Best Anime Movies On Crunchyroll

As one of the most popular and highly regarded anime streaming services, Crunchyroll has been providing anime fans with their favorite series for years now. Many fans can likely point to the service as a reason they got into anime in the first place. It has long held recognition in the community as a jumping-off point due to its accessibility and ease of use.

Though it’s perhaps not as widely known for its films, Crunchyroll offers a varied selection of feature-length anime movies as well. From stone-cold classics to under-the-radar flicks, there is a lot to explore on the streaming service. What are the best anime films on Crunchyroll?

30 King Of Thorn

MyAnimeList: 6.88

Based on a fairly respected seinen manga that lasted for six volumes, the King of Thorn anime rushes through large chunks of the narrative as it tries to cram everything into less than two hours. Consequently, this adaptation is undoubtedly not the best way to experience this sci-fi story since it does not have enough time to properly explore its entire roster of characters. That said, the movie is still reasonably entertaining as a standalone production.

As a disease that turns people into stone spreads through the world, a group of people are chosen to be frozen for a century in a strange research facility, with the hopes that a cure will be available once they wake up. Naturally, something goes terribly wrong, and they awaken to find themselves stuck in a hellish environment covered in thorns and filled with creatures. King of Thorns follows these characters as they try to survive in this unforgiven world, all the while steadily uncovering a few secrets that turn the whole operation on its head.

29 City Hunter Movies

MyAnimeList: 7.34 (Bay City Wars)

City Hunter is a manga and anime classic that was particularly popular during the late ’80s and early ’90s. While somewhat forgotten in this day and age, the anime holds up pretty well all things considered. Crunchyroll has the full series, including every movie; combined, City Hunter should be able to keep someone entertained for a few weeks.

Ryo Saeba is a private detective with an accurate shot and a tendency to fall for every girl he meets. The movies tell standalone stories, but they also expect the audience to be somewhat familiar with the main roster of characters.

28 Sword Art Online The Movie -Ordinal Scale-

MyAnimeList: 7.56

Sword Art Online needs no introduction, and most people familiar with anime likely already have an opinion regarding the isekai franchise. Ordinal Scale is not going to alter that perspective; the movie will impress fans but will have little impact on those who are not on board with Kirito’s high jinks. That said, the feature has one of the more fascinating storylines in the series.

Set after season 2, the world has become enamored by Augmented Reality, specifically a piece of hardware called Augma. Ordinal Scale is a game that uses this technology, and Asuna happens to be great at it. Meanwhile, Kirito has largely remained focused on VR. The film ties its story to the original SAO VR game through the introduction of Eiji, the film’s main antagonist, and it is quite interesting.

Sword Art Online the Movie: Progressive – Aria of a Starless Night is also on Crunchyroll.

MyAnimeList: 7.51

Due to the existence of Brotherhood, 2003’s Fullmetal Alchemist tends to be overlooked or simply ignored. While the later show is arguably the superior of the two, the original series is nevertheless a fascinating and frequently fantastic alternate take on Hiromu Arakawa’s manga.

The anime’s movie sequel, Conqueror of Shamballa, is also far superior to Brotherhood‘s The Sacred Star of Milos; if nothing else, the former completes its timeline’s narrative rather than serving as a side quest that can be readily skipped. Conqueror of Shamballa retains the show’s conclusive bittersweet tone, telling a story that allows the characters’ newly-discovered normal to be explored and challenged.

26 Initial D Third Stage

MyAnimeList: 7.90

Crunchyroll has every Initial D season (and movie) up to Fourth Stage, granting subscribers roughly 70 episodes worth of content. Unquestionably the most popular racing anime of all time, Initial D has its formula down pat as most arcs simply pit Takumi Fujiwara against a new street racer. While this can get repetitive, the franchise’s great racing sequences tend to paper over the cracks.

Third Stage simply converts this structure into a feature, all the while setting up the subsequent season. As such, the movie does not offer much in the way of originality and comes across as a glorified arc of the show with slightly improved animation. However, Initial D is great at what it does, and Third Stage is no exception.

25 The Stranger By The Shore

MyAnimeList: 7.86

One day, Mio Chibana and Shun Hashimoto meet on a beach, and they have instant chemistry. While they are anxious around each other at first, they quickly find themselves striking a natural rapport that helps both of them grow as people. However, their meeting is short-lived, and it takes another three years for them to meet up. The Stranger by the Shore primarily focuses on their secondary meeting as both characters come to accept their genuine love for each other, a journey that requires them to face past trauma that left them lonely and insecure.

Clocking in at less than an hour, this 2020 movie accomplishes a lot in its short runtime without feeling rushed. Ultimately, this boys love anime is a character study that thoroughly explores Mio and Shun as both individuals and partners. The film also has gorgeous animation and plenty of beautiful naturalistic environments.

24 Bungo Stray Dogs: Dead Apple

MyAnimeList: 7.92

Bungo Stray Dogs is currently airing its fourth season, which has more than delivered in terms of quality. Luckily for anime fans, Crunchyroll has the entire series in its library, including 2018’s Dead Apple movie. Following the second season, the film finds the Armed Detective Agency facing a massive threat as a fog descends on Yokohama that causes abilities to take physical form. Naturally, this spreads chaos across the city, and things become even more complicated when Dazai seems to join forces with the people behind the act.

Dead Apple has splendid action and good animation, which is to be expected of a Bones production. However, the movie’s greatest strength is its character development, particularly concerning Atsushi. The story forces the latter to confront his past in a more direct way than ever before, and the ensuing growth greatly enhances his character.

23 Robot Carnival

MyAnimeList: 7.24

A celebration of ’80s anime and its future, Robot Carnival is an anthology movie consisting of nine shorts, each directed by an up-and-coming voice. The segments are connected through the common theme of “robot,” but similarities start and end there as each story sets out to do its own thing. This goes beyond just the narratives since Robot Carnival also highlights different animation styles, most of which still look impressive all these decades later.

More importantly, pretty much all the shorts are memorable in their own ways, be it Deprive‘s thrilling action or Chicken Man and Red Neck‘s nightmare fuel. A technical showcase, Robot Carnival is a gem and one of the best anime movies on Crunchyroll.

22 Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade

MyAnimeList: 7.78

Written by Mamoru Oshii and directed by Hiroyuki Okiura, Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade is visually stunning, and it nowadays serves as a demonstration of cel-shaded animation’s timelessness. Narratively, the film takes place during the 1950s and envisions an alternate reality where Germany won World War 2 and is now occupying Japan. To keep the public in line, the regime utilizes a terrifying Panzer corps that largely follow instructions without question, regardless of how vile they are. However, one day, a soldier (Kazuki Fuse) defies a kill order.

Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade moves at a measured pace, prioritizing atmosphere and character moments over intense action. Consequently, the film can feel like a long sit at times, particularly during its second act. Nevertheless, there is still a lot to love and appreciate here.

21 Code Geass: Lelouch Of The Re;surrection

MyAnimeList: 7.91

Even though season 2 has grown slightly divisive over the years, Code Geass‘ original conclusion is largely considered to be a triumph, if not downright one of the best endings in anime history. Consequently, Code Geass Lelouch of the Re;surrection retconning the story’s final beat was risky, although the movie wisely opted to present itself as an alternate reality rather than a genuine continuation. As such, Re;surrection is not a must-watch for fans of the series since nothing that happens means anything; that said, the experience is still enjoyable.

C.C. revives Lelouch out of love, a process that dominates most of the film’s first half. As the story moves on, the focus shifts to a conflict with the Kingdom of Zilkhstan, specifically its queen. Neither plot threads are especially complex or nuanced, but they lead to a few memorable action sequences and some touching moments between Lelouch and C.C.

20 Black Jack: The Movie

MyAnimeList: 7.32

Osamu Tezuka’s classic Black Jack manga has been adapted into live-action films, anime series, OVAs, and a couple of animated features. Aside from the original manga, 1996’s Black Jack: The Movie is probably the best starting point for newcomers to the franchise, although the 2004 series is also strong.

Relatively self-contained, the film does a good job of establishing the eponymous doctor’s personality and motives, while also delivering an engaging story that mixes medical jargon with a touch of humanity. Regardless of whether someone is already familiar with Tezuka’s property or is experiencing Black Jack for the first time, they are likely to have fun with this movie.

19 The Boy And The Beast

MyAnimeList: 8.24

All of Mamoru Hosoda’s movies are, at the bare minimum, watchable, and the director’s best projects are masterpieces. While falling short of the latter category, The Boy and the Beast regularly flirts with greatness, even if it suffers from some pacing issues. Finding himself alone, the young Ren follows a monster, Kumatetsu, into the Beast Kingdom, where he eventually becomes the latter’s pupil. Despite constantly fighting and seemingly hating each other, the two wind up living together for a number of years, steadily intensifying their bond in the process. Eventually, Ren returns to the human world and starts to form a few connections, and things get complicated from here.

Unsurprisingly, The Boy and the Beast‘s animation is brilliant and identifiable. The story is at its strongest when focusing on Ren and Kumatetsu’s relationship, which unfortunately takes a backseat during the movie’s second half. Still, the film’s high points are very high.

18 Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz

MyAnimeList: 7.78

Another classic ’90s anime film, Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz continues the After Colony plotline and acts as a sequel to the first Mobile Suit Gundam Wing movie. Originally released as a three-part series in 1997, it was compiled into a feature-length film and released in 1998.

Set after the war between Earth and its space colonies, the film follows a new threat as the unsteady peace is threatened by new foes hungry for power. The giant robot fights are simply incredible and make this film worth the watch.

17 Dragon Ball Super: Broly

MyAnimeList: 8.17

Crunchyroll serves Dragon Ball fans well as the streaming service has nearly the full franchise, and that includes 16 movies that used to be fairly difficult to get a hold of. The classic Dragon Ball movies are glorified specials rather than full-blown features, but releases like Cooler’s Revenge and Fusion Reborn are definitely worth a watch. In the 2010s, Dragon Ball made a comeback in the form of Battle of Gods, which is not on Crunchyroll. However, all three of its movie sequels are on the platform, and they are generally just as good as their missing predecessor. Out of the four post-return movies, Dragon Ball Super: Broly is comfortably the best and most cinematic. At the time of its debut, the film felt like a genuine event, more so than pretty much any other movie in the series.

As the title suggests, the story focuses on Broly, a powerful Saiyan who is manipulated by his father to seek revenge against Vegeta. The antagonist’s backstory is handled well, and the character is fairly sympathetic while always coming across as a significant threat to the Z Warriors. Dragon Ball lives and dies on the strength of its fight sequences, and Broly hits the mark in this area. Every battle has a unique flavor and is bolstered by great animation.

16 Saga Of Tanya The Evil: The Movie

MyAnimeList: 8.23

A sequel to the 2017 isekai series, Saga of Tanya the Evil: The Movie is a non-stop action-fest that successfully builds on what came before it rather than simply regurgitating the same, safe beats. The movie juggles a few ideas, but the main focus is on Mary Sioux’s mission to take out Tanya.

The movie wisely presents Mary Sioux as a three-dimensional character who has understandable motives for wanting to kill Tanya, which makes their confrontation extremely intense.

15 Fruits Basket -Prelude-

MyAnimeList: 8.42

Based on Natsuki Takaya’s seminal manga, Fruits Basket is undoubtedly one of the greatest romance anime of all time. The 2019 series weaves a tale of hope and love while touching upon themes of depression, isolation, and trauma. The three seasons end on a high note that requires no expansion, to the point the Prelude movie feels more like an encore than a vital new act. That said, it is still Fruits Basket.

After a recap of Kyou and Tohru’s relationship, the movie switches focus to the latter’s parents, chronicling their relationship from beginning to end. Prelude retains the main series’ smart writing and knack for emotional gut punches, although the story’s impact depends on whether a viewer cares enough about Katsuya and Kyouko to get fully invested.

14 Card Captor Sakura Movie 2: The Sealed Card

MyAnimeList: 8.21

Crunchyroll has both of Madhouse’s Cardcaptor Sakura movies, each of which is a must-watch for fans of the iconic magical girl anime. As good as the first feature is, it is completely blown out of the water by its successor. The Sealed Card brings the original anime series to a satisfying and unforgettable conclusion, and it finds Sakura facing off against The Nothing, the last Clow Card.

Similar to the show, the movie blends action, humor, drama, and romance; also like the series, The Sealed Card balances all of these genres effortlessly, crafting an experience that feels complete. Obviously, this movie should only be watched after the series as it by no means attempts to tell a standalone story.

13 The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

MyAnimeList: 8.11

Except for two franchise-based features, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time was Mamoru Hosoda’s coming out party as an anime film director. While perhaps not as ambitious as some of his later projects, the 2006 release has a certain warmth and casualness that makes it endlessly rewatchable. Makoto Konno is a directionless teenager who stumbles into a time-reversal power, which she naturally uses to fool around and fix minor annoyances or mistakes.

Media has beaten time travel to death, but The Girl Who Leapt Through Time presents a refreshingly grounded and mundane take on the concept. Even when a few twists are introduced, the story remains straightforward and character-focused. Makoto is an endearing and relatable lead, and she is supported by a few memorable figures like Chiaki.

12 Given The Movie

MyAnimeList: 8.14

A follow-up to 2019’s brilliant Given series, this one-hour movie shifts the focus away from Mafuyu Satou and Ritsuka Uenoyama toward Haruki Nakayama and Akihiko Kaji. Similar to the show, the feature’s story centers around grief, loss, and the importance of moving on, this time from a failed relationship rather than a death.

Given‘s short length limits its potential, however, the film still makes the most out of every minute it has. Anyone who sits through the series should make a point to watch the movie immediately after as it is mandatory viewing.

11 Jujutsu Kaisen 0

MyAnimeList: 8.46

Jujutsu Kaisen‘s prequel started life as Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical School, a manga that would eventually lead to Gege Akutami’s Jujutsu Kaisen. While set in the same universe, the latter can be appreciated without consuming Jujutsu Kaisen 0; however, fans would be missing out as the movie (and its manga) are arguably just as good, if not better than their sequels.

A high school student, Yuta Okkotsu has to live with the spirit of his friend, Rika Orimoto. One day, the protagonist meets Satoru Gojo, who offers to enroll him in a school designed to teach people how to control their spirits. This meeting starts Yuta on a path to becoming a sorcerer.