Pokémon, a media franchise that started in 1996 with the release of the first video game “Pocket Monsters” in Japan, has come a long way.
From TV shows to movies, Pokémon has amassed a huge following in the United States and beyond. The Pokémon movie series is a collection of feature-length films based on the Pokémon video game franchise.
Spanning over two decades, these films have become a good thing for Pokémon fans, offering a fresh take on the main character, Ash Ketchum, and his adventures in the Pokémon universe.
In this article, we’ll go over the list of the best Pokémon movies, in chronological order of their release.
List of Pokemon Films in Order of Release
- Pokémon: The First Movie – Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998)
- Pokémon: The Movie 2000 – The Power of One (1999)
- Pokémon 3: The Movie – Spell of the Unown (2000)
- Pokémon 4Ever – Celebi: Voice of the Forest (2001)
- Pokémon Heroes: Latios and Latias (2002)
- Pokémon: Jirachi Wish Maker (2003)
- Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys (2004)
- Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew (2005)
- Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea (2006)
- Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai (2007)
- Pokémon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior (2008)
- Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life (2009)
- Pokémon: Zoroark: Master of Illusions (2010)
- Pokémon the Movie: Black—Victini and Reshiram and White—Victini and Zekrom (2011)
- Pokémon the Movie: Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice (2012)
- Pokémon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened (2013)
- Pokémon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction (2014)
- Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages (2015)
- Pokémon the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel (2016)
- Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You! (2017)
- Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us (2018)
- Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019)
- Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution (2019)
- Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle (2020)
- Pokémon the Movie: Coco (2020)
Note that there have been additional releases such as special episodes and short films that were not included in this list but here are some of the notable special episodes and short films of the Pokémon franchise:
Pokemon Special Episodes and Short Films
- Pikachu’s Vacation (1998) – A short film that was shown before the screening of the first Pokémon movie. It features Pikachu and its friends enjoying their time at a Pokémon-only amusement park.
- Pikachu’s Rescue Adventure (1999) – Another short film that was shown before the screening of the second Pokémon movie. Pikachu and its friends get separated from their trainers and embark on a rescue mission to save Togepi.
- Pikachu & Pichu (2000) – A short film that follows Pikachu and Pichu as they navigate through a bustling city in search of their trainer, Ash.
- Camp Pikachu (2002) – A special episode that aired on TV. Ash and his friends attend a summer camp where they meet other Pokémon trainers and have fun battling and playing games.
- Gotta Dance! (2003) – A short film that features Pikachu and its friends learning different dance styles to prepare for a big dance competition.
- Pikachu’s Ghost Festival! (2011) – A special episode that features Ash and his friends attending a Ghost Festival in a haunted village where they encounter spooky Pokémon.
- Mewtwo: The Prologue to Awakening (2013) – A special episode that serves as a prequel to the sixteenth Pokémon movie, Genesect and the Legend Awakened. It tells the story of how Mewtwo was created and its initial interactions with humans.
- Pokémon: Twilight Wings (2020) – A web series of seven short episodes set in the Galar region of the Pokémon world. It follows different characters and their experiences with Pokémon battles and relationships.
These are just some of the many special episodes and short films that have been released as part of the Pokémon franchise.
If you’re a fan of the Pokémon movies, then you should definitely check out the Pokémon anime TV series.
The series follows Ash Ketchum, Pikachu, and their friends on their adventures through various regions of the Pokémon world.
The series has been on the air since 1997 and has run for 25 seasons, with over 1,000 episodes.
In addition to Ash and Pikachu, the series features a diverse cast of characters, including Ash’s mother, Professor Oak, and the villainous Team Rocket. Each season introduces new Pokémon, challenges, and settings, making the series a must-watch for any Pokémon fan.
Best Ranked Pokemon Movies
Here are some of the top best-rated Pokémon movies and a brief description of each one…
- Pokémon: The First Movie – Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998) – The first Pokémon movie ever released follows Ash and his friends as they journey to an island to compete in a Pokémon tournament. However, they are caught up in a plot by Mewtwo, a genetically engineered Pokémon, to create the world’s strongest Pokémon army. With stunning animation and an emotional storyline, this movie is widely considered a classic and a fan favorite.
- Pokémon: The Movie 2000 – The Power of One (1999) – In this sequel to the first movie, Ash and his friends get caught up in a battle between three legendary Pokémon over control of the world’s climate. With breathtaking visuals and an epic storyline, this movie is often considered one of the best in the franchise.
- Pokémon: The Movie – I Choose You! (2017) – This movie serves as a retelling of the first season of the Pokémon anime, following Ash’s journey to become a Pokémon trainer and his bond with his first Pokémon, Pikachu. With stunning animation and an emotional storyline, this movie is praised for its nostalgia and faithfulness to the original story.
- Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai (2007) – Ash and his friends visit a city where they discover that two legendary Pokémon, Dialga and Palkia, are fighting, causing a rift in the space-time continuum. This movie is praised for its stunning visuals and emotional storyline.
- Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew (2005) – Ash and his friends travel to a castle to celebrate the Festival of the Vale, where they meet a legendary Pokémon named Lucario. They soon find themselves caught up in a plot involving the Mew, a mythical Pokémon. This movie is praised for its animation and action-packed storyline.
- Pokémon: Jirachi Wish Maker (2003) – In this movie, Ash and his friends meet a mythical Pokémon named Jirachi, who can grant wishes. However, they soon discover that a villainous team is after Jirachi’s power. This movie is praised for its charming storyline and emotional moments.
- Pokémon: The Movie – Secrets of the Jungle (2020) – In this movie, Ash and his friends journey to the jungle where they meet a mythical Pokémon named Zarude and a young girl named Koko. They soon find themselves caught up in a battle to save the jungle from destruction. This movie is praised for its gorgeous animation and heartwarming storyline.
- Pokémon: Zoroark: Master of Illusions (2010) – Ash and his friends travel to a city where they discover a plot involving a legendary Pokémon named Zoroark and a sinister organization. This movie is praised for its action-packed storyline and impressive visuals.
- Pokémon: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages (2015) – In this movie, Ash and his friends meet a mythical Pokémon named Hoopa, who can summon other Pokémon from different dimensions. They soon find themselves caught up in a battle to save the world from destruction. This movie is praised for its epic storyline and impressive visuals.
- Pokémon: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel (2016) – Ash and his friends encounter a mythical Pokémon named Volcanion, who is on a mission to rescue a kidnapped princess. They soon find themselves caught up in a battle involving a powerful machine. This movie is praised for its unique storyline and impressive animation.
- Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019) – Detective Pikachu features Ryan Reynolds as the voice of the titular character, Detective Pikachu, a wise-cracking, coffee-loving Pokémon who has lost his memory and is on a mission to solve a mystery with his human partner, Tim Goodman (played by Justice Smith). The movie is notable for being the first live-action film in the Pokémon franchise and has been praised for its visual effects and Reynolds’ performance as the lovable and humorous Detective Pikachu.
These movies are all fan favorites and are often cited as some of the best Pokémon movies in the franchise.
The Pokémon movie series has become a staple of the franchise, with each film offering a unique take on the Pokémon universe, complimenting the Nintendo games extremely well.
From the legendary birds in “Pokémon: The Movie 2000” to the mythical Pokémon Hoopa in “Pokémon: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages,” the films have introduced new Pokémon and expanded the lore of the franchise.
While some films like “Pokémon: The First Movie – Mewtwo Strikes Back” and “Pokémon: I Choose You!” have received critical acclaim, others like “Pokémon: The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon” have been met with mixed reviews.
However, each film has given Pokémon fans a chance to experience their favorite characters in a different setting, making the Pokémon movie series a must-watch for any fan of the anime series or the Pokémon video games.
Where to Watch?
The availability of Pokémon movies for streaming varies by region and platform. Here’s a breakdown of where you can watch some of the Pokémon movies in the United States: (Listings will vary over time, so always check)
Netflix:
- Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!
- Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us
- Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution
Amazon Prime Video:
- Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!
- Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us
- Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution
- Pokémon: Detective Pikachu
HBO Max:
- Pokémon Detective Pikachu
The UK and US Netflix also have the Pokemon series such as Pokemon XY in their libraries, and US Netflix currently has 12 episodes of the Pokemon ultimate journeys series.
In addition to these streaming platforms, some of the Pokémon movies are available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and YouTube. It’s important to note that the availability of Pokémon movies for streaming can change over time, so it’s always a good idea to check the platforms regularly to see which movies are currently available.
More Pokemon
If you love Pokemon, find out which of these 6 popular Pokemon you are most like, according to your traits, by taking our Pokemon quiz…. have fun!
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