The 10 Most Exciting Anime Movies of All Time, Ranked

Anime and the cinema have a long and storied history. Over the years, numerous anime films have made their way to the big screen, spanning the whole spectrum of genres, from emotional dramas to wacky comedies.

However, in the eyes of many anime fans, the big screen is made for exciting, action-focused anime, as the bigger screens and budgets of the cinema allow animation teams to go all out and bring their wildest dreams to life in a way that shakes the audience to their core. But what films should thrill-seeking anime fans check out when they want a shot of adrenaline?

Patlabor 2: The Movie Is an Excellent Police Mecha

Headgear’s Patlabor franchise has jumped between numerous media during its long and storied history. However, in the eyes of many fans, the franchise’s second theatrical outing, Patlabor 2: The Movie, remains the franchise’s best moment. Released in 1993 and animated by Production I.G., Patlabor 2: The Movie begins with a mysterious terrorist group causing chaos around Japan, forcing the Patlabor team to reunite and take them down before they can complete their plan.

Patlabor 2: The Movie retains all the elements that made the original Patlabor so beloved, while upping the intensity to create something that feels markedly different from the TV series. Thus, the film features the mechs and mech-based action that fans have come to expect from Patlabor. But it pairs them with an intense political thriller plot that is sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

One Piece Film: Z Puts Luffy in an Epic Battle

Over its long and storied history, the One Piece franchise has spawned many legendary action sequences. This is doubly true for the franchise’s movie offerings, which, due to their increased budget and runtime, can do things that wouldn’t be possible in the weekly series. And no film epitomizes this more than 2012’s One Piece Film: Z.

This film sees Luffy and the Straw Hats clash with Z, a former Marine admiral who wants to use the Dyna Stones to cause a cataclysm. Not only does this movie feature a thrilling storyline with numerous unexpected twists and turns, but it also includes some epic fight sequences. This means that all viewers, even if they’re not One Piece fans, will have a thrilling time.

Dragon Ball Super: Broly Modernizes the Dragon Ball Formula

The Dragon Ball franchise has jumped into cinemas numerous times. However, in the eyes of many fans, the best Dragon Ball film is 2018’s Dragon Ball Super: Broly. This film had a lot of pre-release hype because it introduced a new version of the fan-favorite (but non-canon) character Broly to the main Dragon Ball timeline.

While the film has many memorable moments, it is the last third that sticks in fans’ memories. This is because the last few scenes are taken up by an extended fight sequence that pits Goku and Vegeta against Broly. This fight makes full use of modern animation techniques and the movie’s high budget, as not only is the fight animation supremely smooth, but it also features many great visual flourishes, like Goku and Broly smashing through reality and fighting in a surreal otherworld for several minutes.

Jujutsu Kaisen 0: The Movie Brings Curse-Based Action

Jujutsu Kaisen is often considered the figurehead of the modern dark shōnen anime wave, so it was only a matter of time before it made the jump to theaters. Released in 2021 and animated by MAPPA, the film adapts Gege Akutami’s Jujutsu Kaisen 0 manga, which acts as a prologue to the main Jujutsu Kaisen series. The movie follows Yuuta Okkotsu as he gets recruited to join Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School, a move that forces him to quickly adapt to a world he didn’t know existed.

However, Yuuta soon finds that this world isn’t as stable as it first looks, throwing him into the middle of an epic battle for survival. The Jujutsu Kaisen franchise frequently receives praise for its action sequences, so it’s only natural that its big-screen outing would feature some memorable fights. Combine this with an excellent villain and tight pacing, and it’s easy to see why Jujutsu Kaisen 0 quickly became a smash hit at the box office.

The First Slam Dunk Brings the Rush of the Playoffs to the Big Screen

Released in 2022 and animated by Toei Animation, The First Slam Dunk is based on Takehiko Inoue’s manga series. Continuing the story from the Slam Dunk TV anime, the movie follows Ryota Miyagi and the Shohoku High School basketball team as they prepare for their match against Sannoh Kogyo High School. Naturally, this leads to plenty of intense interpersonal drama as the team members grapple with the immense nature of the challenge ahead of them and their own desire to overcome their limits.

The original Slam Dunk was famous for its detailed animation, which did a great job of capturing the athleticism and physicality of basketball. The First Slam Dunk continues this trend, making every on-court move feel spectacularly intense. Because of this, The First Slam Dunk is guaranteed to get your blood pumping, even if you don’t care about basketball.

Spirited Away Shows Thrills Don’t Need to Be Loud

Released in 2001, Spirited Away was produced by Studio Ghibli and directed by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki. The film follows Chihiro Ogino, a young girl who accidentally falls into the spirit world when her parents opt to stop at a seemingly abandoned theme park while on a cross-country drive. Chihiro is forced into a race against time to find her way to rescue her parents and get home before she becomes trapped forever.

Spirited Away expertly uses the “fish out of water” trope. The film makes the spirit world feel like a real, living place, meaning that the audience spends the entire story on the edge of their seats, unsure what Chihiro will encounter next. Combine this with some well-done action sequences, and Spirited Away is one of the most exciting anime movies ever.

Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Goes All Out

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train is a modern Cinderella story. When the film arrived in theaters in 2020, it quickly rose to the top of the box office charts, cementing itself as one of the biggest foreign film openings in recent memory. Based on Koyoharu Gotouge’s manga series, the film follows Tanjiro and Nezuko as they board the titular train to track down and kill a demon. However, this task quickly becomes more complex than either of them imagined.

Demon Slayer’s flight sequences are legendary, and Mugen Train didn’t slack off in this regard. The movie’s various battle scenes are epic and use the increased resolution of the movie format to its full effect, wonderfully capturing the sheer power of the various Breathing Styles the characters use. Combine this with a roller coaster of a plot, and it’s easy to see why Demon Slayer has become so beloved.

Princess Mononoke Is an Environmental Fable With Teeth

Released in 1997 and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, Princess Mononoke is one of Studio Ghibli’s most beloved films. The film follows Ashitaka, a prince who is exiled from his village after a deadly curse infects his arm. This throws Ashitaka into an epic adventure that will teach him the importance of maintaining the balance of nature.

However, viewers who come into Princess Mononoke after only seeing cozy Ghibli memes will likely be shocked, as the film is very intense. Not only does the film have a complex story with many moving parts, but it doesn’t shy away from violence, something which leads to many harrowing moments. Combine this with several scenes that veer into outright horror territory, and it’s easy to see why Princess Mononoke sticks in viewers’ memories long after the credits roll.

Ghost in the Shell Is a Modern Classic Anime

Based on Masamune Shirow’s manga, Ghost in the Shell was animated by Production I.G. The story is set in a future where cybernetic technology has become commonplace. However, this does lead to numerous problems, as this cybernetic technology can be hacked, allowing unscrupulous people to force people to do things against their will.

Ghost in the Shell is a modern classic for a good reason. Not only does it do a fantastic job of making its cybernetics-infused world feel real and lived in, but it also has a thrilling storyline that will keep viewers guessing right up to the final scene. Because of this, it is one of the most mesmerizing films ever made.

Akira Is a Legendary Cyberpunk Anime

1988’s Akira is often cited as one of the most beloved and influential animated films of all time, for good reason. Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo and animated by Tokyo Movie Shinsha Co., the film loosely adapts Katsuhiro Otomo’s manga. The story follows Shōtarō Kaneda, the leader of a biker gang, whose life gets turned upside down when his friend gains psychic powers after an accident.

The film does a stunning job of bringing the manga’s dystopian and ruined world to life, creating some of the most awe-inspiring landscapes in anime history. Combine this with the numerous (now iconic) action scenes, and it’s easy to see why Akira remains one of the most highly praised anime movies ever created. Akira remains a must-watch movie for excitement-seeking anime fans.