Film · in order
Pokémon Movies in Order
The 23 animated Pokémon films from Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998) to Secrets of the Jungle (2020), plus the live-action Detective Pikachu (2019). We order them by release date and by a recommended grouping that separates the main-anime films from the alternate-timeline trilogy.
Pokémon Movies in Order: complete list
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Why this order?
Pokémon movies split into two clean groups, and knowing which is which fixes almost all the confusion. The first twenty films, from Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998) through Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel (2016), belong to the main anime continuity. Each one was made to sit beside the TV season and region it launched alongside, so Ash's team and companions in a given film match the arc airing at the time. You do not need to watch every season to enjoy the films, but if you want them to line up, watch each movie roughly around the anime saga it pairs with rather than binging all twenty back to back.
The second group is the alternate-timeline sub-trilogy: I Choose You! (2017), The Power of Us (2018), and Secrets of the Jungle (2020). These retell and remix Ash's journey in a separate continuity that is not the main anime, so treat them as their own self-contained mini-series. That is why our recommended order lists them together at the end instead of scattered by year. Sitting apart from both groups is Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution (2019), a full CGI remake of the very first film with the same story beats, so watch it as an alternative to the 1998 original rather than as new plot.
Release order is the simplest path and the one we default to, because it needs no continuity knowledge and matches how fans experienced the films. The recommended order is for people who want the cleanest story experience: the main-anime films first, then the alt-timeline trilogy as a block. We also fold in the live-action Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019), a standalone mystery set in Ryme City that shares no continuity with the animated films.
If the films leave you wanting the wider Pokémon rabbit hole, we cover the mainline video games separately in our Pokémon games guide, which is where the story numbering, regions, and generations these movies borrow from actually live.
Timeline 1998-2020
Every entry by release year: rows that share a year are a cluster, and the long droughts are called out on the rail.
- 1998 The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back
- 1999 the Movie 2000: The Power of One
- 2000 3: The Movie - Spell of the Unown
- 2001 4Ever: Celebi - Voice of the Forest
- 2002 Heroes: Latios and Latias
- 2003 Jirachi, Wish Maker
- 2004 Destiny Deoxys
- 2005 Lucario and the Mystery of Mew
- 2006 Ranger and the Temple of the Sea
- 2007 The Rise of Darkrai
- 2008 Giratina and the Sky Warrior
- 2009 Arceus and the Jewel of Life
- 2010 Zoroark: Master of Illusions
- 2011 the Movie: Black - Victini and Reshiram / White…
- 2012 the Movie: Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice
- 2013 the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened
- 2014 the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction
- 2015 the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages
- 2016 the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel
- 2017 the Movie: I Choose You!
- 2018 the Movie: The Power of Us
- 2019 Detective PikachuMewtwo Strikes Back Evolution
- 2020 the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle
Where to play it today
- Netflix (Detective Pikachu and several animated films by region)
- Amazon Prime Video (rent, buy, or subscription depending on title)
- Apple TV (rent or buy)
- Google Play / YouTube (rent or buy)
- Pokémon TV and official Pokémon channels for select films
- Physical Blu-ray and DVD via retailers
Availability changes often and varies by region - links search each platform for Pokémon.
Frequently asked questions
How many Pokémon movies are there?
There are 23 animated Pokémon films, from Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998) to Secrets of the Jungle (2020), plus one live-action film, Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019). The 2011 Black and White film shipped in two versions of the same story, which is why the animated count is 23 rather than 24.
What order should I watch the Pokémon movies in?
Release order is the easiest and needs no background. For the cleanest story, watch the main-anime films first (through Volcanion in 2016), then the alt-timeline trilogy of I Choose You, The Power of Us, and Secrets of the Jungle as a block. Detective Pikachu and Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution stand apart from both.
Do the Pokémon movies follow the anime seasons?
The first twenty animated films were each made to pair with the TV season and region airing at the time, so Ash's team in a film matches that arc. You can watch them standalone, but they line up best when watched around their matching anime saga.
What is the alternate-timeline Pokémon movie trilogy?
I Choose You! (2017), The Power of Us (2018), and Secrets of the Jungle (2020) form a separate continuity that reimagines Ash's journey. They are not part of the main anime, so treat them as their own self-contained mini-series.
Is Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution a remake?
Yes. Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution (2019) is a full CGI remake of the 1998 original film, following the same story beats. Watch it as an alternative to the first movie rather than as a new chapter.
Is Detective Pikachu connected to the animated films?
No. Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019) is a standalone live-action mystery set in Ryme City with its own characters and continuity. It shares no story with the animated films and can be watched at any point.
Last verified · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net, Wikidata
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