What was the first Pokémon movie released in theaters?

The first Pokémon movie released in theaters was “Pokémon: The First Movie.”

Its full English title is “Pokémon: The First Movie – Mewtwo Strikes Back.” The film centers on Mewtwo, a genetically engineered Pokémon created from research involving Mew. After rejecting its creators, Mewtwo challenges humans and Pokémon in a conflict about identity, power, and friendship.

The movie was first released in Japan on July 18, 1998, before reaching other markets. Its English theatrical release followed on November 10, 1999. The feature was accompanied by the short film “Pikachu’s Vacation.”

The title is sometimes confused with “Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution,” a 2019 computer-animated remake. That later film revisits the first movie’s story, but it was not the original theatrical Pokémon film.