movie. The featured Pokémon are Latios and Latias. Last movie of the Gold and Silver era and the original anime. |
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Pokémon: Jirachi Wish Maker | 
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Miramax and Toho | Sixth movie. The featured Pokémon is Jirachi and Groudon. First Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire movie. |
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Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys | 
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Miramax and Toho | Seventh movie. The featured Pokémon is Deoxys and Rayquaza. |
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Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew | 
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Viz Media and Toho | Eighth movie. The featured Pokémon are Lucario, Mew, Regirock, Regice and Registeel. Last Pokémon movie to be dubbed by 4Kids Entertainment. |
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Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea | 
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Viz Media and Toho | Ninth movie. The featured Pokémon is Manaphy and Kyogre. Last Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire movie. First Pokémon movie to be dubbed by TPCi. |
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Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai | 
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Viz Media and Toho | Tenth movie. The featured Pokémon are Dialga, Palkia, and Darkrai. First Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl movie. |
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Pokémon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior | 
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Viz Media and Toho | Eleventh movie. It featured Dialga, Giratina, Regigigas and Shaymin. |
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Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life | 
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Toho | Twelfth movie. The featured Pokémon is Arceus, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina and Heatran. |
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Pokémon: Zoroark: Master of Illusions | 
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Toho | Thirteenth movie. The featured Pokémon are Zoroark, Zorua, Raikou, Entei, Suicune and Celebi. Last Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl movie. Only Diamond and Pearl movie not to feature a member of the Pokémon of Myth. |
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Pokémon the Movie: Black—Victini and Reshiram and White—Victini and Zekrom | 
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Toho, Production I.G and Xebec | Fourteenth movie. The featured Pokémon are Victini, Reshiram, and Zekrom. First Pokémon the Series: Black and White movie. |
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Pokémon the Movie: Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice | 
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Toho | Fifteenth movie. The featured Pokémon are Kyurem, Keldeo, Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion. |
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Pokémon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened | 
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Toho | Sixteenth movie. The featured Pokémon are Genesect and Mewtwo. Last Pokémon the Series: Black and White movie. |
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Pokémon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction | 
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Toho | Seventeenth movie. The featured Pokémon are Diancie, Xerneas, and Yveltal. First Pokémon the Series: XY movie. |
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Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages | 
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Toho | Eighteenth movie. The featured Pokémon is the most Pokemon ever in a Pokemon film: Hoopa, Lugia, Latias, Latios, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, Dialga, Palkia, Regigigas, Giratina, Reshiram, Zekrom and Kyurem. |
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Pokémon the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel | 
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Toho | Ninteenth movie. The featured Pokémon are Volcanion, Zygarde and Magearna. Last Pokémon the Series: XY and the anime's main continuity movie. |
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Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You! | 
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Toho | Twentieth movie. The retelling of the anime's first episode, Pokémon, I Choose You! Featured Pokémon are Ho-oh, Marshadow, Raikou, Entei and Suicune. Unlike previous movies, it is set in a different continuity. First movie to release during the run of Pokémon the Series: Sun and Moon. |
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Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us | 
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Toho and Wit Studio | Twenty-first movie. Featured Pokémon are Lugia and Zeraora. Like the previous film, it is set in a different continuity. First movie not be directed by Kunihiko Yuyama, instead the film is directed by Tetsuo Yajima. |
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Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back-Evolution | 
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Toho, Sprite Animation Studios and Netflix | Twenty-second movie. CGI animated remake of Mewtwo Strikes Back. Like the first movie, the two featured Pokémon are Mewtwo and Mew. Last movie to release during the run of Pokémon the Series: Sun and Moon. Film is co-directed by Kunihiko Yuyama and Motonori Sakakibara. |
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Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle | 
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Toho and Netflix | Twenty-third and the latest mainline movie. Two featured Pokémon are Zarude and Shiny Celebi. Like the 20th and 21st movie, it is set in a different continuity and released during the run of Pokémon Journeys: The Series. Second movie not be directed by Kunihiko Yuyama, instead the film is directed by Tetsuo Yajima. Originally released July 10, 2020, was delayed to late 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. It is also the only movie in the Journeys era. |
TV and special films[]
| Poster | Name | Logo | Distributor | Info |
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Pokémon: Mewtwo Returns | 
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ShoPro and Warner Bros. | First TV movie/special and the direct sequel to Mewtwo Strikes Back. TV movie set during the events Pokémon Johto League Champions. |
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The Legend of Thunder! | OLM, Inc. | TV movie based on Pokémon Crystal. In the English dub, the movie is split into three episodes of Pokémon Chronicles. Unlike most movies, Ash Ketchum is not present in the special. | |
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Pichu Bros. in Party Panic | Nintendo and Ambrella | Special aired on the Pokémon Channel. Unlike most movies, Ash Ketchum is not present in the special. | |
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Pokémon: The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon | 
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OLM, Inc. | The one hour special to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise. Special set during the events of Pokémon Battle Frontier. The special is very infamous for recasting the English voice actors for the main characters. |
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Pokémon: The Arceus Chronicles | 
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OLM, Inc., Viu and Netflix | TV movie based on Pokémon Journeys: The Series made to promote the release of Pokémon Legends: Arceus. |
Short films[]
| Poster | Name | Logo | Distributor | Info |
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The Journey of One Dream | Pokémon Shanghai and The Pokémon Company | A short film produced by Pokémon Shanghai. Currently, the film has been released in China and India. | |
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Homecoming | 
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Pokémon Shanghai and The Pokémon Company | A short film produced by Pokémon Shanghai in celebration of Chinese New Year 2024. |
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Chasing the Moon | 
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Pokémon Shanghai and The Pokémon Company | A short film produced by Pokémon Shanghai in celebration of Mid-Autumn Festival. |
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Shiny Ekans | Pokémon Shanghai, Shanghai Witzone Network Technology Co., Ltd. and The Pokémon Company | A short film produced by Pokémon Shanghai in celebration of the 2025 Year of the Snake. | |
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Dragonite and the Special Delivery | CoMix Wave Films | A short film commemorating Pokémon Day 2025. |
Live action films[]
| Poster | Name | Logo | Distributor | Info |
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Detective Pikachu | 
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Warner Bros. | Live action adaptation of Detective Pikachu. First live action movie of the series. |
Fan works[]
| Poster | Name | Distributor | Info |
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Pokémon Apokélypse | N/A (directed by Kial Natale and produced by Dylan Innes and Lee Majdoub) | Fan movie of the series. |
Gallery[]
| Main article: Pokémon the Movie/gallery |
Box office performance[]
Many Pokémon films are among the highest-grossing anime films. The series is also the highest-grossing video game film franchise.
| Movie | Total worldwide box office |
|---|---|
| Mewtwo Strikes Back | $163,644,662 |
| The Power of One | $133,949,270 |
| Spell of the Unown: Entei | $68,411,275 |
| Celebi: Voice of the Forest | $28,023,563 |
| Heroes: Latios and Latias | $20,867,919 |
| Jirachi Wish Maker | $33,393,751 |
| Destiny Deoxys | $34,337,258 |
| Lucario and the Mystery of Mew | $37,150,760 |
| Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea | $26,851,324 |
| The Rise of Darkrai | $42,496,749 |
| Giratina and the Sky Warrior | $43,338,599 |
| Arceus and the Jewel of Life | $50,673,078 |
| Zoroark: Master of Illusions | $71,143,529 |
| Black—Victini and Reshiram and White—Victini and Zekrom | $57,082,491 |
| Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice | $46,008,255 |
| Genesect and the Legend Awakened | $32,293,377 |
| Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction | $26,732,338 |
| Hoopa and the Clash of Ages | $22,000,000 |
| Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel | $19,727,392 |
| I Choose You! | $37,552,144 |
| The Power of Us | $27,347,118 |
| Mewtwo Strikes Back — Evolution | $23,740,788 |
| Secrets of the Jungle | $16,052,056 |
| Detective Pikachu (2019) | $433,005,346 |
| Total | $1,500,529,770 |
See also[]
External Links[]
- Pokémon movie at Bulbapedia, the Pokémon wiki.
- List of Pokémon films at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Japanese website
- English website
- Twitter page (@pokemon_movie)
| Nintendo-related movie adaptations | |
|---|---|
| Mario | Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach! (1986; JP; video) • Super Mario Bros. (1993) • The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) • Untitled Super Mario Bros. film (2026) |
| Pokémon | Pokémon film series (I Choose You! continuity) |
| Other series | Animal Crossing: The Movie (Animal Crossing; 2006; JP) • Star Fox Zero: The Battle Begins (Star Fox, 2016) • Untitled The Legend of Zelda film (The Legend of Zelda; TBA) |
| Compiled | Donkey Kong Country: The Legend of the Crystal Coconut (1999; video) • Kirby: Fright to the Finish (2005; video/TV) |
| Miscellaneous | The Wizard (1989) • Super Hornio Brothers (1993) • Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (2005) • Wreck-It Ralph (2012) • Pixels (2015) • 8-Bit Christmas (2021) |