When did Pokémon: The First Movie premiere in North America?

Pokémon: The First Movie premiered in North America on November 12, 1999. Its full title was Pokémon: The First Movie—Mewtwo Strikes Back, and it brought the franchise’s theatrical storytelling to a large international audience.

The film centers on Mewtwo, a genetically engineered Pokémon created from research involving Mew. After feeling exploited and isolated, Mewtwo challenges humans and Pokémon, leading to a conflict about identity, power, and friendship.

The North American release was supported by an enormous promotional campaign, including a Burger King toy promotion. The film became one of the most commercially successful Japanese animated films in the United States at that time, despite mixed critical reviews.

The date is often confused with the film’s Japanese release, which occurred earlier, in July 1998. The North American premiere also came before the Pokémon anime’s later theatrical and home-video expansions in many other regions.