Summary

• There are 23 Pokémon movies released to date, all of which star Ash Ketchum, and which mostly revolve around powerful Mythical and Legendary Pokémon.
• Most Pokémon movies are not available on subscription streaming services, but can be rented or purchased digitally.
• Pokémon movie debuts historically offered a chance for fans to obtain rare Pokémon in the games through special distributions.

The legendary Pokémon and those who want to abuse their power. The Pokémon anime series starring Ash ran from 1997 to 2023, with movies released yearly from 1998 to 2020, typically in the summer. Not all of these films saw theatrical releases in the US, but all have English dubs. Pokémon movie releases are often a big event for fans, as the movie itself is usually accompanied by distributions of rare Pokémon featured in the film to players of the games.

Unfortunately, the majority of these movies aren't easily available via subscription streaming services, except for the two most recent films. Instead, they'll have to be rented or purchased digitally if modern fans want to check out the movies.

On the other hand, the films are largely available on most big digital media marketplaces, making them fairly easy to find for those who really want to check them out. Whether it's for nostalgia's sake or simply that Pokémon desire to see them all, here's how fans can track down and find all the various Pokémon movies that have been released over the years.

Pokémon the First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back is a Memorable Start

Directed by: Kunihiko Yuyama

As the title suggests, Mewtwo Strikes Back was the first Pokémon movie to be released and set the standard for what following Pokémon movies should be like. The film focuses on Mewtwo, a Pokémon clone of Mew, a powerful and capricious Mythical Pokémon. Mewtwo seeks to understand why it was created, and sends out invitations to powerful trainers, including Ash, calling for them to attend a meeting on a mysterious island. But Mewtwo has plans of its own for this meeting, and its goals are nothing short of a complete upheaval of the world order.

The movie is fondly ed by fans, even if its critical reception in the West was less than stellar. Still, with great animation, a memorable story, and more than a few tear-jerking moments, Pokémon the First Movie stands out as one of the best Pokemon movies.

Pokémon the Movie 2000: The Power of One Sells the Grandeur of a Legendary

Directed by: Kunihiko Yuyama

While traveling the Orange Islands, Ash ends up on an island called Shamouti Island, where a legend exists of a hero who will save the world. At the same time, a mysterious and wealthy collector enters the area with his airship, determined to capture the Legendary Bird Pokémon, Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres. However, with the birds freed, they begin to fight each other, and it's up to Ash and the Legendary Pokémon Lugia to restore order and defeat the villain who caused these problems.

Though not as fondly ed as its predecessor, Pokémon the Movie 2000 is still a solid watch for fans of the anime. Of particular note is the movie's depiction of Lugia. There is a weight and gravity to the legendary's portrayal that really sells the creature's grandeur.

Pokémon 3: The Movie - Spell of the Unown: Entei is One of the Franchise's Deepest

Directed by: Kunihiko Yuyama

A scientist who was once friends with Ash's mother goes missing under mysterious circumstances, drawing her to the area, where she's unexpectedly kidnapped by the Legendary Pokémon Entei. Ash, Misty, and Brock set out to find his mother and free her, bringing them into with young Molly Hale, the scientist's daughter, who has been using the power of Unown to obtain whatever she wishes for. Entei guards Molly ferociously, making it difficult for them to talk sense into the girl. In order to rescue his mother, Ash will have to contend not only with Entei, but with Molly's refusal to return to reality.

Spell of the Unkown is often cited as the best Pokémon movie for good reason. The movie dives into themes that are a little deeper than what most fans might expect from the series, leading to a more thoughtful journey. Any Pokémon fan looking for a little more substance out of the movies should definitely give Spell of the Unkown a try.

Pokémon 4ever: Celebi and the Voice of the Forest Makes a Big Change to an Important Character

Directed by: Kunihiko Yuyama

When a young boy sees Celebi in the forest running from a Pokémon poacher, he's whisked away to the future, where he runs into Ash and his friends. Celebi is hurt, however, making it an easy target for a poacher in the present day, a member of Team Rocket known as the Iron-Masked Marauder. Equipped with a special type of Poké Ball known as a Dark Ball, the Iron-Masked Marauder can bend even the Mythical Celebi to his whims.

Continuing the stellar animation and character work contained in previous movies 4ever is notable for its implications on the wider Pokémon canon. While the movie's events aren't meaningfully referenced by the series proper, taking 4ever's events as canon can definitely change fans' perception of one particular character.

Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias is Gorgeous

Directed by: Kunihiko Yuyama

Pokémon Heroes is both a fan-favorite film and the last of the original series films with Ash, Brock, and Misty. Ash and Misty are in the town of Alto Mare for a race, a town that is said to be protected by the Legendary Pokémon Latios and Latias. When Team Rocket Annie and Oakley show up, however, the fate of the town is in jeopardy. Annie and Oakley attempt to steal Latios and Latias, as well as a special artifact related to them known as the Soul Dew.

Pokémon Heroes begins a notable trend with the movies of taking place in specific locales, with Alto Mare obviously taking inspiration from Venice. The result is that Pokémon Heroes is one of the most gorgeous-looking movies in the franchise. Add on top of that Latias and Ash's fun dynamic, and it's no wonder so many fans look back fondly on Heroes.

Pokémon: Jirachi: Wish Maker is Mostly Forgettable

Directed by: Kunihiko Yuyama

The first movie to star the Advanced Generation cast of Ash, May, Max, and Brock, Jirachi: Wish Maker opens with the return of the Millennium Comet, a comet that appears every 1,000 years, awakening the wish-granting Pokémon Jirachi from its lengthy slumber. A mysterious magician who was formerly a member of the evil Team Magma, a man known as Butler, takes control of Jirachi's powers and creates a massive and dangerous illusory Groudon, with which he hopes to advance the aims of Team Magma.

As the first movie of the Advanced Generation, Jirachi: Wish Maker had the important job of selling the new cast to old fans of the series. Unfortunately, this is a poor showing for them. Jirachi: Wish Maker makes poor use of May and Max, and is weirdly a riff on E.T. The result is a fine, but ultimately forgettable film that fails to leave much of an impression.

Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys is an Alien Monster Movie

Directed by: Kunihiko Yuyama

A meteor strikes the Earth, unleashing the Mythical Pokémon Deoxys contained within it. While Deoxys is defeated by a Rayquaza, it slowly regenerates, until 4 years later it's ready to strike back. Ash and friends are caught in the midst of Deoxys' rampage, which again draws the attention of Rayquaza, leading to a battle in the city that could be catastrophic. It turns out, however, that Deoxys may not be the alien invader that it appears to be, and is actually on a mission to save a fellow Deoxys.

What makes Destiny Deoxys so notable is that it is a full-blown monster movie. With a Pokemon battle's full destructive capabilities on display, it's hard not to give this movie a despite some tiring characters and plot threads.

Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew Changed Ash Forever

Directed by: Kunihiko Yuyama

Lucario and the Mystery of Mew is one of the better regarded Pokémon movies. When Pikachu is taken by a Mew to an area known as the Tree of Beginning, Ash sets out to rescue him, but to do so, he'll need the help of an ancient Pokémon who was sealed away long ago by its master: Lucario. Lucario is bitter about its perceived betrayal, but gradually the truth of what happened between Lucario and its old master comes out.

The movie offered an early look at Lucario, a fourth-generation Pokémon, and is largely responsible for its lasting popularity. It also established Ash's Aura abilities, which would go on to become relevant to the anime series, making Lucario and the Mystery of Mew one of the more important Pokémon films.

Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea is a True Adventure Movie

Directed by: Kunihiko Yuyama

Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea is the last of the Advanced Generation movies, and also features an early appearance by a fourth generation Pokémon, Manaphy. Ash and his friends make with a group of people known as the People of the Water, who have a legend about Manaphy and the Sea Crown, which sits in the lost Temple of the Sea, which few people know of. A pirate named Phantom has set his sights on Manaphy and the Sea Crown after a Pokémon Ranger named Jackie finds a Manaphy Egg, kicking off a race to the temple.

While Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea has problems, it's notable for capturing the adventurous spirit inherent to the franchise. This focus on adventure is a big part of the main series that often isn't well recreated in the movies, making Ranger a welcome change of pace.

Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai is as Close to a Horror Movie as the Franchise Gets

Directed by: Kunihiko Yuyama

The first Diamond & Pearl movie, The Rise of Darkrai introduces a number of Legendary and Mythical Pokémon. While traveling, Ash, Brock, and Dawn end up in a town that's plagued with nightmares and bad dreams, which are blamed on the Mythical Pokémon Darkrai. Darkrai appears and warns Ash and his comrades away, but it's not clear if Darkrai is an enemy or an ally. Suddenly, a break in the dimensions appears, and a battle breaks out between the Time Pokémon Dialga and the Space Pokémon Palkia, trapping the town in a pocket dimension.

Rise of Darkrai's horror take on a Pokémon movie works out well, and though older viewers might not find much scary about it, the movie strikes a good balance between off-putting imagery and the kind of hijinks fans come to expect from the Pokémon anime.