Pokémon: The First Movie debuted in Japan in 1998.
The film was released theatrically in Japan on July 18, 1998, under the Japanese title Pocket Monsters the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back. It was directed by Kunihiko Yuyama and produced by OLM for distribution by Toho.
Its story centers on Mewtwo, a genetically engineered Pokémon who challenges trainers and creates powerful clones. Ash, Misty, and Brock are drawn into the conflict on New Island, where the film explores identity, creation, and the consequences of treating living beings as tools.
The English-language release arrived in North America in November 1999 and was marketed as Pokémon: The First Movie. That version included the subtitle Mewtwo Strikes Back and was paired with the short Pikachu’s Vacation. A CGI remake, Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution, was released in 2019.