Pokemon Movies: Complete List and Where to Watch
The Pokémon film series spans more than two decades, 23 theatrical features, and at least 2 CGI-animated specials — making it one of the longest-running animated movie franchises produced from a single IP. This page covers every main film in the lineup, how the theatrical and streaming distribution works, and the key distinctions between the original animated films and the CGI reboot era. Whether tracking down a specific title or mapping the full watch order, the complete picture is more layered than a single streaming app suggests.
Definition and Scope
The Pokémon movie series launched in 1998 in Japan with Mewtwo Strikes Back, released in North America in 1999 by Warner Bros. Pictures. As of the most recent count tracked by The Pokémon Company International, 23 theatrical films have been produced under the main series banner, not counting short films and specials that accompanied them in original theatrical releases.
The films fall into three broad production eras:
- Original series era (Films 1–3, 1998–2001): Tied directly to the Ash Ketchum storyline, distributed in the US by Warner Bros. and later Miramax.
- Advanced/Diamond-Pearl era (Films 4–13, 2002–2010): Continued with Ash as protagonist, distributed in North America by Miramax and later Viz Media for home video.
- XY/Sun-Moon/Reboot era (Films 14–23, 2011–2023): Includes the CGI reboot Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution (2019) and Secrets of the Jungle (2020), with Netflix handling several direct-to-streaming releases.
The 2019 live-action film Pokémon Detective Pikachu, produced by Legendary Entertainment and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, sits outside the anime film continuity entirely — it shares the IP but runs on a separate narrative and production track.
For a broader look at the animated side of the franchise, the Pokémon Anime Series Guide maps the TV series structure that these films grew alongside. The full franchise overview at PokemonAuthority.com provides the wider context for how movies, games, and the Trading Card Game interconnect.
How It Works
Pokémon films were traditionally produced by OLM, Inc. — the same studio behind the TV anime — and released annually in Japan during the July school holiday window. North American theatrical releases typically followed 6 to 12 months later, often with dubbed adaptations handled by 4Kids Entertainment (Films 1–8) and later by The Pokémon Company International's in-house dubbing team (Films 9 onward).
Home video rights shifted multiple times. Films 1–8 were distributed on DVD by Miramax/Buena Vista. From Film 9 onward, Viz Media held home video rights for several years. Netflix acquired streaming rights to the majority of the catalog for US audiences and has released Films 14–23 directly on the platform, bypassing theatrical distribution entirely for North American viewers.
This fragmented rights history explains why no single streaming service holds the complete 23-film catalog for US audiences. As of the streaming landscape in 2023–2024, the practical breakdown is:
- Netflix (US): Films 14–23, including Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution and Secrets of the Jungle
- Pokémon TV (free, browser/app): Rotating catalog that has included Films 1–13 at various points
- Digital purchase/rental: Films 1–13 available on platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu for purchase
Common Scenarios
The most common research question is watch order — specifically whether the movies need to be watched in sequence or can stand alone. The honest answer is both, depending on era.
Films 1–3 carry genuine continuity weight with the original anime series. Mewtwo Strikes Back directly references events from the TV series, and The Power of One (Film 2) introduces plot threads that briefly continue in the show. Films 4 onward become increasingly self-contained, functioning more as feature-length episodes with a larger budget and a legendray Pokémon as the centerpiece.
The CGI reboot films — specifically Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution and Secrets of the Jungle — exist in a separate continuity from the classic films despite sharing character names. First-time viewers often expect these to connect to the original story; they do not.
A second common scenario involves parents navigating age-appropriate viewing. Films 1–3 carry a PG rating from the MPAA; the later films are generally rated G.
Decision Boundaries
The relevant distinctions when choosing where to start:
Original dub vs. remastered dub: Films 1–3 have circulated in at least 2 distinct English dub versions — the 4Kids theatrical cuts and later redubbed versions. The theatrical 4Kids dub of Mewtwo Strikes Back notably altered dialogue significantly from the Japanese original; the 2019 Netflix CGI remake restores closer-to-source story elements.
Anime continuity vs. standalone: Films 1–8 reward viewers who have watched the corresponding anime series arcs. Films 9–22 can be watched with minimal prior context. Detective Pikachu requires no anime viewing history whatsoever.
Streaming vs. physical: For Films 1–8 specifically, physical media or digital purchase remains the only reliable access point for US audiences, since free streaming availability rotates. Pokémon TV is free but its film catalog is not permanent — titles cycle in and out.
The Pokémon Ash Ketchum Legacy page covers how the protagonist's arc across 25 years of anime intersects with — and eventually concludes independently of — the movie timeline. For the mythology behind the legendary Pokémon central to most films, Legendary Pokémon Guide provides species-level detail.