When the Bleach anime was still airing, before its re-emergence with the Thousand Year Blood War, several movies were released alongside the show and manga which provided fans with even more content to enjoy. While all five of them are worth a watch for longtime fans of this beloved series, they do vary in quality. Some are more memorable and exciting than others.
For an anime movie to make a lasting impact, it needs to balance its fanservice with new characters and events that give fans a deeper insight into the world, without making too drastic of an impact on the larger story. Some of the Bleach movies managed to pull this off. However, others felt like a massive missed opportunity. It's time to take a closer look at these movies to see which among them stands as the best.
5 Bleach (2018)
No Score Available
2018 was still a few years before The Thousand Year Blood War anime was announced. As such, it was quite a surprise to fans that a live action adaptation of a long-dormant series was set to be released that very year. The film is nowhere near as bad as a lot of anime live-action adaptations. The actors who play Ichigo and Rukia do a fantastic job at replicating the quirky and fun personalities of those beloved characters. However, many fans felt that the film didn't go enough with its story.
There are two major factors that make the movie forgettable: the environments, and the length of the story. The movie never moves out of Karakura Town, which just looks like a modern-day urban Japanese city. This means that a lot of the creative locales like Soul Society and Hueco Mundo don't make an appearance. Meanwhile, the story only goes up to when Rukia is abducted by Byakuya and Renji. Fans of the series know that is before the plot really kicks off. It's still a fun watch, but nothing to write home about.
4 Bleach: The DiamondDust Rebellion (2007)
MyAnimeList User Score: 7.42
DiamondDust Rebellion doesn't focus much on Ichigo. Instead, fan-favorite captain Toshiro Hitsugaya is the protagonist for much of the plot. This isn't to say that Ichigo doesn't show up, but he's noticeably absent for large chunks of the film. This could be considered good or a bad thing depending on who's being asked, but it does at least allow other popular characters to get some much-needed screen time.
Many details throughout the movie give some interesting insight into the world of Bleach. For example, it is revealed that if two people hold the same Zanpakuto in the Soul Society, they must fight to the death to see who is truly worthy of possessing the sword. The fight scenes are also well animated and fun to watch. However, the lackluster villains and bland story make it a little less enjoyable to rewatch compared to some of the other Bleach films.
3 Bleach: Memories Of Nobody (2006)
MyAnimeList User Score: 7.43
The very Bleach movie, Memories of Nobody, is a compelling, exciting, and heartfelt story. The plot centers around a mysterious Soul Reaper known as Senna who is being hunted by The Dark Ones. Senna herself is a lovable character, and it's a lot of fun seeing her and Ichigo interact due to how different their personalities are. There's also quite a lot of lore packed into this film, such as the introduction of "Blanks," who are souls that have become lost between the world of the living and the Soul Society. There's also mention of the "Valley of Screams," which is a space that these lost souls have created for themselves.
The mystery of The Dark Ones keeps the plot engaging from start to end. Although the fight scenes are a little tame for the high standard set by the series, Memories of Nobody is a great film with plenty of memorable moments.
2 Bleach: Fade To Black (2008)
MyAnimeList User Score: 7.50
It was only a matter of time until Rukia Kuchiki got her own movie. Still, no one could have expected just how amazing Fade to Black was going to be. After Rukia is targeted by a pair of scythe-wielding attackers who have infiltrated the Soul Society, she loses all her memories of other people, while all her friends also forget that she exists. This results in a unique, heartfelt story about Rukia discovering who she is, and how much her friends and family mean to her, with the help of Ichigo and his pals.
Out of all the Bleach movies, this one has the most personal angle to its narrative. However, there are still plenty of stylish fighting scenes. One standout is when Ichigo reluctantly decides to take on Dark Rukia. The resulting fight is a spectacle to watch, but it also tugs at the heart strings. The movie might only include a handful of characters, but the its story is still engaging and even heartbreaking at points.
1 Bleach: The Hell Verse (2010)
MyAnimeList User Score: 7.62
There's so much to love about the Bleach Hell Verse movie. It was the first, and currently only, time that fans have seen Kubo's depiction of Hell, which is a huge part of the world. What's more, it also raises the stakes astronomically, which makes it captivating for its entire run-time. The movie starts off with a beautifully animated retelling of Ichigo's fight with Ulquiorra, in which he ended up losing control of his inner Hollow. It then skips forward to the present day, when masked spirits have started summoning the Gates of Hell. These masked spirits, known as Sinners, kidnap Ichigo's little sister Yuzu, and take her to the depths of Hell.
This movie pushes Ichigo to his absolute limit, forcing him to utilize his Hollow powers even though he knows it could end up overpowering him. It's a vivid look into how far Ichigo is willing to go to protect those he loves, even if it comes at the cost of his own well-being and sanity. It's also nice to see a lot of the other characters getting bigger roles, such as Orihime and Renji for example. The film also has some incredible fight scenes, especially when Ichigo turns into his Vasto Lorde form. Pair this with a terrifying villain and memorable soundtrack, and it all comes together. The result is a movie that anime fans, and especially Bleach fans, need to check out.
