Every Pokemon Movie Ranked From Worst to Best

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Many people fondly remember the nineties as a golden age for cartoons, and the original Pokémon anime is a standout classic. The series begins with Ash Ketchum, a rookie Pokémon Trainer, learning the ropes of battling and building a friendship with his first Pokémon, Pikachu. Throughout the show, Ash travels to different places, makes new friends, and faces off against rivals.

More than twenty films have been created based on the Pokémon games and anime, ranging from Pokémon 4Ever to Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us. While Pokémon fans all have different favorites, there’s a general agreement on which movies are considered the very best.

Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back – Evolution Is a Remake of the First Film

Many Fans Disliked the Change in Art Style

The first Pokémon movie is a favorite among fans, and it’s easy to see why. It combines a surprisingly thoughtful story with exciting battles, making it essential viewing for anyone who loves Pokémon. In 2019, a computer-animated remake called Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back – Evolution was released, but it didn’t achieve the same level of success as the original.

The new movie retells the same story as the original, but uses computer-generated imagery instead of traditional animation. Many fans were disappointed with the 3D style, finding it unsettling and preferring the look of the original film. As a result, most people still prefer the original Mewtwo movie. It’s unclear whether any other classic Pokémon movies will be remade in the future.

Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages Has a Battle of Mega Proportions

The Mythical Pokémon Hoopa Tends To Annoy Audiences

Hoopa, a playful and mischievous Psychic/Ghost-type Pokémon, lives up to its reputation! First appearing in the seventh generation of Pokémon games, Hoopa was originally only available through special events. However, clues about Hoopa’s nature appear in earlier games, Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire, where the player finds and battles Legendary Pokémon by interacting with strange portals – a nod to Hoopa’s portal-creating rings.

The movie Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages introduces Hoopa, a playful but mischievous Pokémon, and its powerful, more aggressive form, Hoopa Unbound. Hoopa’s actions cause a battle between Ash, his friends, and several legendary Pokémon, including Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre. While the film features many cameos from legendary and Mega Evolved Pokémon, the story wasn’t a hit with all fans, and many found the troublesome Hoopa to be particularly irritating.

The Star of Pokémon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction Is the First Mythical Pokémon To Mega Evolve

The Film’s Plot Failed To Gain Fans’ Attention

Before Mega Darkrai appeared, Diancie was the only Mythical Pokémon that could Mega Evolve. Stories say Diancie began as a Carbink, a Rock and Fairy-type Pokémon that was never known to evolve. But somehow, one Carbink transformed into the first Diancie. When a Diancie holds a Diancite, it can Mega Evolve into the stunning Mega Diancie, and also gains the helpful ability Magic Bounce.

Diancie starred in Pokémon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction, one of the Pokémon films set in the Kalos region. In the movie, Diancie is presented as a princess among Carbink, but trouble begins when she needs to create a new Heart Diamond. She teams up with Ash and his friends to find Xerneas, a legendary Pokémon, but they also face enemies who want to steal Diancie’s powers. Despite being a beautiful Pokémon, the movie’s story wasn’t very popular with most fans.

Pokémon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened Also Features Mega Mewtwo Y

Genesect’s Film Has Mixed Reviews Among Fans and Critics Alike

Throughout the Pokémon series, many villainous teams have attempted to create incredibly powerful Pokémon. Team Rocket aimed for Mewtwo, while the Aether Foundation focused on Type: Null. In the Unova region, Team Plasma tried to make an unbeatable Pokémon using Genesect, a Pokémon from the distant past that they altered. However, their plan backfired when the modified Genesect escaped and created a dangerous group called the Genesect Army, causing trouble for Team Plasma and the people of Unova.

The Genesect Army first appeared in the movie Pokémon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened, causing trouble in New York City. These Bug/Steel Pokémon, led by a special, shiny leader, were upset about losing their original habitat and began attacking people. Ash, Iris, and their friends stepped in to stop them, and received help from Mega Mewtwo Y. While many viewers appreciated the movie’s themes, some thought it was too brief.

Many Grew To Dislike the Hero of Pokémon the Movie: Kyurem vs. The Sword of Justice

The Movie Was However Praised for Its Animation

Pokémon the Movie: Kyurem vs. The Sword of Justice primarily follows Keldeo, a young Pokémon training to become a member of the Swords of Justice. While the movie features the Legendary Swords of Justice, the story centers on Keldeo’s travels to prove its strength and earn its place among them. Keldeo hopes to become powerful enough to battle the formidable Dragon and Ice-type Pokémon, Kyurem, and the movie details its journey to achieve that goal.

Keldeo’s eagerness to battle powerful Legendary Pokémon accidentally causes its friends, the Swords of Justice, to become frozen. After escaping, Keldeo meets Ash and his companions, who nurse it back to health and offer their assistance. The movie, and Keldeo’s character, have received a somewhat mixed reaction. While some viewers found Keldeo’s rashness frustrating, others appreciated the beautiful animation.

Pokémon the Movie: Black—Victini and Reshiram and White—Victini and Zekrom Have a Few Differences

Both Films Star the Adorable Fire/Psychic-type Victini

Victini, a Fire and Psychic-type Pokémon originally from the Unova region, was the only Pokémon with this unique combination before Delphox appeared in the Kalos region (though some also consider Zen Mode Darmanitan). This Pokémon, known as the Victory Pokémon, is popular because its special ability, Victory Star, increases the accuracy of its own moves and the moves of its teammates. Even though Victini is trapped inside its territory by a barrier, it still meets Ash and his friends when they visit. However, Victini is soon needed to help save Unova when a dangerous plan unfolds thanks to a person named Damon.

Damon comes from a once-powerful kingdom called the People of the Vale. Following his mother’s wishes, he’s determined to restore his people’s former glory, even if it risks the safety of the Unova region. He plans to do this by harnessing the power of the Pokémon Victini, along with either Zekrom or Reshiram. While these Pokémon movies – Pokémon the Movie: Black—Victini and Reshiram and White—Victini and Zekrom – aren’t as widely discussed as some others, they generally receive positive reviews. Viewers particularly enjoy the charming Victini and the beautiful animation.

Pokémon: Giratina & the Sky Warrior Showcases an Unlikely Friendship

The Mythical Pokémon Shaymin Searches for Others of Its Kind

Shaymin is a popular Mythical Pokémon known for its ability to change forms and its appearance in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky. While its Sky Forme wasn’t shown until the movie Pokémon: Giratina & the Sky Warrior, the film follows Shaymin as it travels home to a garden filled with other Shaymin, where it receives help from Ash and his friends. Their journey is put in danger when a fierce battle erupts between Giratina and Dialga, threatening to ruin everything.

Like in the movies, Dialga and Palkia clashed when each thought the other was invading its space, leading to a huge battle. This fight damaged Giratina’s home, the Distortion World, and created an imbalance in both that dimension and our own. Meanwhile, a researcher named Zero wants to steal Giratina’s power, even if it kills the Pokémon. As things escalate, Shaymin and Giratina unexpectedly team up – an alliance no one would have predicted given their past encounters.

Pokémon: Jirachi, Wish Maker Is the First Hoenn-Based Film

Max Becomes Friends With the Wish-Making Pokémon Jirachi

Image via OLM

While traveling through the Hoenn region, Ash meets May, a new Pokémon Trainer who’s learning the ropes. He helps her improve her battling skills, and her younger brother, Max, joins them on their journey, even though he’s too young to be a Trainer himself. Many people, both in the show and among viewers, find Max a bit annoying with his know-it-all attitude, but he eventually learns to be less critical of others and expands his knowledge of Pokémon beyond what he’s read in books. Besides meeting Ralts, Max also has a significant encounter with Jirachi, the Wish Pokémon.

Once every thousand years, the Millennium Comet stirs the Mythical Pokémon Jirachi from its slumber for just seven days. Those fortunate enough to encounter this cute Steel and Psychic-type Pokémon can have their wishes come true. But Butler, a former scientist from Team Magma, has his own dangerous plans that could threaten the Hoenn region. Many fans loved the heartwarming friendship between Jirachi and a boy named Max in the movie Pokémon: Jirachi, Wish Maker, in addition to the film’s beautiful animation.

Pokémon the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel Follows Ash and a Reluctant Ally

Volcanion Races to Rescue Fellow Mythical Pokémon Magearna

Volcanion, a unique Fire and Water-type Pokémon, is incredibly powerful but also has a fiery temper. Its abilities are so strong that it needed someone to protect others from accidental explosions, and it finally found that friend in Magearna. Volcanion used to live peacefully on Nebel Plateau, a safe haven for Pokémon harmed by humans, but this experience led it to deeply distrust and dislike people because of their unkindness.

When the villainous Alva captures Magearna, Volcanion is driven from its home. To make matters worse, a mysterious power unexpectedly links Volcanion to Ash, creating a partnership the Pokémon didn’t want. The movie features a variety of Mega Evolutions, including rare, shiny versions of Mega Gengar and Mega Gardevoir. Viewers particularly enjoyed the film’s heartfelt story and the deeper look it provided into Mega Evolution.

Arceus Nearly Destroys the World in Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life

Ash and Friends Must Travel Through Time To Prevent This Disaster

The Pokémon franchise features numerous powerful Legendary and Mythical Pokémon, but Arceus is unique in being worshipped as a god. Known as the Alpha Pokémon, Arceus is believed to have created the entire Pokémon universe. Throughout the series, characters like Lusamine from the Aether Foundation and Volo from ancient Sinnoh have revered Arceus as a deity. Demonstrating its immense power, Arceus is not only capable of creation, but also of destroying worlds, as shown in the movie Arceus and the Jewel of Life.

Long ago, Arceus was supposedly betrayed by its human friend, Damos. After Damos died, Arceus fell into a long sleep, but when it woke up, it was ready to destroy the world it had made. This time, battling Arceus isn’t possible, so Ash and his friends must go back in time to stop Damos from betraying it. Many viewers loved the story of Arceus and the Jewel of Life, especially how it connected to the plots of the previous two movies.

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2026-02-09 17:41