Eiichiro Oda’sOne Pieceis an institution by this point. Debuting in 1997, the shonen manga has produced over 100 volumes and 1100 chapters, and there are still more adventures to come.Luffy and the Straw Hatssit comfortably among the most iconic characters in modern fiction, stemming from the franchise’s success in a variety of mediums.
The manga is the most decorated version, but the anime has played just as pivotal of a role in turningOne Pieceinto an international phenomenon. Toei’s adaptation has been going strong for roughly 25 years, producing more than 1100 episodes in the process. While the pacing can be too slow at times, particularly in recent arcs, the anime is nevertheless a gripping epic that balances action, drama, and humor well.
As with most successful shonen anime,One Piecemovies are hardly in short supply. Not counting specials, 15 features have been released, most of which tell standalone stories that are not based on the manga. While Oda has gradually become more involved, these projects are generally not canon and can be easily skipped. However, thebestOne Piecemoviesdistill the main story’s core appeal into a digestible two hours, essentially condensing arcs into a film format. When done right, they represent an ideal way to spend more time with the Straw Hats.
As they are typically feature-length, TV specials likeEpisode of Namiwill be included.
Updated on June 03, 2025 by Mark Sammut:As no new One Piece movies or specials have been released, sections have been added to every entry to explain when these stories should be watched in the timeline. While waiting for the series to make its big return in April 2025, this is the perfect time to check out some films.
Every One Piece Movie & TV Special
While the manga and anime’s conclusions are finally starting to come into view, one has to assume the franchise will produce another movie or special before the Straw Hats officially sail into the sunset. Let’s highlight everyOne Piecemovie.
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island
2005
2006
The Desert Princess and the Pirates: Adventures in Alabasta
2007
Episode Of Chopper Plus: Bloom In The Winter, Miracle Sakura
Episode of Chopper Plus - Fuyu ni Saku, Kiseki no Sakura
2008
2009
2011
Z
2012
Episode of Nami: Tears of a Navigator and the Bonds of Friends
Episode of Nami - Koukaishi no Namida to Nakama no Kizuna
2013
3D2Y: Ace no shi wo Koete! Luffy Nakama Tono Chikai
2014
Episode of Sabo: Bond of Three Brothers - A Miraculous Reunion and an Inherited Will
Episode of Sabo: 3-Kyoudai no Kizuna Kiseki no Saikai to Uketsugareru Ishi
2015
2016
Gold
Episode of East Blue: Luffy and His Four Crewmates' Great Adventure
Episode of East Blue - Luffy to 4-nin no Nakama no Daibouken
2017
2018
2019
2022
6.92
Where to Stream
N/A
DescribingOne Piece 3D: Straw Hat Chaseas a feature is generous, as the project clocks in at only 30 minutes. As implied by its title, this film’s selling point is its animation, asStraw Hat Chasegives a CGI makeover toOne Piece’s iconic characters and world. The story, which revolves around Luffy’s misplaced straw hat, is merely a means to showcase the visuals through a couple of memorable fight scenes.
Despite looking like a cutscene from a game,Straw Hat Chaseis a surprisingly entertaining watch and it also doesn’t overstay its welcome. However, there is not all that much to get excited about here other than the change in animation, and the 3D visuals have not necessarily aged that well either. Still, this project deserves recognition for trying something new, even if the final experience is mostly just forgettable.
When To Watch Straw Hat Chase
Straw Hat Chaseis the definition of filler that does not pay that much attention to the timeline; that said, it fits in well enough after Thriller Bark.
6.85
It says a lot about the quality ofOne Piecemoviesthat even the lowest-rated of the bunch,Chopper’s Kingdom on the Island of Strange Animals, is perfectly watchable. After arriving at a peculiar island filled with talkative animals, Chopper ends up separated from the Straw Hats. The doctor also becomes the island’s king.
Chopper’s Kingdom on the Island of Strange Animalsearns points for pushing the Straw Hats' resident reindeer to the forefront, a rare practice. The story takes a bit too long to build up any significant momentum, although things pick up somewhat in the final act. Still, this is a largely dull affair that is only worth noting because it pushesChopper into the limelight, something that does not happen as often as it should.
As great as he is, Chopper has not had the best of luck as a featured player, and the reindeer tends to work better when left in a supporting role.
When To Watch Chopper’s Kingdom On The Island Of Strange Animals
Like most of these movies,Chopper’s Kingdom On The Island of Strange Animals’s non-canon nature means it is not meant to fit into the timeline at any specific point. Therefore, it can just be watched after Drum Island.
IMDb Score: 7.2
Japanese Title
One Piece: Episode of East Blue - Luffy to 4-nin no Nakama no Daibouken
7.87
Crunchyroll
Released in 2017,Episode of East Bluecovers the formation of the Straw Hats and Luffy’s recruitment of Zoro, Usopp, Nami, and Sanji. Essentially, this is five segments squashed into a single special, making for a respectable cliff notes version ofOne Piece’s earliest arcs. As these stories are actually quite short in the manga and anime,Episode of East Bluedoes not feel all that necessary.
When To Watch Episode Of East Blue
Episode of East Bluecan be generally watched at any point after the East Blue Saga is complete, but it might be best left for when a viewer wants a change of pace after the time skip.
7.18
Most of the recentOne Piecefilmsprioritize action above anything else, often overlooking the main series' penchant for adventure and mystery.The Giant Mechanical Soldier of Karakuri Castle allows the Straw Hatsto use their brains along with their fists, as the heroes end up on a treasure hunt sparked by a woman found in a chest.
Characters likeRobin and Chopperbenefit greatly from the movie’s more laid-back and adventurous tone, while the crew’s heavy hitters still get a few opportunities to showcase their fighting skills. That said, like most of the franchise’s weaker flicks,The Giant Mechanical Soldier of Karakuri Castlecomes across as a condensed filler arc, just with slightly superior animation than Toei’s series. While not the most memorable story ever, basicOne Pieceis still usually entertaining, and this movie gets the job done.
When To Watch The Giant Mechanical Soldier of Karakuri Castle
This movie should be watched before Water 7, and it even provides some context for a power-up Luffy introduces during Enies Lobby.
7.09
One Piece’s first movie does not distinguish itself enough from the series. While its animation is somewhat better in places and the story moves at a quicker pace than the show, the 2000 film very much feels like a filler storyline with no weight to it.
As it came out so early in the franchise’s run,One Piece: The Moviehas a certain simplicity that is quaint and charming. The film is like a time capsule to an extent, one that captures the excitement and hopeful energy of the anime’s early arcs. In this point in the story, the crew consisted of only Luffy, Zoro, Nami, and Usopp, and the quartet bounce off each other pretty well.
When To Watch One Piece: The Movie
Straw Hats: Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp
As Usopp is part of the crew but Sanji is not,One Piece: The Movieis best watched after the Syrup Village Arc that introduces the former and adds him to the Straw Hats.
7.12
A person fromZoro’s pastcauses a rift to form between the swordsman and his fellow crew members.The Curse of the Sacred Swordramps up the violence and dread as it tells a story that challenges Zoro’s allegiances. It also features a genuine fight between Zoro and Sanji, as their duels are usually comedic.
Considering the Straw Hats' first mate’s loyalty is never questioned in the main series, Zoro acts somewhat out of character inThe Curse of the Sacred Sword. Permitting someone can look past that, this entry’s action is generally better than most of the sequences in the early movies, setting it above its contemporaries. Beyond that, the story tries to add emotional weight by shining a light on Zoro’s fairly unknown past, all the while testing his bond with the Straw Hats. While this sounds good on paper, the movie’s non-canon nature dulls its blade.
When To Watch The Curse Of The Sacred Sword
Even more so than some of the otherOne Piecemovies,The Curse of the Sacred Swordis hard to pin down in terms of a supposed timeline. While post-Skypiea would be fine, this might be worth watching right afterDead End Adventure.
7.10
One Piece’s movies got off to a relatively slow start. As none of the first three films reach the hour mark, they come across more like specials than full features. Out of the franchise’s earliest attempts,Clockwork Island Adventurestands out as being better than average, primarily due to an interesting premise revolving around the theft of the Straw Hats' ship.
Due to its short length,Clockwork Island Adventuremoves at a blistering pace as it throws conspiracies, a kidnapping, and a wedding into the mix. There is no denying that the story screams “non-canon,” but as far as filler adventures go, it is not boring.
When To Watch Clockwork Island Adventure
There is no exact point whereClockwork Island Adventurefits snugly into the anime’s timeline, but it should be watched after Arlong Park and before the start of the Alabasta saga (so, before the Laboon Arc, but it can be watched before the Warship Island Arc too).
The Sky Island Saga lasts for an overwhelming 52 episodes, with theSkypeia Arcmaking up the majority of it. While it is by no means bad, the anime adaptation drags in places and is one of the earliest examples of the show’s pacing venturing into too-slow territory.
Episode of Skypeia, naturally, leaves a lot out, but it does cover the basics well enough to be worth recommending for fans who want to revisit this saga without sitting through the entire thing. However, newcomers should read the manga or watch the full anime arc rather than this truncated version. It just leaves way too much out to stand on its own, and mostly comes across like a recap episode.
When To Watch Episode of Skypeia
This is purely a recap of Skypeia, so fans can watch it whenever they feel like a refresher.
7.25
Foxy tends to be a polarizing figure; his arcs typically do not add much to the overall story and, in the anime, have a habit of overstaying their welcome. While Foxy can be funny, the character’s humor relies heavily on his obnoxious nature, and he tends to bring out Luffy’s goofiest side. The latter can be entertaining in fits, but it is not always fun to see the Straw Hats going up a joke character.
That said,Adventure of Nebulandiafinds Foxy at his best, with the special doing a decent job of humanizing a figure that mostly acts as a punchline in the main series. Wisely, the storyline opts against using Foxy as the ultimate villain, instead pulling a twist and introducing a new character (Komei) for that role. He proves to be a far more enjoyable antagonist, even if he does not come across as a huge threat to the Straw Hats.
IMDb Score: 6.8
One Piece Movie 8: Episode of Alabasta - Sabaku no Oujo to Kaizoku-tachi
7.31
Netflix
Although a solid film in isolation,The Desert Princess and the Pirates: Adventures in Alabastais perhaps the worst way to experience one of the franchise’s greatest early sagas. This 2007 film condenses an arc that took more than 30 episodes in the series into a brief 90 minutes. That might not be as rushed as some arcs in theOne Piece: Pirate Warriorsgames, but 90 minutes is still a tall order to cover a saga that establishes Vivi, Robin, Ace, and Crocodile.
While the show has often been criticized for its slow pace,The Desert Princess and the Pirates: Adventures in Alabasta simply hastoo much ground to cover to present anything more than a cliff-note version of this storyline. To its credit, the film has pretty good animation, to the point of warranting a watch after someone has either consumed the manga or anime episodes.
When To Watch The Desert Princess And The Pirates: Adventures In Alabasta
This film can be watched whenever since it is, ultimately, a recap of an arc.
