Short answers, pulled from the story.
Pokémon: The First Movie was first released in Japan on the 18th of July 1998, distributed theatrically by Toho. The English-language North American release followed on the 10th of November 1999 through Warner Bros. Pictures, with a premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on the 6th of November.
The film's worldwide box office total was $172,744,662, with $85.7 million earned in North America and $77.9 million in other territories. Adjusted for inflation, the United States total is estimated at $190.7 million as of September 2025.
Critics and retrospective reviewers targeted the removal of existential themes present in the original Japanese version, including the prologue detailing Mewtwo's origin. Producer Norman J. Grossfeld chose to make Mewtwo a clearly evil villain rather than a morally ambiguous one, and an anti-violence message was added that many felt contradicted the franchise's battle-centered concept. The original Japanese production crew, including executive producer Masakazu Kubo, described Warner Bros.' proposed changes as "a hassle".
On the 28th of December 1999, Burger King issued a recall of Poké Ball toys distributed as part of its Pokémon: The First Movie promotion. A 13-month-old child named Kira Murphy died on the 11th of December 1999 after half of the toy became lodged over her mouth and nose. A second child in Kansas survived a similar incident twelve days later, and another child suffocated from the toy nearly a month after the recall was issued.
The soundtrack, Pokémon: The First Movie - Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture, was released by Atlantic Records on the 9th of November 1999. The Recording Industry Association of America certified it double platinum on the 11th of January 2000, representing sales of 2,000,000 copies.
The film serves as the primary influence on Mewtwo's portrayal in the Super Smash Bros. series. When Mewtwo debuted in Super Smash Bros. Melee, voice actor Masachika Ichimura reprised his role from the film. The character's downloadable content return in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U was promoted with the tagline "Mewtwo Strikes Back!", a direct reference to the film's subtitle.