Beloved by many since its debut in 1997, the Pokémon anime series has gone through 27 seasons with over 1,000 episodes and even several banned along the way. The franchise has also produced 25 films total; the first of 23 animated films, aptly named Pokémon: The First Movie, was released in 1998, plus a CGI remake of the first film and a live-action movie, Detective Pikachu. With Ash Ketchum’s departure from the series in 2023 after his 26-year-long journey, if there are to be any more Pokémon films to come, they will most likely center around a different protagonist.
From its humble beginnings, starting off with 151 Pokémon when the first movie was released to having about 900 when Secrets of the Jungle debuted in 2020, the films give a wide variety of how far the series has come with diverse Pokémon, regions, characters, and obstacles standing in the way of not just Ash and his friends, but the Pokémon world itself. But with so many films in the franchise to choose from, which are the best and most worth watching?
10) Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle
Deep in the Forest of Okoya live the Mythical Pokémon Zarude, a troop of ape-like Pokémon who maintain strict rules that forbid outsiders from anywhere near their territory. But when one of the Zarude happens upon a human baby all alone in the forest with no one to care for the vulnerable child, the Zarude decides to leave the troop to raise the baby himself, adopting the baby he names Koko as his own. Eventually, Koko discovers the human world outside the forest, a world he’d never known to exist. Bringing his own existence into question, the relationship between Koko and his adoptive Pokémon father becomes strained. As his discovery of the humans in turn leads to the humans’ discovery of the secrets of the forest, the jungle itself becomes threatened.
Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle is literally just the Pokémon franchise’s 2020 version of stories like Tarzan and Fern Gully. Set in the Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You! alternate timeline of Ash and Pikachu’s journey, this film is a decent example of giving more recent media in the franchise the benefit of the doubt instead of turning one’s nose up at anything lacking nostalgia.
Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle can be streamed on Netflix.
9) Pokémon Heroes
As Ash, Pikachu, Misty, and Brock make a stop along their journey in Alto Mare, an island city with twisting waterways, they take to enjoying the annual racing event called the Pokémon Water Race. While Misty and Brock go off to enjoy themselves, Ash stumbles upon a mysterious girl being attacked by the Pokémon partners of Team Rocket’s Annie and Oakley. Despite the run-in, Ash later sees the girl again, who, to his confusion, denies ever meeting him. Ash soon learns that the girl he saved was actually the Pokémon Latias, who has the ability to disguise herself as her human friend, Bianca. Renowned among the locals, the Eon Pokémon, Latias and Latios, guard their home of Alto Mare along with a mystical blue sphere called the Soul Dew. But disaster strikes as Annie and Oakley attempt to capture Latias and Latios.
The Venetian setting, the labyrinth-like waterways and city alleys, the sleek, streamlined Pokémon screaming “AAAHHHH!” instead of repeating their names… This 2002 Pokémon film has quite a unique style and perspective. Literally. The characters are able to see from the perspective of this jet-plane-like Pokémon even after it dies.
8) Pokémon: Detective Pikachu
When private eye Harry Goodman goes missing, it’s up to his 21-year-old son Tim to investigate the matter himself. Teaming up with Harry’s former wisecracking super-sleuth Pokémon partner, Detective Pikachu, the two, uniquely able to communicate with each other, set off to solve the mystery. Investigating the streets of Ryme City, where humans and Pokémon coexist, the duo end up uncovering a conspiracy bigger than they bargained for, threatening the peaceful coexistence of the Pokémon universe.
Whether people were genuinely excited for this live-action Pokémon film when it released to theaters in 2019 or were hate-watching, Pokémon fans were definitely watching either way. And, beating all other Pokémon films at the Box Office by even displacing Pokémon: The First Movie as the second most successful, Detective Pikachu certainly wasn’t a flop. In any case, however one feels about the style, it’s definitely worth at least watching once.
7) Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us
Ash and Pikachu travel to Fura City to attend the annual Wind Festival, determined to win the Catch Race. In their stay in the quaint city, Ash and Pikachu meet new friends: Margo, the daughter of Mayor Oliver; Callahan, a pathological liar and show-off who plots to underhandedly win the Catch Race himself to impress his niece Kellie; Toren, a shy scientist at Fula City’s Pokémon Research Pavilion; Risa, a retired runner who endeavors to catch an Eevee at the request of her younger brother, Rick; and Harriet, aka “Granny”, who isn’t exactly very fond of Pokémon. When the Wind Festival’s Sacred Flame disappears, leaving Fura City without wind and leading to tragedy, they all band together to find the core of the issue and call upon Lugia — along with the help of the mysterious Pokémon, Zeraora.
With an initially loose plot focused on multiple interesting characters, this 2018 film is a fun, cute little detour on Ash and Pikachu’s Pokémon journey as a continuation of the Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You! alternate timeline.
6) Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys
When Ash, Pikachu, May, Brock, and Max arrive in LaRousse City, they become awestruck by how technologically advanced the city is, with robots, high-tech display screens, and practically everything being some sort of contraption for advanced daily use. As Ash struggles to find the Battle Tower to take on his next challenge, when he ends up stumbling upon it, the partner he’s paired with turns out to have come in with him by accident as he’s not even a Pokémon trainer. In fact, the boy named Tory is afraid of Pokémon! After a traumatizing childhood incident involving Pokémon, Tory never quite trusted the strange creatures. When a mysterious entity appears in the city and begins causing trouble controlling the machines the city relies so heavily on, the Legendary Pokémon Rayquaza isn’t amused, and Ash and his friends must remove the invader before the tragedies get worse.
For a 2004 franchise film acknowledging the concept of fearing the inhabiting creatures that could realistically have the power to burn your house to the ground, give you an existential crisis as to what “ghost-type” really means if ghosts are meant to be dead entities, or make reality blip out of existence all together when the ones with space-time powers throw kaiju-sized tantrums, this film brings up a good point. Tory is completely valid in his fear of Pokémon.
5) Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai
Ash, Pikachu, Brock, and Dawn continue their journey via hot air balloon ride provided by Alice, a local resident of their next destination: Alamos Town. Home to the century-old structures known as the Space-Time Towers built by the architect Godey to play music, the towers are also where the Alamos Town Contest Hall resides, the venue the group aims to visit. But when Alice’s friend Tonio notices a wave of dimensional disturbances, the strange happenings are blamed on the ominous Pokémon Darkrai. Unbeknownst to the townsfolk, two legendary Pokémon, the Temporal Pokémon Dialga and the Spatial Pokémon Palkia, are the real culprits, their interdimensional battle intensifying the strange disturbances. As the event was prophesied long ago, Tonio’s great-grandfather left behind a way to stop Dialga and Palkia. Now, Ash and friends must help to save the town before it ceases to exist.
Dialga and Palkia may not be as literally god-tier as Arceus, but the franchise sure does up the ante with these time and space-bending Pokémon. As a 2007 film, Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai added a fantastic piece of additional media for the beloved Sinnoh region era of the franchise. Also, like how the setting of Pokémon Heroes was heavily based on Venice, Italy, Alamos Town added a nice touch by being loosely based on Barcelona, Spain.
Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai can be streamed on Hulu where available.
4) Pokémon: Jirachi, Wish Maker
Heading to the Millennium Festival to celebrate the Millennium Comet that supposedly grants wishes to those who view it as it passes by, Ash, Brock, May, and Max enjoy their time attending the magic performance by the Great Butler. Hearing a mysterious voice calling from the strange cocoon in Butler’s possession, Max makes a new friend as Jirachi emerges from its slumber. But since Jirachi’s appearance is only for a short time while the Millennium Comet passes, Max makes the most of what little time he has with his new friend. Meanwhile, the Great Butler plots to use Jirachi’s wish-granting abilities to revive the destructive Legendary Pokémon Groudon.
Wishing upon a star is a pretty classical theme, but wishing upon a Pokémon? Dope. Although a pretty overpowered as a concept, you can’t deny it: having an absolutely adorable Pokémon granting your every whimsical wish would be, well, a wish come true. Released in 2003, Pokémon: Jirachi, Wish Maker is a great little watch for a chill Pokémon movie night.
3) Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew
Upon Camaron Palace facing imminent war between kingdoms, Sir Aaron, the True Guardian of Aura, managed to stop the war by sacrificing himself. Commemorating his noble deed even centuries later, the palace has since held an annual tournament in celebration. And after winning this year’s tournament, Ash is granted the honor of wielding the staff Sir Aaron himself brandished. But when the servant of the True Guardian, Lucario, appears from the staff, he quickly runs away in confusion. Meanwhile, the Pokémon Mew appears and whisks Pikachu away to the legendary Tree of Beginning. With Lucario the only one knowing the way to the mystical tree but untrusting of humans after his last memory of his master, Sir Aaron, abandoning him, Ash and friends must restore Lucario’s trust as they uncover the truth of what happened so long ago.
With this 2005 film featuring the Guardian of Aura and Lucario as the Aura Pokémon, the opulent, regal medieval style of the setting and costumes were definitely a unique, stylish touch. More like “Guardian of Aura Farming”, amirite?
2) Pokémon 3: The Movie
When Professor Spencer Hale disappears while researching the mysterious Pokémon Unown, his daughter Molly Hale, all alone, discovers the only clue to his disappearance: a box containing tiles inscribed with depictions of the Unown. While playing with the letter-shaped Pokémon tiles, Molly makes a wish to see her father again. Hearing her wish, the Unown awaken and summon the legendary Pokémon Entei to acts as her stand-in father figure. Arriving in Greenfield, Ash, Misty, and Brock are surprised to find that Greenfield isn’t so green — it’s been covered in crystal formations! Learning that the Unown are responsible, the group decides to investigate. But when Ash’s mother winds up being kidnapped by Entei when Molly wishes for a mother, Ash and his friends end up with more than they bargained for as they confront Entei and Molly.
With some Pokémon films feeling like they really don’t get much action until halfway through, this movie is non-stop intrigue from beginning to end, including the preceding short Pikachu and Pichu. Released in 2000, Pokémon 3: The Movie takes on a more dream-like setting with the crystalline land and Entei granting Molly’s every wish in illusory ways.
1) Pokémon: The First Movie
When Team Rocket scientists use the fossil of the Legendary Pokémon Mew to create the first successful Pokémon clone, Mewtwo, the man-made Pokémon ends up going on a rampage in his existential rage. Seeing an opportunity to harness the Pokémon’s power for himself, Team Rocket’s leader, Giovanni, promises Mewtwo to consider it as an equal partner and help him harness his powers. Ultimately becoming manipulated into doing evil deeds and feeling betrayed by humanity, Mewtwo’s desire for revenge overshadows its desire for a higher purpose in life. Disguised as the world’s strongest Pokémon trainer, Mewtwo lures in other Pokémon trainers up to the perceived challenge, only to steal their Pokémon. Getting swept up in the evil scheme, Ash, Brock, and Misty battle against Mewtwo in order to free the captured Pokémon and restore Mewtwo’s faith in humanity.
Having been the first of the Pokémon films and released in 1998, Pokémon: The First Movie still holds up. As a bonus, the film includes the preceding short Pikachu’s Vacation. Not only does this film include some interesting concepts like cloning Pokémon, but it also offers deeper philosophical insights into such existential consequences. After all, this film includes the famous quote from Mewtwo himself: “I see now that the circumstances of one’s birth are irrelevant; it is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are.”
What’s your favorite Pokémon in the franchise? Let us know in the comments!
