Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back!

Name: Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back!
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Animation, Family
Released: November 10, 1999
Duration: 75 min
Rating: 35
Cast: Eric Stuart, Rachael Lillis, Veronica Taylor

1999

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 25 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 201 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	Your Score
7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 201 Ratings

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Pokemon: The First Movie

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Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back!

Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: November 10, 1999 | G

Starring: Eric Stuart, Rachael Lillis, Veronica Taylor

Summary: A scientist genetically clones creatures from the Pokemon named Mew, creating Mewtwo, which begins cloning other Pokemons resulting in disastrous circumstances. The film ends with the message that fighting is futile and wrong.

Director: Kunihiko Yuyama and Michael Haigney

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Animation, Family

Rating: G

Runtime: 75 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Besty Sherman

The Japanese animation is beautiful, and the script adaptation for the English-speaking audience is well-paced, clever, and absorbing enough to keep parents from squirming. Read full review

Wesley Morris

The film is obviously a long-form episode of a show better digested in 22-minute segments. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

A dismayingly impersonal piece of anime, genial yet chaotic. Read full review

Marc Caro

The sense that the movie serves mostly to showcase a slew of purchasable cartoon figures loses nothing in the translation. Read full review

Marjorie Baumgarten

There is a new definition of the term, "critic-proof movie," and it goes by the name Pokémon: The First Movie. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Steve Simels

This totally sucks. Read full review

Michael Atkinson

Possibly the most deranged, pointlessly complex, automatic-writing-like cultural manifestation outside the cosmologies of the more creative psychotics. Read full review

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User Reviews

Pikachu1998

Feb 23, 2018

This is my 2nd most favorite movie of all time!! Since my #1 favorite movie of all time will be Pokemon 2: Awakening of Lugia. Oh boy, can't wait to watch all the other Pokemon movies. Score: 9.8/10.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Idoshany

Jun 21, 2018

Oh Boy, Critics don't understand how good these movies are! Characters are memorable, plot isn't bad and the action is great and the villains have good backstory's.
especially for the first one, we finally learned how Mewtowo was created and the action was great!

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Elizebeth

Apr 26, 2006

Mewtwo is a really cool character idea. It's a cool story line and I really like it. The only thing that I'm commenting on the bad side is that Pikachu's vacation is cheesy.

6 of 6 users found this helpful

BowLL

Nov 22, 2020

jeez, the articles were going really badly on the pokemon movie, like they didn't even watch it.

this movie is good, with a great conflict and an decent solution or ending to the story, the characters were sometimes funny. the antagonist/villian is a pretty good developed character that hasjeez, the articles were going really badly on the pokemon movie, like they didn't even watch it.

this movie is good, with a great conflict and an decent solution or ending to the story, the characters were sometimes funny. the antagonist/villian is a pretty good developed character that has the 1 message of trying to take over the world, and with a lot of defending.

i liked this movie! it was good!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

NerdConsultant

Oct 27, 2014

ok i'll fully admit this isn't really a good movie but as pokemon fan i can't bring myself to dislike it. i think the films biggest weaknesses is Mewtwo being a hypocritical villain, the ending rendering the entire movie pointless and the worst anti fighting message in a film everok i'll fully admit this isn't really a good movie but as pokemon fan i can't bring myself to dislike it. i think the films biggest weaknesses is Mewtwo being a hypocritical villain, the ending rendering the entire movie pointless and the worst anti fighting message in a film ever considering that it's coming from a franchise all about fighting. still the animation and action are great and the film at least feels big enough to warrant a cinematic release… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

pikachucet

Aug 5, 2019

Let's be honest-this movie is just ok. Correction-the Japanese version is OK. Mewtwo's awesome, but the rest of the movie just feels like an hour long episode of Pokémon. The 4 kids version though is bad. It's the W O R S T. The message of the original I won't spoil, but it's great. It's theLet's be honest-this movie is just ok. Correction-the Japanese version is OK. Mewtwo's awesome, but the rest of the movie just feels like an hour long episode of Pokémon. The 4 kids version though is bad. It's the W O R S T. The message of the original I won't spoil, but it's great. It's the best part of the movie that makes me want tae watch it again. The 4 Kids version has an ANTI-VIOLENCE message! See the irony here? If you're gonna watch this movie, watch the sub.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

GDsReviews

Jun 6, 2022

Seeing the really bad 4Kids English dub of this movie back in day in the theater makes me only want to see it again in Japanese with subtitles when I heard it is significantly better and gives more depth to Mewtwo then the English dub.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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21	#21 Most Discussed Movie of 1999
9	#9 Most Shared Movie of 1999