Pokémon is a media franchise created by video game designer Satoshi Tajiri that centers on fictional creatures called Pokémon. , there have been twenty-three animated films and one live action film. The first nineteen animated films are based on the anime television series of the same name, while the twentieth, twenty-first, and twenty-third are set in an alternate continuity to the anime. The films are produced by animation studios OLM, Production I.G, Xebec, and Wit Studio, and distributed in Japan by Toho, with various studios distributing the films in North America. They were directed by Kunihiko Yuyama and Tetsuo Yajima and written by Takeshi Shudo, Hideki Sonoda, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Shōji Yonemura, Eiji Umehara, and Aya Takaha. The first Pokémon animated film, Pokémon: The First Movie, was released in Japan in 1998, and in 2019 was remade as Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back – Evolution. A live-action film, Detective Pikachu, was produced by American studio Legendary Entertainment, directed by Rob Letterman, and written by Letterman and Nicole Perlman. It was distributed in Japan by Toho and outside of Japan and China by Warner Bros. Pictures. It was released on May 10, 2019.
The films star Pokémon Trainer Ash Ketchum and his partner Pokémon, Pikachu. Detective Pikachu is based on the 2016 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.
There are also two animated television specials broadcast on TV Tokyo featuring Ash and his Pikachu and ten animated short films. Warner Bros. licensed the first three animated films in North America and Miramax Films licensed the following four films. From the eighth film onwards, licensing has been handled by The Pokémon Company International themselves, with various distributors handling the releases, such as Viz Media in North America.
The most recent film, Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle, was originally set for release in Japanese theaters on July 10, 2020, but delayed to December 25, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was released on October 8, 2021, in the United States. The next film, Pokémon: Wild Card, will be directed by Katsuhiko Kitada at animation studio CloverWorks and is scheduled to be released in 2027.
Anime films No. English title Japanese title Japanese release date North American release date 1 Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back July 18, 1998 November 12, 1999 Ash, Misty, and Brock, along with several other Pokémon trainers, travel to New Island under the pretence that they will be battling a superior Pokémon Trainer. However, upon arrival there, they discover that the genetically engineered Pokémon Mewtwo, created by scientist Dr. Fuji for Giovanni of Team Rocket, sent the message and plans to conquer the world with an army of cloned Pokémon. 2 Pokémon the Movie 2000: The Power of One July 17, 1999 July 21, 2000 Ash, Misty, and Tracey visit Shamouti Island, where Ash participates in a festival honoring Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres. He becomes the chosen hero foretold in a prophecy who will save them from Pokémon Collector Lawrence III, who has captured them, disturbing the balance of the world, and seeks to capture the legendary Pokémon Lugia. 3 Pokémon 3: The Movie - Spell of the Unown July 8, 2000 April 6, 2001 Ash, Misty, and Brock must rescue Ash's mother, Delia, from Molly Hale, a lonely young girl who, after her father, Spencer, disappeared while researching the Pokémon Unown, befriended the Unown, who created an illusion of the Legendary Pokémon Entei to be her father figure. 4 Pokémon 4Ever: Celebi - Voice of the Forest July 7, 2001 October 11, 2002 Ash, Misty, and Brock meet Sam, a boy from forty years in the past, and the Mythical Pokémon Celebi, who brought him to the present and is being hunted down by the evil Iron-Masked Marauder, a member of Team Rocket whose Dark Balls are turning Pokémon evil. 5 Pokémon Heroes: Latios and Latias July 13, 2002 May 16, 2003 Ash, Misty, and Brock's trip to the city of Alto Mare is interrupted when Annie and Oakley, thieves and members of Team Rocket, seek to steal the Soul Dew, a crystal that holds the essence of the Legendary Pokémon Latios and Latias and protects the city. 6 Jirachi, Wish Maker July 19, 2003 June 1, 2004 Ash, May, Max, and Brock meet the Mythical Pokémon Jirachi, who awakens for one week every thousand years to grant a wish, and must save it from former Team Magma member Butler. 7 Destiny Deoxys July 17, 2004 January 22, 2005 Ash, May, Max, and Brock visit LaRousse City, which is under attack from the extraterrestrial Pokémon Deoxys and the Legendary Pokémon Rayquaza, and meet a young boy named Tori who is afraid of Pokémon. 8 Lucario and the Mystery of Mew July 16, 2005 September 19, 2006 After an ancient Lucario is reawakened, Ash, May, Max, and Brock help it discover the events that led to its abandonment by Sir Aaron, a man revered as a hero, while saving Pikachu, Meowth, and the Mythical Pokémon Mew from the dying Tree of World's Beginning. 9 Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea July 15, 2006 March 23, 2007 Ash, May, Max, and Brock must help the Pokémon Ranger Jack Walker and the Marina Group, descendants of the People of the Water, deliver the Mythical Pokémon Manaphy to the undersea temple Samiya while being pursued by the evil pirate Phantom. 10 The Rise of Darkrai July 14, 2007 February 24, 2008 Ash, Dawn, and Brock must save Alamos Town from the powers of the Legendary Pokémon Dialga and Palkia and clear the name of a Darkrai whose foreboding nature has led the townspeople to believe it is involved in the destruction of the town. 11 Giratina & the Sky Warrior July 19, 2008 February 13, 2009 Ash, Dawn, and Brock must help the Mythical Pokémon Shaymin return to the Gracidea Flower garden to participate in a flower bearing ceremony while Giratina and Dialga battle in the Pokémon world and the Reverse World. 12 Arceus and the Jewel of Life July 18, 2009 November 20, 2009 Ash, Dawn, and Brock travel to Michina Town, where they discover that the Mythical Pokémon Arceus is upset over the town betraying it thousands of years ago. When Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina are unable to stop it, they are sent back in time to change the past in order to change the present for the better. 13 Zoroark: Master of Illusions July 10, 2010 February 5, 2011 Ash, Dawn, and Brock arrive in Crown City for the Pokémon Baccer World Cup, but discover that a Zoroark, under the control of the evil businessman Grings Kodai, is causing havoc disguised as the Legendary Pokémon Entei, Raikou and Suicune. Zoroark's child Zorua asks for their help to save his mother from Kodai, who seeks Celebi and its ability to travel through time. 14 Black — Victini and Reshiram July 16, 2011 December 10, 2011 White — Victini and Zekrom December 3, 2011 Ash, Iris, and Cilan travel to Eindoak Town to participate in a tournament, where they meet the Mythical Pokémon Victini and must stop Damon, a descendant of Eindoak's ancient People of the Vale, who seeks to use the power of the Legendary Pokémon Zekrom or Reshiram and the Dragon Force to restore the Kingdom of the Vale to its former glory, but this power threatens to destroy the world. 15 Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice July 14, 2012 December 8, 2012 Ash, Iris, and Cilan must help the Mythical Pokémon Keldeo escape from the Legendary Pokémon Kyurem, who seeks to battle it after freezing the Sacred Swordsmen Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion. 16 Genesect and the Legend Awakened July 13, 2013 October 19, 2013 Ash, Iris, and Cilan visit New Tork City and the Pokémon Hills park and ally with a Mewtwo to protect the city from a group of Genesect who are angry over losing their home. 17 Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction July 19, 2014 November 8, 2014 When the Mythical Pokémon Diancie cannot figure out how to make a new Heart Diamond to save her kingdom and her Carbink subjects, she seeks out the Legendary Pokémon Xerneas for help. Along the way, she meets Ash, Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie, who help her escape from those who seek to exploit her power, including Marilyn Flame and Ninja Riot, a duo of jewel thieves, and Argus Steel and his daughter Millis, amidst the awakening of the Legendary Pokémon Yveltal. 18 Hoopa and the Clash of Ages July 18, 2015 December 19, 2015 Ash, Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie are summoned to Dahara City, a desert city by the sea, through the powers of the Mythical Pokémon Hoopa, who has the ability to summon things, including people and Pokémon, through its magic rings. They learn of a hero who, 100 years ago, stopped Hoopa, who went on a rampage after transforming into Hoopa Unbound, by sealing away Hoopa's power in the Prison Bottle. After Hoopa's shadow escapes from the Prison Bottle and attempts to take over Hoopa, it leads to a clash between several Legendary Pokémon after Hoopa summons them. 19 Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel July 16, 2016 December 5, 2016 Ash, Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie encounter the Mythical Pokémon Volcanion, who Ash becomes bonded to through an unknown force. Volcanion, who hates humans, is forced to bring Ash along as it heads for the Azoth Kingdom to rescue the artificial Mythical Pokémon Magearna from Alva, a corrupt minister who seeks to use Magearna's power to conquer the Kingdom. 20 I Choose You! July 15, 2017 November 25, 2017 An alternate retelling of the first season of the original series. Ash Ketchum, a ten-year-old boy from Pallet Town, begins his adventures as a Pokémon Trainer after receiving his first Pokémon, Pikachu, from Professor Oak. After witnessing a Rainbow Wing fall from the Legendary Pokémon Ho-Oh, he and his companions Sorrel and Verity, set out to find it at Mount Tensei. Along the way, they encounter the Mythical Pokémon Marshadow while Ash contends with his rival, the Pokémon Trainer Cross. 21 The Power of Us July 13, 2018 December 8, 2018 At the seaside Fula City, Ash participates in the annual Wind Festival, which is held to celebrate the Legendary Pokémon Lugia, who brings the wind that powers the city. Along with athlete and Pokémon Trainer Risa, compulsive liar Callahan, shy researcher Torren, bitter old woman Harriet, and Margo, the daughter of the city's mayor, Oliver, must save the city from a wildfire and a cloud of Effect Spore with help from the Mythical Pokémon Zeraora. 22 Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution July 12, 2019 February 27, 2020 (Netflix) Animated remake of The First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back. 23 Secrets of the Jungle December 25, 2020 October 8, 2021 Ash and Pikachu encounter Koko, a young boy who Zarude took in following the death of his parents and believes himself to be a Pokémon due to being raised by one. They help him uncover his true identity and past, which is connected to Dr. Zed and a plot by the Biotope Company that threatens to destroy Zarude's home, the Forest of Okoya. 24 Pokémon: Wild Card 2027
Live-action films The launch of the mobile game Pokémon Go in 2016 reignited mainstream interest in the Pokémon franchise in the Western market since its initial peak in the early 2000s, and 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 2018 video game Detective Pikachu; Pokémon Detective Pikachu, the first official live-action Pokémon film. In January 2019, ahead of the film's release, Legendary began development on a sequel.
No. English title Japanese title North American release date Japanese release date 1 Detective Pikachu May 10, 2019 May 3, 2019 In Ryme City, where humans and Pokémon live together, Tim Goodman partners with a talking Detective Pikachu to solve the mystery behind the disappearance of his father Harry, who was presumed dead in a car crash.
Pikachu shorts