Let's be real for a second. If you try to sit down and watch every single Pokémon film in one go, you’re going to run into a massive headache by the time you hit the halfway mark. It isn't just about the sheer volume of content—we're talking over 20 movies here—it's that the timeline eventually decides to stop making sense. You have the classic era where everything followed the TV show, and then suddenly, the creators decided to hit the reset button.
Getting the pokemon movies series order right is less about following a straight line and more about understanding which "universe" you’re currently standing in.
Most people start with Mewtwo Strikes Back because, well, it’s the blueprint. It came out in 1998 (1999 in the States) and established the formula: Ash and Pikachu go somewhere new, meet a Legendary Pokémon, and save the world while Team Rocket provides the comic relief. For a solid decade, this worked perfectly. The movies acted like "super-sized" episodes of the anime that took place during the current season. If Ash was in Johto in the show, the movie was a Johto movie. Simple.
The Original Series and the Golden Age of Johto
The first few films are essentially a nostalgia trip, but they also have some of the tightest writing in the franchise. Pokémon the Movie 2000 (The Power of One) and Pokémon 3: The Movie (Entei and the Spell of the Unown) are iconic for a reason. They felt like they had actual stakes. Honestly, the third movie's depiction of Molly and her imaginary world created by the Unown is still one of the trippier things the Pokémon Company has ever produced.
As you move through the pokemon movies series order, you’ll hit the Hoenn era. This is where things get a bit more experimental. You have Pokémon 4Ever, which introduced Celebi and a weird time-travel plot involving a young Professor Oak, followed by Heroes: Latios and Latias. That last one is actually quite beautiful—it’s set in a city based on Venice, Italy, and has an ending that fans still argue about today. Was it Latias or Bianca who kissed Ash? We'll probably never know for sure.
The Diamond and Pearl Trilogy Shift
When the series moved into the Sinnoh region (Generation 4), the movies did something they’d never done before: they created a continuous story arc.
Usually, these films are standalone. You can watch one and forget it happened by the time the next one starts. But The Rise of Darkrai, Giratina and the Sky Warrior, and Arceus and the Jewel of Life are a literal trilogy. They deal with the space-time continuum tearing apart. If you watch them out of order, you’re going to be totally lost when Dialga and Palkia show up for the second or third time. It was an ambitious move that paid off because it made the world feel huge. Arceus, basically the "God" of Pokémon, getting its own cinematic finale felt like a true event.
Why the Pokémon Movies Series Order Gets Weird After 2017
Here is where I need to warn you. Up until the 19th movie (Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel), the films more or less followed Ash’s journey through the various regions like Unova and Kalos. You could track his progress by looking at which companions were traveling with him. If Iris and Cilan are there, you’re in the Black & White era. If Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie are there, you’re in XY.
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Then 2017 happened.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary, the producers released Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!. This wasn't a sequel. It wasn't a side story. It was a total reboot.
It retells Ash’s first day as a trainer but deviates wildly. Brock and Misty? Gone. Replaced by new characters named Verity and Sorrel. Ash sees Ho-Oh and goes on a completely different quest than the one we saw in the 90s. This "Alternate Continuity" continued with The Power of Us and eventually Secrets of the Jungle.
If you are trying to maintain a strict pokemon movies series order, you have to treat these as a separate branch. Think of it like the Marvel Cinematic Universe vs. the X-Men movies. They both feature the same characters, but they don't live in the same house.
The CGI Outlier
Then there’s Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution. This is just a shot-for-shot 3D remake of the very first movie. It’s technically the 22nd film released, but chronologically, it takes place at the very beginning of the timeline. Most fans suggest skipping it if you’ve already seen the original, unless you really love the look of modern CGI. It’s a bit of a "uncanny valley" situation for some.
Sorting the Chaos: A Practical List
Since you’re looking for the best way to consume these, here is the breakdown of how they actually fit together. Don't worry about the specific years too much; just follow the regional blocks.
The Original Series Era (Kanto & Johto)
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- Mewtwo Strikes Back (The one that started it all)
- The Power of One (Lugia and the three birds)
- Spell of the Unown (Entei and the Unown)
- Pokémon 4Ever (Celebi and Suicune)
- Pokémon Heroes (Latios and Latias)
The Advanced Generation Era (Hoenn)
- Jirachi: Wish Maker (A bit slow, but touching)
- Destiny Deoxys (Rayquaza vs. Deoxys is top-tier action)
- Lucario and the Mystery of Mew (This one actually paved the way for Gen 4 before it existed)
- Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea (Manaphy’s debut)
The Diamond & Pearl Era (Sinnoh)
- The Rise of Darkrai (The start of the space-time trilogy)
- Giratina and the Sky Warrior (Direct sequel)
- Arceus and the Jewel of Life (The conclusion)
- Zoroark: Master of Illusions (A standalone palette cleanser)
The Best Wishes & XY Eras
- Victini and Zekrom / Victini and Reshiram (They released two versions of the same movie with slight differences—don't watch both unless you’re a completionist)
- Kyurem vs. The Sword of Justice (Introducing the Swords of Justice)
- Genesect and the Legend Awakened (Features a Mega Mewtwo Y)
- Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction (The first XY movie)
- Hoopa and the Clash of Ages (Basically a "who's who" of Legendary Pokémon)
- Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel (The final movie of the "Main" TV timeline)
The Alternate Timeline (Modern Era)
- I Choose You! (The reboot)
- The Power of Us (A surprisingly grounded, character-driven story)
- Secrets of the Jungle (The Zarude movie, which feels very Tarzan-esque)
The Detective Pikachu Problem
You might be wondering where Ryan Reynolds fits into all of this. Pokémon: Detective Pikachu is the only live-action film in the bunch. It doesn't connect to the anime at all. It’s based on a spin-off 3DS game. While it’s a great movie, it exists entirely in its own bubble. You can watch it whenever you want. Honestly, it's a great "intro to Pokémon" for people who find the anime a bit too bright and loud.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Timeline
The biggest misconception is that the movies are "canon" to the show. The truth is... it's complicated.
For the most part, the TV show almost never references the movies. Ash doesn't usually talk about the time he saw the world almost end in the Orange Islands or the time he met a talking Lucario. However, there are tiny nods. In the Diamond & Pearl anime, Ash remembers seeing a Pokémon that appeared in a previous movie.
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But if you’re looking for a perfectly seamless narrative where Movie A leads directly into Episode B, you’re going to be disappointed. The movies are best viewed as "High-Budget Side Quests." They happen during the journey, but they don't fundamentally change Ash's path toward becoming a Pokémon Master.
Except for the reboot movies. Those are strictly their own thing.
Does it matter if you watch them out of order?
Mostly, no. You can jump into Zoroark: Master of Illusions without having seen a single Hoenn movie. The only place where it truly matters is that Sinnoh trilogy. If you watch Arceus and the Jewel of Life first, the emotional weight of the conflict between the space-time dragons is completely lost.
Also, it’s worth noting that the animation quality jumps significantly around the XY era. If you’re a stickler for visuals, the newer films are stunning, but they lack some of the "soul" and hand-drawn grit of the original 90s production.
Making a Choice: Where to Start Today?
If you're a newcomer or a returning fan who hasn't seen a movie since Bill Clinton was in office, don't feel obligated to watch all 24+ films. That's a recipe for burnout.
Instead, try this:
Watch Mewtwo Strikes Back (the original 2D version) for the history.
Watch Lucario and the Mystery of Mew for the lore.
Watch The Power of Us to see how good a modern Pokémon story can actually be when it focuses on humans and Pokémon living together rather than just big explosions.
The pokemon movies series order is a tool, not a cage. Use it to find the eras you like. If you love the newer games like Scarlet and Violet, you might find the older movies a bit dated. But if you grew up with a GameBoy Color in your hands, those first five movies are essential viewing.
To get started, check out official streaming platforms like Pokémon TV (when available), Netflix, or Hulu, as the licensing for these movies rotates constantly. You can usually find a few of the more recent ones on Netflix, while the classics often require a digital rental or a hunt for the old DVDs.
Start by picking an era—Johto, Sinnoh, or the Reboot—and stick with that block. It keeps the character designs and the "roster" of Pokémon consistent so you aren't wondering why Ash suddenly doesn't have his Charizard anymore. Once you finish a block, take a break. The movies are a lot to digest, and they're best enjoyed when you aren't rushing to the finish line.