The 2020s have seen some of the biggest worldwide anime movie releases ever, with films like Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle, The First Slam Dunk, Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc, and more completely killing it at the box office while receiving praise from critics and fans alike.
While the 2020s have been a great decade for anime films so far, you can't overlook how great the 2010s were, either. It might not have had the same record-breaking hits, but the 2010s did have some amazing shonen anime movies, with at least a handful of strong titles coming out each year. Here's a look at the best shonen anime movies that came out for each year of the 2010s.
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2010: Trigun: Badlands Rumble
It's not too often that you see an anime movie get released years after the series has finished airing. Released over a decade after the final episode of the original Trigun anime aired, Trigun: Badlands Rumble tells a movie-original story set between episodes 10 and 12 of the anime.
Despite being nearly two decades old, Badlands Rumble still looks great. The animation is solid, with Madhouse doing a great job of making the movie feel as similar to the '98 series as possible, while also updating the style to feel a little more modern. The action sequences are great, and for a movie-original narrative, the story is really fun and completely accessible to fans who haven't seen the original series beforehand. Though it's probably a good idea to check that out first.
2011: Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos
The second Fullmetal Alchemist movie, The Sacred Star of Milos is part of the Brotherhood continuity rather than that of the original series, though it's not considered canon. Like 2005's Conqueror of Shamballa, The Sacred Star of Milos tells a movie-original story, with it featuring the Elric brothers caught up in the conflict of yet another imperialistic country, this time the mysterious Creta.
It might not compare to Brotherhood, but The Sacred Star of Milos' story is still solid, with the new characters introduced being a highlight of the film. The acting sequences are as good as you'd expect them to be, and both the English and Japanese voice acting are exceptional.
2012: Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie
Plenty of Naruto movies have come out over the years, each with its strengths and weaknesses. Among them all, Road to Ninja is considered to be one of, if not the best. The movie stands out due to it giving fans a chance to experience an alternate reality where Naruto's parents didn't die, Sakura's parents died defending the village, and most major characters are completely different versions of themselves.
As you'd expect with that set-up, Road to Ninja is an incredibly emotional ride, and the alternate reality presented is both an interesting switch from the series norm and a tragic look at what could have been. We've had some solid Naruto movies, but Road to Ninja is a unique ride.
2013: Gintama: The Movie: The Final Chapter: Be Forever Yorozuya
Fans love Ginatama for its absurd, never-ending slapstick comedy and fun character dynamics. It's one of the best comedy anime out there, and despite having been around for so long, the series never lost steam. But one thing that people unfamiliar with the series often overlook is how well it blends in more series moments alongside the ridiculous comedy it's widely known for.
Gintama: The Movie: The Final Chapter: Be Forever Yorozuya does a great job of showing off the series' more serious side, with an amazing narrative and incredible character growth on full display. Aside from the great storytelling, Be Forever Yorozuya has some of the best action sequences in the franchise to go alongside some fun comedic moments, giving fans the very best the series has to offer.
2014: Detective Conan: Dimensional Sniper
There are currently 28 Detective Conan movies, with 2025's Detective Conan: One-eyed Flashback the latest of the bunch. The 29th movie, Fallen Angel of the Highway, is set to release in April, continuing what's been an impressive run for the franchise. Dimensional Sniper is a fun, action-packed thriller that is perfect for long-time fans of the series.
The movie follows Conan as he tries to track down an incredibly skilled sniper who is terrorizing Tokyo. This isn't the best entry point to the series, but those familiar with Detective Conan will appreciate the interesting mystery alongside solid animation and action sequences.
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2015: Haikyu!! The Movie: The End and the Beginning
One of the great modern sports manga, Haikyu!! Is beloved by anime fans worldwide. Both the manga and anime are incredibly popular, and even though it's a compilation film, The End and the Beginning is a solid retelling that covers the first half of season 1 of the anime, having been released leading up to the premiere of season 2.
The End and the Beginning is a great way to experience the early parts of the anime for those wanting a more condensed experience. Unlike a lot of compilation films, The End and the Beginning has pretty solid pacing that doesn't sacrifice much to tell the same story the first 13 episodes cover in the anime.
2016: A Silent Voice
Based on the manga by Yoshitoki Oima, A Silent Voice is an emotional rollercoaster. The series follows Shoya Ishida, who, after bullying a young deaf transfer student named Shoko Nishimiya in elementary school, sets out to reconcile with her and right his wrongs years later when the two are in high school.
The movie hits most of the main beats of the manga, condensing the 62-chapter story down to just over 2 hours. Though a lot is cut from the manga to save time, the movie focuses heavily on the dynamic between Shoya and Shoko, keeping with the spirit of the source material and delivering an incredibly sincere story about forgiveness and personal growth.
2017: Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic
The Black Butler manga is still going strong, with the series coming up on its 20th anniversary later this year. A good portion of the manga has been adapted, with five seasons, an OVA, and 2017s Book of the Atlantic all covering different arcs.
Book of the Atlantic is the only Black Butler anime movie so far, and it set the bar pretty high for any potential future installments. An adaptation of the manga's Luxury Liner arc, Book of the Atlantic sees Ciel and Sebastian investigate a mysterious society rumored to experiment on the dead while on a luxury cruise ship called the Campania. It has some great fight scenes, but the movie really shines when exploring the dynamic between Sebastian and Ciel.
2018: Dragon Ball Super: Broly
Since Battle of Gods, Dragon Ball has been on a solid run with its movie releases. Broly had a lot of hype going into it for one big reason: the series was finally making one of the most popular movie-only characters canon. Fans were expecting a lot from Broly's official reintroduction, and it's safe to say that the movie delivered.
Not only was Broly a much more fleshed-out character than his initial incarnation was, but the movie itself was full of great action, with Goku and Vegeta showing off their skills in trying to match Broly's untapped potential. Some of the 3D sequences were a little jarring, but the fighting sequences were beautifully animated for the most part.
2019: One Piece: Stampede
One Piece has plenty of different films to accompany the ongoing anime adaptation. Some are definitely better than others, and one that stands out above the rest is Stampede.
Stampede celebrates the franchise's 20th anniversary with an incredible ensemble cast of some of the series' most well-known characters and amazing fight scenes that make it a lot of fun for fans. The movie is pure fun and fan service, serving as a great addition to the series despite not being canon.