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Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution

Play trailer 1:45 Poster for Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution 2019 1h 38m Kids & Family Adventure Action Anime Play Trailer Watchlist
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44% Tomatometer 9 Reviews 46% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Ash and his friends try to thwart Mewtwo's evil plan to destroy the word.

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Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution

Critics Reviews

View All (9) Critics Reviews
Charles Solomon Los Angeles Times The Pokémon battles and declarations of affection provide what fans expect, but after 20 years, it all feels very familiar. Feb 27, 2020 Full Review Megan Williams Battle Royale With Cheese In terms of its animated films, it's time The Pokemon Company stopped trying to cash in on nostalgia; it's clearly not working. Mar 14, 2020 Full Review Brian Costello Common Sense Media Cartoon violence in computer-animated remake. Rated: 3/5 Mar 12, 2020 Full Review Leanne Butkovic Thrillist It's a triumph on multiple levels, hitting the nostalgic sweet spot that the incredibly fun Detective Pikachu couldn't exactly meet with its one foot in the real world. Mar 9, 2020 Full Review Evan Dossey Midwest Film Journal A new coat of paint that detracts from the original film's charm. Feb 29, 2020 Full Review Julia Lee Polygon Watching through one of my favorite childhood movies redone with enhanced graphics was a treat. It turns out that watching sad Pikachu slap each other in 3D CGI is just as sad as watching it in 2D animation. Feb 28, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Trafalgar L The Pokémon Company International's attempt to commission and remake a film that defined a cultural phenomenon falls flat on its face. This is due to them trying to cash in on the nostalgia. Not to mention that while Sarah Natochenny made Ash Ketchum her own she fails to convey the same emotion and energy that Veronica Taylor had back in 1999. While the script is for the most a direct translation it is lacking and missing the witty isms of the 4Kids writing crew. Also, it keeps all the Japanese music and at times it doesn't feel right. They should have dug into their archives and pulled out the soundtrack that Loeffler, Lissauer and Schuckett composed. I.E. Tears of Life should have been used for Ash being revived. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/28/25 Full Review Andrew M When I first sat down to watch Pokemon: Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’d seen the original movie years ago, and the thought of a CGI remake had me both curious and a little skeptical. After watching it, I can confidently say it’s a mixed bag—some moments are truly magical, but others left me longing for the charm of the original. The visuals are undeniably impressive. The Pokemon themselves look fantastic in this updated style, especially Pikachu and Mewtwo. The glossy textures bring them to life in a way that feels fresh, but I do think the human characters fell a bit flat in comparison. Their expressions lacked the depth and emotional nuance that made the original animation so memorable. It’s a shame because those emotional beats are such a big part of the story. The narrative, of course, is a near replica of the original, with Mewtwo’s existential journey at the core. I appreciated how they tried to modernize it with enhanced animation, but I couldn’t help feeling like Mewtwo’s character was watered down a bit. In the 1998 version, his dialogue was profound and gave his arc a deeper weight. Here, it felt like some of his complexity was lost, leaving him less impactful. That said, there were still some standout moments. Ash’s ability to connect with Mewtwo and show him what it means to care deeply for others was as heartwarming as ever. I also enjoyed how the fighting scenes were updated; the battles were visually stunning, even if they didn’t quite carry the same emotional intensity. One thing I missed deeply was the original soundtrack. The 1998 movie had songs that hit me right in the feels, and the absence of iconic tracks like "Brother, My Brother" in this remake was disappointing. It’s a missed opportunity that could have elevated the experience. Ultimately, Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution is a beautiful tribute to the original but doesn’t quite surpass it. It’s great for younger audiences or fans of modern CGI, but if you’re nostalgic for the 1998 classic, it might not capture the same magic. Still, as a longtime Pokemon fan, I can appreciate what this film tried to do, even if it didn’t fully land for me. I’d give it 3.5 out of 5 stars—worth a watch, especially if you’re curious to see Pokemon in CGI, but the original still holds the crown for me. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/05/25 Full Review Liam D While it’s better than Pokemon the first movie. It still feels like a retread of every Pokémon movie ever made Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/08/25 Full Review Idan Charles L Why do they we make this, Just why Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 05/11/24 Full Review Random M It was great movie to show how Pokemon can strike back and that Mewtwo took over and acted like a human. Love how Ash showed Mewtwo human feelings Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/27/23 Full Review Hudson B Terribly underrated. Better than the original in my opinion. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution

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Movie Info

Synopsis Ash and his friends try to thwart Mewtwo's evil plan to destroy the word.
Director
Kunihiko Yuyama
Production Co
Oriental Light and Magic
Genre
Kids & Family, Adventure, Action, Anime
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 10, 2020
Runtime
1h 38m
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