What was the first Pokémon feature film called?

The first Pokémon feature film was Pokémon: The First Movie – Mewtwo Strikes Back.

The Japanese animated film premiered on July 18, 1998, and was directed by Kunihiko Yuyama. Its story centers on Mewtwo, a genetically engineered Pokémon who challenges human trainers after rejecting the purpose for which it was created.

Ash, Misty, and Brock are invited to New Island, where Mewtwo assembles cloned Pokémon and confronts the original Pokémon. The film explores identity, creation, and whether origins determine a person’s worth.

In English-speaking markets, the film was promoted as Pokémon: The First Movie. Its main feature is Mewtwo Strikes Back, while some releases also included the short Pikachu’s Vacation. The later film Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back – Evolution is a computer-animated remake, not the original.