Pokémon: The First Movie received its initial theatrical release in Japan on July 18, 1998.
The film is known in Japan as Pocket Monsters the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back. It focuses on Mewtwo, a genetically engineered Pokémon who challenges the ideas of identity, creation, and the relationship between humans and Pokémon. The theatrical program also included the short film Pikachu’s Vacation.
The Japanese release came before the movie reached North American cinemas. Warner Bros. released the English-language version in the United States on November 10, 1999, after an earlier premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. This difference in dates is a frequent source of confusion.
The film became the first theatrical Pokémon feature and helped establish a long-running movie series. Its story also expanded on themes and characters first introduced in the games, while adapting them for a much broader television and cinema audience.