Pokémon watch order

Pokémon movies in order, by release and rating. Updated October 20, 2026.

Watch the Pokémon anime in order from the original series (1997), following Ash through Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos and Alola to Pokémon Journeys, where his story ends; Pokémon Horizons (2023) starts over with new heroes. Each film fits after the series era it came out in. I Choose You! (2017) and The Power of Us (2018) are a separate retelling, and Detective Pikachu (2019) is live action and stands alone.

How to watch the Pokémon movies in order: the full guide

All 32 films and series in the Pokémon franchise, in release order and in chronological (story) order. The first in release order is Pokémon: The Original Series (1997); the first in chronological order is Pokémon: The Original Series (set in Kanto, the Orange Islands and Johto).

Release order

Pokémon: The Original Series (Series, 1997): Ash and Pikachu set out from Pallet Town through Kanto, the Orange Islands and Johto; the 1997 start of everything.
Pokémon: The First Movie (Movie, 1998): Mewtwo, a cloned Pokémon, turns on the humans who made him; Ash is turned to stone.
Pokémon: The Movie 2000 (Movie, 1999): Ash must gather three treasures to stop the legendary birds from destroying the world.
Pokémon 3: The Movie (Movie, 2000): The Unown build a crystal world around a lonely girl, and Ash's mom is taken.
Pokémon 4Ever (Movie, 2001): Celebi and a boy from 40 years in the past; time travel in the forest.
Pokémon Heroes (Movie, 2002): Latios and Latias in a Venice-like city, against two thieves.
Pokémon: Advanced Generation (Series, 2002): Ash travels Hoenn with May, Max and Brock, then the Battle Frontier.
Pokémon: Jirachi Wish Maker (Movie, 2003): Jirachi wakes for seven days every thousand years; Butler wants its power.
Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys (Movie, 2004): Deoxys and Rayquaza clash over a futuristic city.
Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew (Movie, 2005): Lucario, sealed in a staff for centuries, searches for Mew and the Tree of Beginning.
Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea (Movie, 2006): Manaphy hatches and leads Ash to the Sea Temple.
Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl (Series, 2006): Ash travels Sinnoh with Dawn and Brock, against Paul and Team Galactic.
Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai (Movie, 2007): Dialga and Palkia fight in Alamos Town, and Darkrai protects it.
Pokémon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior (Movie, 2008): Shaymin and Giratina, and a man who wants the Reverse World.
Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life (Movie, 2009): Arceus returns to take revenge on humanity for a betrayal; Ash goes back in time.
Pokémon: Zoroark: Master of Illusions (Movie, 2010): Zoroark is forced to rampage through Crown City under a criminal's control.
Pokémon: Black & White (Series, 2010): Ash starts over in Unova with Iris and Cilan.
Pokémon the Movie: White, Victini and Zekrom (Movie, 2011): Victini is trapped by the barrier of a kingdom's descendant; released as two versions.
Pokémon the Movie: Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice (Movie, 2012): Keldeo challenges Kyurem to save the Swords of Justice.
Pokémon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened (Movie, 2013): An army of Genesect settles in a city and clashes with Mewtwo.
Pokémon: XY (Series, 2013): Ash travels Kalos with Serena, Clemont and Bonnie; Ash-Greninja and Team Flare.
Pokémon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction (Movie, 2014): Diancie looks for Xerneas to save its kingdom; Yveltal wakes.
Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages (Movie, 2015): Hoopa's rings summon legendary Pokémon, and its unbound form runs wild.
Pokémon the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel (Movie, 2016): Ash is chained to Volcanion as a kingdom tries to use Magearna.
Pokémon: Sun & Moon (Series, 2016): Ash goes to school in Alola and finally wins a league.
Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You! (Movie, 2017): A retelling of Ash's first journey in its own continuity, with new companions.
Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us (Movie, 2018): A festival town, Zeraora and a wind festival; the same continuity as I Choose You!
Pokémon Detective Pikachu (Movie, 2019): Live action: Tim and a talking Pikachu in detective hat search for Tim's father in Ryme City.
Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back, Evolution (Movie, 2019): A CGI remake of the first film.
Pokémon Journeys (Series, 2019): Ash and Goh visit every region; Ash becomes World Champion and his journey ends.
Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle (Movie, 2020): Koko, a boy raised by Zarude in the jungle.
Pokémon Horizons (Series, 2023): New heroes Liko and Roy after Ash's story ends.

Chronological order

Pokémon: The Original Series (set in Kanto, the Orange Islands and Johto): Ash and Pikachu set out from Pallet Town through Kanto, the Orange Islands and Johto; the 1997 start of everything.
Pokémon: The First Movie (set in New Island): Mewtwo, a cloned Pokémon, turns on the humans who made him; Ash is turned to stone.
Pokémon: The Movie 2000 (set in Shamouti Island): Ash must gather three treasures to stop the legendary birds from destroying the world.
Pokémon 3: The Movie (set in Greenfield): The Unown build a crystal world around a lonely girl, and Ash's mom is taken.
Pokémon 4Ever (set in Celebi's forest): Celebi and a boy from 40 years in the past; time travel in the forest.
Pokémon Heroes (set in Alto Mare): Latios and Latias in a Venice-like city, against two thieves.
Pokémon: Advanced Generation (set in Hoenn and the Battle Frontier): Ash travels Hoenn with May, Max and Brock, then the Battle Frontier.
Pokémon: Jirachi Wish Maker (set in A millennium comet): Jirachi wakes for seven days every thousand years; Butler wants its power.
Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys (set in LaRousse City): Deoxys and Rayquaza clash over a futuristic city.
Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew (set in Cameran Palace): Lucario, sealed in a staff for centuries, searches for Mew and the Tree of Beginning.
Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea (set in Samiya, the Sea Temple): Manaphy hatches and leads Ash to the Sea Temple.
Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl (set in Sinnoh): Ash travels Sinnoh with Dawn and Brock, against Paul and Team Galactic.
Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai (set in Alamos Town): Dialga and Palkia fight in Alamos Town, and Darkrai protects it.
Pokémon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior (set in The Reverse World): Shaymin and Giratina, and a man who wants the Reverse World.
Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life (set in Michina Town): Arceus returns to take revenge on humanity for a betrayal; Ash goes back in time.
Pokémon: Zoroark: Master of Illusions (set in Crown City): Zoroark is forced to rampage through Crown City under a criminal's control.
Pokémon: Black & White (set in Unova): Ash starts over in Unova with Iris and Cilan.
Pokémon the Movie: White, Victini and Zekrom (set in Eindoak Town): Victini is trapped by the barrier of a kingdom's descendant; released as two versions.
Pokémon the Movie: Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice (set in Unova): Keldeo challenges Kyurem to save the Swords of Justice.
Pokémon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened (set in New Tork City): An army of Genesect settles in a city and clashes with Mewtwo.
Pokémon: XY (set in Kalos): Ash travels Kalos with Serena, Clemont and Bonnie; Ash-Greninja and Team Flare.
Pokémon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction (set in Diamond Domain): Diancie looks for Xerneas to save its kingdom; Yveltal wakes.
Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages (set in Dahara City): Hoopa's rings summon legendary Pokémon, and its unbound form runs wild.
Pokémon the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel (set in Azoth Kingdom): Ash is chained to Volcanion as a kingdom tries to use Magearna.
Pokémon: Sun & Moon (set in Alola): Ash goes to school in Alola and finally wins a league.
Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You! (set in A retelling of Ash's first journey): A retelling of Ash's first journey in its own continuity, with new companions.
Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us (set in Fula City): A festival town, Zeraora and a wind festival; the same continuity as I Choose You!
Pokémon Detective Pikachu (set in Ryme City): Live action: Tim and a talking Pikachu in detective hat search for Tim's father in Ryme City.
Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back, Evolution (set in A remake of the first film): A CGI remake of the first film.
Pokémon Journeys (set in All eight regions): Ash and Goh visit every region; Ash becomes World Champion and his journey ends.
Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle (set in The Forest of Okoya): Koko, a boy raised by Zarude in the jungle.
Pokémon Horizons (set in Paldea and beyond): New heroes Liko and Roy after Ash's story ends.

Common questions

What order should I watch the Pokémon movies in?

How many Pokémon movies and shows are there?

There are 32 titles in the Pokémon franchise: 24 films and 8 series, released from 1997 to 2023.

How long does it take to watch all the Pokémon movies?

About 575 hours for all 32 titles, counting every episode. The essentials only (28 titles) take about 568 hours.

What is the first Pokémon title in chronological order?

Pokémon: The Original Series, set in Kanto, the Orange Islands and Johto. In release order the first is Pokémon: The Original Series (1997).

Which Pokémon titles can I skip?

Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!, Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us, Pokémon Detective Pikachu, and Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back, Evolution. They are spin-offs, side stories or non-canon entries; the main story holds without them.