One Piece is a successful franchise in every definition of the word. It's sparked a long-running anime, countless toys, themed soft drinks, retail stores, and even an amusement park in Japan. Given the sustained success of the series, it shouldn't come as any shock that the One Piece franchise produced a slew of movies in addition to the anime series.
It's not enough to just decorate bookshelves and televisions everywhere. As one of the most successful shonen series, One Piece was always destined to grace the big screen. Fortunately for the faithful fandom, One Piece has done this 15 times. While not every movie may have similar financial success, they've all entertained fans in their own way.
Updated April 24th, 2023 by David Giatras: This list has been updated to reflect CBR's current publishing style and to include trailers for all of the One Piece movies.
15 Straw Hat Chase
Runtime: 30 minutes
It's amazing that beloved, hour-long content like Episode of Merry, 3D2Y, or Episode of East Blue are relegated to television specials, whereas One Piece 3D: Straw Hat Chase gets to be listed among One Piece's films. To be fair, the film isn't atrocious. It's just surprising that it was marketed as a film at all given its 30-minute run time.
With distracting visual designs and a superficial story about Monkey D. Luffy losing his hat, Straw Hat Chase ranks as the most skippable of One Piece's films. However, it is one of the few instances of the Grand Line being rendered in 3D animation, so it at least offers some novelty value to fans of the franchise.
14 Chopper's Kingdom On The Island Of Strange Animals
Runtime: 61 minutes
Tony Tony Chopper-specific content in One Piece was never among the most well-received specials in the series, and Chopper's Kingdom on the Island of Strange Animals has really taken the cake as perhaps the worst. To its credit, it's still a fun romp for those just looking for more content — especially fans of the reindeer doctor.
Unfortunately, the story itself never really picks up from Chopper just inadvertently becoming the king of some animals. The story even seemingly forgets about him, as it eventually allows Luffy and the other Straw Hats to take care of the film's actual antagonists.
13 Clockwork Island Adventure
Runtime: 55 minutes
Clockwork Island Adventure is only the second movie in the franchise's history, but it does well to build from its predecessor. With Sanji having just joined the crew, there is an even louder, more exciting dynamic on the Going Merry whose energy is apparent across the film.
After the crew's ship gets stolen, the Straw Hats find themselves working with some eccentric thieves to traverse the mysterious Clockwork Island and battle the mischievous Captain Bear King, who not only seeks power but also Nami's hand in marriage.
12 The Giant Mechanical Soldier Of Karakuri Castle
Runtime: 95 minutes
The seventh film for the franchise, The Giant Mechanical Soldier of Karakuri Castle, is a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, it does tell a full, fun story about Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates' hunt for a legendary treasure, placing them in battle against several mecha-based enemies.
On the other, it doesn't really say much or get the viewer attached to the story in any way. The riddles and search for the treasure are fun, the new characters are quirky, and the film even gives a slight backstory for how Luffy learns Gear Second, but it is a shame that there isn't much emotional gravitas within the movie.
11 Episode Of Chopper: Bloom In The Winter, Miracle Sakura
Runtime: 113 minutes
Episode of Chopper: Bloom in the Winter, Miracle Sakura is not exactly the most inviting of all the films. Its premise is pretty much just a remake of the Drum Island arc while (for some reason) including Franky, Nico Robin, and the Thousand Sunny.
This and the film's other changes do leave a sour taste in the mouths of some viewers, but it still gets major points for the core story behind it. For those that take the film less seriously, the inclusion of Franky and Nico Robin adds a fun spin to the Drum Island story.
10 Episode Of Alabasta: The Desert Princess And The Pirates
Runtime: 90 minutes
While also a story arc remake, Episode of Alabasta: The Desert Princess and the Pirates gains points for being significantly more faithful than Episode of Chopper. As expected from the title, the film follows the Straw Hat Pirates' journey with Princess Nefertari Vivi through the lands of Alabasta.
For essentially just reanimating and heavily editing some of the best scenes from Alabasta, there really isn't much to say about this film. However, for those looking for some nostalgia or trying to get a friend into One Piece without intimidating them, this film would be a good place to look.
9 One Piece: The Movie
Runtime: 51 minutes
One Piece: The Movie speaks to the humble beginnings of the series (there are just four Straw Hats at this point) and is a good choice for fans trying to recapture the series' youthful excitement within the East Blue. After crossing paths with a few thieves and a vendor, the Straw Hats find themselves fighting against the infamous Eldoraggo to find Captain Woonan's grand treasure.
Eldoraggo is one of their greatest foes up until this fight, and the humble vendor traveling with them may know more about Captain Woonan than they were initially thinking. As dated as this film is, it offers plenty of the same nostalgic charm that can be found in the early arcs of the show.
8 The Cursed Holy Sword
Runtime: 95 minutes
The series' fifth film, The Cursed Holy Sword, brings great focus to the Going Merry's resident swordsman, Roronoa Zoro. Telling a tale of hate, betrayal, and curses, there are quite a few turns in this one, as Zoro raises his swords against the crew during his reconnection with a former acquaintance.
The Cursed Holy Sword gets major points for featuring some genuinely interesting scenes of Zoro going against crew. Betrayal isn't a particularly well-explored theme among the Straw Hats, so the film benefits from being able to explore new ground in the series.
7 Dead End Adventure
Runtime: 95 minutes
The fourth film in the One Piece franchise, Dead End Adventure, attaches itself to the root of the series — adventure. In the film, the Straw Hats enter a pirate race, dashing excitedly against rough waters as they clash with a variety of foes and eccentric ships.
In doing so, they come face-to-face with the ex-Marine Gasparde, who plots against the pirates of the race, as well as the bounty hunter trying to capture him. With the most sea-bound setting of any movie or One Piece adventure, the fourth film stands out as an exciting entry.
6 Film: Gold
Runtime: 124 minutes
Film: Gold is very much a part of One Piece's (and even Funimation's) revival and expansion within the West, as it was the first of the series to have a U.S. theatrical release. The film focuses on the Straw Hats' clash with the infamous casino owner, Gild Tesoro, after he's tricked the Straw Hats, among others, into his debt.
The story is the complete One Piece package, featuring adventure, comedy, eccentric villains, epic fights, and tiebacks to some of the series' core major themes. Setting the tone for all One Piece films that would come after it, Film: Gold is a must-watch for long-time fans of the franchise.
5 Stampede
Runtime: 101 minutes
One Piece's fourteenth film, Stampede, was not only a box office success but a major celebration for One Piece fans everywhere. The 20th Anniversary piece really sets the stage, as it tries to not only cram in a bunch of historical Straw Hat references but an absolute encyclopedia's worth of cameos.
Old friends meet new foes, and Stampede throws fast-paced action and adventure at the viewer with fervent regularity. With great action, wonderful cameos, and a surprisingly well-paced and tight plot structure, Stampede is certainly one of the series' best movies.
4 Baron Omatsuri And The Secret Island
Runtime: 88 minutes
For better or worse, One Piece's sixth movie really stands out to audiences for its dark themes. Directed by Mamoru Hosoda (Mirai, Wolf Children), Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island is one of the acclaimed filmmaker's earliest works and a fine example of his auteur style. The film plays out like a horror movie, as the Straw Hats come to the mysterious island to accept its ruler's challenge.
Baron Omatsuir and the Secret Island stands out as a great film because of its willingness to challenge the themes of friendship and loyalty within One Piece, subsequently making the viewer appreciate them even more. It's also filled with Hosoda's unique animation and an absolutely mesmerizing final sequence that will have viewers on the edge of their seats.
3 Film: Red
Runtime: 115 minutes
Film: Red is one of the biggest anime film releases of 2022, due in no small part to its ability to capitalize upon the mythos of One Piece's most mysterious hero — Red-Haired Shanks. Given the recent uptick of animation quality in the show's Wano Country arc, Film: Red had high expectations. Luckily, for fans, it more than follows through on all its promise.
The 15th film in the One Piece franchise capitalizes upon its cinematic medium, using the powers of music and animation to tell a fantastic story about Shanks' daughter, Uta. With the film's release in North American theaters set for November 2022, excitement for this title is at an all-time high.
2 Strong World
Runtime: 113 minutes
One Piece's tenth film, Strong World, is one of the most adventurous of the franchise. The "Golden Lion" Shiki has begun a rampage on the world's seas as he brings his floating island and its ravenous wildlife across the waters to wreak havoc on the East Blue.
Wanting to stop him from destroying the homes of most of the crew, the Straw Hats invade the island, exploring its beautiful and harsh landscape and learning of the island's unique history. Shiki was once upon rivals with Gol D. Roger, providing the perfect setting for a semi-canon film experience. Strong World is a wonderful mix of genuine world-building, emotional stakes, and the eccentric flavor of style and action that only the Straw Hats can bring.
1 Film: Z
Runtime: 107 minutes
Still regarded by many to this day as the best film in One Piece history, Film: Z is a wonderful culmination of everything that the franchise brings to the table. It transports the viewer to an incredibly realized and sentimental villain, Z, as he tries to bring the world of pirates to an end, even if that means burning the world for everyone.
Luffy and the Straw Hats come to odds with a former Marine Admiral who sincerely clashes with the values of pirates and adventure. This allows Film: Z to explore the grey area of the series, generating interesting dialogue and action for a slew of different characters. The film also features great tie-backs and cameos, costume changes galore, and an interesting way of stringing the themes of youth and growth through the story's action. If there was ever a One Piece movie to recommend new and old fans alike, it would be Film: Z.