The Yu-Gi-Oh! Movies might not be as recognized or successful as those of other popular anime franchises like Pokémon or Naruto, but they are still a form of nostalgia for many fans, and for those who want to revisit them in the best possible viewing order, there are a few aspects to consider. Although there’s no question that the Yu-Gi-Oh! Movies have their highs and lows, the franchise was instrumental in ushering in the childhood of many kids worldwide and creating one of the most iconic modern childhood games.

Yu-Gi-Oh’s movie universe spanned 17 years in four films, starting with Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie (1999) and closing with Yu-Gi-Oh! The Dark Side of Dimensions (2016); however, the number of seasons and different series makes the franchise timeline difficult to follow. Despite the various contradictions and inconsistencies of some of the films, which make them considered non-canon in the anime and manga, understanding which movie falls where it can help deliver the best possible Yu-Gi-Oh viewing experience.

Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie

Produced by Toei Animation Is the Perfect Short Film for Nostalgic Fans

The first film of the franchise follows an original story focusing on the Red Eyes Black Dragon card and showing a rematch between Yugi and Kaiba, with the latter resembling his original design instead of the green-haired shiny version of Toei Animation's anime. Although it’s a short film, it captures the spirit that made the franchise so popular: how in the Duel Monsters, victory isn’t set for those with stronger cards but for the ones who find a strategy and continue to believe in themselves till the end, as represented in the quote stated at the beginning of the movie:

The Blue Eyes White Dragon will bring victory. Whereas the Red-eyes Black Dragon will bring the potential of victory, but only for those who have the courage to fight.

Unfortunately, the film isn’t as well known among the fans because it was released exclusively in Japan. Even though its high pace makes it difficult to understand the card's effects during the duel, it focuses on the love for the game. Also, the compelling animation of Yugi and Kaiba’s duel, which is heavily inspired by their first dual disk battle during the Duelist Kingdom arc in chapter 100 of the manga, makes the movie perfect for nostalgic fans. Additionally, it also showcases Meteor Black Dragon for the first time, and one of the best transformation sequences of Yugi and Atem.

Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: The Pyramid of Light

Produced by 4 Kids, It’s an Original Story That Manages To Please, but Just the Fans

The Pyramid of Light was the first Yu-Gi-Oh film produced by Gallop, born thanks to 4Kids, who saw an opportunity in the success of the series in America and wanted to emulate other big franchises like Pokémon. Also known as simply Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie, its central theme is the emergence caused by the appearance of the ancient Egyptian god Anubis, who puts the world in danger by trying to get his revenge. However, all of this began with yet another failed attempt by Kaiba Seto to try to defeat Yugi.

Even though the film script is based on a discarded story by Kazuki Takahashi for the manga, he only approved the movie and made the design of the antagonist Anubis, so the movie is considered non-canon due to its inconsistencies with the series. Especially the beginning of the story with the Millennium puzzle. While it received bad reviews from critics, who classified it as a movie that would only understand previous fans and questioned its story, animation quality, and disappointing conclusion in the last duel, Pyramid of Light is still an enjoyable film for fans of the franchise.

Yu-Gi-Oh! 3D: Bonds Beyond Time

Produced by Studio Gallop, the Film Shines Light Into the Universe and Timeline of the Franchise

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the anime, Studio Gallop decided to make a 3D Yu-Gi-Oh! movie that connects the first three generations of the franchise. In this film, they present a new concept of time travel by bringing together Yugi, Jaden, and Yusei to defeat Paradox, a villain who travels in time to change the dystopian future that the earth will eventually fall upon.

The movie is considered canon to the Yu-Gi-Oh anime, since the events of the film are confirmed in Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds, as Paradox is mentioned in episode 146. This proves these 3 series take place in the same universe's timeline instead of parallel universes like Zexal and Arc-V, the latter being the first one to include a multiverse in its narrative. However, even though the villain doesn't have a profound backstory because of the short length of the film, the battle of the three protagonists is a true feast for the eyes, which makes it a must-watch for fans.

Yu-Gi-Oh! The Dark Side of Dimensions

The Dark Side of Dimensions It’s the Perfect Conclusion to Yu-Gi-Oh’s Original Manga.

The Dark Side of Dimensions is the fourth film released, made to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the series and serving as a direct sequel to Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters manga as it was written by Kazuki Takahashi himself. The film not only brings back the Millennium Items and the feud with the evil spirit Yami Bakura, who inhabits the Millennium Ring, showing how he possessed Bakura's body for the first time, but is also about moving on in life and finding closure after the departure of someone important, which is the perfect theme after the conclusion of the original story.

The film focuses on Yugi and Kaiba and how the latter makes desperate efforts to fight Atem again for his pride as a duelist. The movie's antagonist, Aigami, has a well-fleshed-out origin and motivation, and while the events of the story might be a bit over the top, even by the series' exaggerated standards, and didn't give an important role to fan-favorite characters like Joey Wheeler, the film offers surprises and exciting battles. The movie is considered by far the best movie of the franchise by many, since it only elevates the already brilliantly wrapped-up ending of the manga.

Where Do the Yu-Gi-Oh Movies Take Place in the Chronology of the Series?

Yu-Gi-Oh Movies Can Be Watched as Stand-Alone Films, but Only by Fans of the Franchise

For the most part, the Yu-Gi-Oh movies are original stories independent of the series and one another; thus, it’s not necessary to watch them in order. However, they don’t particularly work as stand-alone films, as they need knowledge of the game mechanics to understand them. Also, while it might be sufficient to watch the movies after the series, to experience the full franchise, it's better to watch them after the specific episode where they are placed, which is easy to determine, as is practically the release order, besides the last movie.

For Yu-Gi-Oh! The movie, despite serving as the last installment of the anime by Toei Animation, is set chronologically before the Death-T arc of the series. But due to being a non-canon movie, it can be watched as the conclusion of the adaptation. In the case of Pyramid of Light, it is set between the third and fourth seasons of Duel Monsters, so it can be watched after episode 144 of the series.

Bonds Beyond Time had to be watched after the saga of the Dark Signers of Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds but is specifically placed after episode 84, which also serves as a tenth anniversary special of the anime. In the other two series, the crossover happens after the Battle City Arc in Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Monster, because of the duel disk, and after the end of Yu-Gi-Oh Gx. Finally, it's necessary to watch Dark Side of Dimensions after the ending of Duel Monsters anime, as it follows up Atem and Yugi’s duel that occurred in the last episode.

What Is the Best Way To Watch the Yu-Gi-Oh Movies?

Only Three Yu-Gi-Oh Movies Are Available on Streaming Platforms

Unfortunately, there wasn’t an official release in English of Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie, and as of now, it isn’t available on any streaming platform. However, there are several streaming services where fans can watch the other three movies. While the three films are easy to watch on Prime Video, they are also streaming for free on The Roku Channel and Tubi and available to rent or buy on Google TV.

Additionally, Pluto TV offers the movies Pyramid of Light and Bonds Beyond Time. The Dark Side of Dimensions is available for purchase on Vudu, and the other two can be streamed for free with ads. For collectors fans, the movies can be bought on Amazon as the Blu-ray Steelbook of Yu-Gi-Oh! The movie: Pyramid of Light is now available for pre-order to be released on September 10. There are several options for those who want to see the Yu-Gi-Oh movies, which have already become classics and are worth watching even just for reliving one of the best shōnen anime out there.