You’d think after nearly thirty years, we’d have a simple list. We don't. Figuring out the order of pokemon episodes and movies is basically like trying to track a Mew through a thicket of tall grass—it's slippery, confusing, and if you look away for a second, you’ve missed a legendary cameo that makes zero sense three episodes later.
Most people just turn on Netflix or Pokémon TV and hit play. That's a mistake. If you do that, you’re going to hit the Orange Islands or the Johto Journeys and suddenly realize Ash has a Lapras or a Donphan that appeared out of thin air because the movie tie-in happened three weeks ago in "real-time" but the streaming service didn't tell you. It’s annoying. It breaks the immersion.
The truth is that the Pokémon anime wasn't originally designed for the binge-watching era. It was designed for Japanese TV schedules in the late 90s. Movies were big theatrical events meant to be seen during specific holiday breaks. If you want the true experience, you have to weave the films into the seasons like a tapestry.
The Kanto Foundation and the Mewtwo Problem
Look, the beginning is easy. You start with Indigo League. You watch Ash oversleep, get a grumpy Pikachu, and start failing his way to success. But then you hit the late fifties. Specifically, episode 63, "The Battle of the Badge." This is where the order of pokemon episodes and movies gets its first real test.
In that episode, you see a mysterious armored Pokémon wrecking Gary Oak’s team in the Viridian Gym. That’s Mewtwo. This is the exact moment the narrative branches. You’re supposed to watch Pokémon: The First Movie (Mewtwo Strikes Back) right around here, specifically after episode 67. If you wait until the end of the season, the continuity feels weird. Mewtwo has already escaped the lab and disappeared. The movie is the payoff to that background mystery.
But then there's the "Porygon incident." Most fans know about episode 38, "Dennō Senshi Porygon," which caused seizures in Japan and was banned worldwide. Because of that ban, the show went on a four-month hiatus. When it came back, the schedule was a disaster. Episodes were shuffled. Holiday specials like the Jynx Christmas episode and the Ash/James cross-dressing episode were moved out of order. If you're watching on a modern app, these often appear in the wrong spot, making Ash’s team look inconsistent.
The Orange Islands and the Lugia Connection
After the Kanto league, Ash goes to the Orange Islands. This is filler, honestly, but it’s good filler. The big hurdle here is Pokémon the Movie 2000: The Power of One.
🔗 Read more: Evil Kermit: Why We Still Can’t Stop Listening to our Inner Saboteur
You should watch this movie after episode 105, "Misty Meets Her Match." Why? Because it features Lawrence III trying to capture the legendary birds, and the stakes feel perfectly aligned with where Ash is as a trainer. It’s also the first time we really see the scale of "Legendary" Pokémon impacting the world's weather. If you skip it and go straight to Johto, the Lugia cameos later on feel much less impactful.
Johto and the Shift to "Formula" Movies
Johto is long. It's 158 episodes. It’s a slog sometimes. But the movies during this era started a trend that lasted for a decade: they became "side-quests." Unlike the Mewtwo film, which felt essential to the main plot, Spell of the Unown or Celebi: The Voice of the Forest are sort of self-contained.
Still, placement matters.
- Spell of the Unown fits best after episode 155.
- Celebi: Voice of the Forest belongs after episode 205.
- Pokémon Heroes: Latios and Latias should be watched right at the end of the Johto arc, before Ash leaves for Hoenn.
Pokémon Heroes is actually a bittersweet masterpiece. It’s the last time we see the original art style and the original traveling trio (Ash, Misty, Brock) before the soft reboot of the Advanced Generation. Watching it out of order feels like saying goodbye to your friends before you've actually finished the journey.
The Hoenn and Sinnoh Complexity
When Ash hits the Hoenn region in Advanced Generation, the order of pokemon episodes and movies gets slightly more rigid. The movies started premiering every July in Japan.
Take Lucario and the Mystery of Mew. It’s a fan favorite. It introduces the concept of "Aura," which becomes a huge deal for Ash’s character development hundreds of episodes later in Diamond and Pearl. If you don't watch it after episode 134 of the Battle Frontier arc, the references to Ash’s "special" connection to Aura feel like they came out of nowhere.
💡 You might also like: Emily Piggford Movies and TV Shows: Why You Recognize That Face
Then you have the Sinnoh era. This is peak Pokémon for many. The movies here—The Rise of Darkrai, Giratina and the Sky Warrior, and Arceus and the Jewel of Life—are actually a trilogy. They have a connected plot. If you watch them randomly, you'll be lost.
- Rise of Darkrai: Watch after episode 38 of Diamond and Pearl.
- Giratina: Watch after episode 86.
- Arceus: Watch after episode 137.
Doing it this way makes the Sinnoh region feel like a massive, epic saga rather than just a series of gym battles. You see the gods of time and space clashing while Ash is just trying to get a Chimchar to trust him. It’s great TV.
The Soft Reboots: I Choose You!
In recent years, The Pokémon Company realized that the order of pokemon episodes and movies was becoming a nightmare for new kids. They had over 900 episodes. How do you tell a seven-year-old to go back to 1997?
They didn't. They started the "Alternate Timeline" movies.
Beginning with Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!, the films stopped trying to fit into the weekly TV show. They created a "Movie Ash" who is different from "TV Ash."
- I Choose You! is a retelling of the start.
- The Power of Us is a standalone story.
- Secrets of the Jungle features Koko and Zarude.
You can watch these whenever. They don't affect the show. However, if you are a completionist, it’s better to treat these as a separate universe entirely. Don’t try to fit them into the Sun & Moon or Journeys timeline. You’ll just get a headache trying to figure out why Ash doesn't recognize certain Pokémon.
📖 Related: Elaine Cassidy Movies and TV Shows: Why This Irish Icon Is Still Everywhere
The Definitive Modern Path
If you are watching Pokémon Journeys (the era where Ash finally becomes World Champion), the movies basically stop. The focus shifted to web series like Pokémon Evolutions or Twilight Wings.
The real climax isn't a movie anymore. It’s the Masters Eight Tournament. To get the most out of Ash’s final run, you actually need to have a working knowledge of almost every previous season. Characters from 20 years ago return. Every movie cameo and every old rival shows up.
If you've followed the order of pokemon episodes and movies correctly, that final battle against Leon isn't just a fight; it’s a victory lap for your own childhood.
Actionable Steps for the Perfect Rewatch
Stop scrolling through random lists. If you want to do this right, follow this logic:
- Synchronize by Release Date: The most foolproof way to maintain continuity is to look up the original Japanese air dates for the episodes and the theatrical release dates for the movies. If a movie came out on July 18th, watch it after the episode that aired on July 17th.
- The "Pikachu Shorts" Rule: Don't skip the mini-movies that often come before the main feature. Some of them introduce Pokémon that Ash’s friends eventually catch in the main show.
- Mind the Dub Transitions: Be aware that the English dub often changed the order of episodes for "thematic" weeks on TV. If you notice Ash using a move he hasn't learned yet, check a Japanese episode guide; you've likely hit a dub-shuffled block.
- Skip the Recaps: Many movies have "Retrospective" openings. You can usually skip the first 3 minutes if you've been binge-watching, as they just re-explain that Ash wants to be a Master. We get it, Ash.
- Use Serebii or Bulbapedia: These aren't just fansites; they are the gold standard for chronological data. Before starting a new "Series" (like Black & White or XY), look at their movie breakdown to see where the theatrical gaps fall.
Following this path turns a chaotic mess of media into a coherent, decades-long story of growth. It's the difference between just watching a cartoon and experiencing a legacy. Move through the regions, watch the films where they were meant to live, and you'll see why this franchise hasn't slowed down since '97.