Movies like Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001)
The best movies like Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001) are Dragon Ball Z: Broly - Second Coming (1994), BLAME! (2017) and Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack (1988). If Cowboy Bebop: The Movie hooked you with its action and animation, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedEvangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (2009)7.8/10 from 1,065 votes
- NewestPrincess Principal Crown Handler: Chapter 4 (2025)Released 2025
- In JapaneseDragon Ball Z: Broly - Second Coming (1994)Also in Japanese
Dragon Ball Z: Broly - Second Coming (1994)
A Saiyan Space pod crash-lands on Earth out of which a wounded Saiyan crawls: Broly, the Legendary Super Saiyan. The wounded Broly shouts out in frustration and turns into normal form. The place soon freezes, trapping him in it and he falls into a coma.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & action
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBLAME! (2017)
In the distant technological future, civilization has reached its ultimate Net-based form. An "infection" in the past caused the automated systems to spiral out of order, resulting in a multi-leveled city structure that replicates itself infinitely in all directions. Now humanity has lost access to the city's controls, and is hunted down and purged by the defense system known as the Safeguard. In a tiny corner of the city, a little enclave known as the Electro-Fishers is facing eventual extinction, trapped between the threat of the Safeguard and dwindling food supplies. A girl named Zuru goes on a journey to find food for her village, only to inadvertently cause doom when an observation tower senses her and summons a Safeguard pack to eliminate the threat. With her companions dead and all escape routes blocked, the only thing that can save her now is the sudden arrival of Killy the Wanderer, on his quest for the Net Terminal Genes, the key to restoring order to the world.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action & science fiction
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack (1988)
In UC 0093, the Federation has recovered from its defeat and has created a new anti-colonial special forces unit to deal with rebel forces: Londo Bell. Elsewhere in space, Char Aznable reappears out of self-imposed hiding with a declaration that he now commands his own Neo-Zeon movement, and intends to force the emigration of Earth's inhabitants to space by bringing about an apocalypse.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & action
Worth the HypeMovies like thisCode Geass: Akito the Exiled 5: To Beloved Ones (2016)
The Ark Fleet has been destroyed, and a significant number of the enemy's troops have been wiped out due to its crash landing. As the remaining forces of the Holy Order of Michael regroup in order to launch a final assault on Weiswolf Castle, the wZERO unit, along with their new ally Ashley Ashra, stand ready to intercept them. Meanwhile, with his Geass out of control, Shin moves to erase his younger brother's existence once and for all. But Akito, having promised Leila that he will come back alive, refuses to accept such a fate, and the two clash in their final battle.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisCode Geass: Akito the Exiled 3: The Brightness Falls (2015)
After discovering the face of their true enemy, someone who is related to Akito and responsible for the Geass placed upon him, W-0 attempts to return to their base at Castle Weisswolf. However, stranded in Warsaw due to a complication involving their military identification, they are forced to accept the help of local gypsies, allowing the squad to take some time to deepen their bonds. Meanwhile, Britannian advisor Julius Kingsley and his guard Suzaku Kururugi begin working together with the Knights of St. Michael in order to crush the European resistance once and for all, armed with the destructive power of a giant weapon known as the Ark Fleet.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMacross Plus: The Movie (1995)
Three decades after the great war between the humans and the Zentradi, the U.N. government is developing new technologies to use in their transforming fighter aircraft by running tests on the colony planet Eden. Military test pilots and former childhood friends, loose cannon Isamu Alva Dyson and the Zentradi mixed race Guld Goa Bowman, are selected to each pilot a new aircraft (Shinsei Industries' YF-19 & General Galaxy's YF-21) for Project Super Nova, to choose the newest successor to the VF-11 Thunderbolt variable fighter which is currently still in use by the U.N. Spacy military forces. Their own personal grudges end up disrupting the tests, and begin to wreak havoc on the program.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action & animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisCode Geass: Akito the Exiled 4: Memories of Hatred (2015)
While W-0 is away, Leila and the remaining crew at base find themselves surrounded by Britannian Knightmares. Piloting the Vercingetorix, Shin Hyuuga leads the enemy charge, having usurped the position of Grand Master in the Knights of St. Michael. With her core members unavailable, it's up to Leila to protect her comrades, but this may be much tougher than she realizes: a spy lurking among them is finally ready to reveal himself. Left with no choice but to surrender, Leila arranges a meeting with Shin in order to ensure the safety of her squad. But as negotiations begin to fall apart, Akito and an unexpected ally return in the nick of time to turn things around.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBlack Magic M-66 (1987)
A top-secret weapon escapes from military custody ready to destroy its pre-programmed target. The nosy freelance reporter who shows up to cover the story lands herself at the center of something even more dangerous than the international scandal she signed up for.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDirty Pair: Project Eden (1986)
Agerna is a planet rich in Vizorium, the one mineral necessary to space travel. When a series of mysterious attacks on mining operations has world leaders pointing fingers and pinning blame, 3WA naturally send in their top agents to investigate. But are the Lovely Angels up to the task of stopping a mad scientist bent on taking a long dormant alien race to its final evolutionary form? Throw in a thief after a bottle of WWII-vintage wine and it's a safe bet that nobody's safe. It's more chaos, more mayhem, and even more destruction than ever before as the Dirty Pair take on their wildest case yet!
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & science fiction
Worth the HypeMovies like thisCode Geass: Akito the Exiled 2: The Wyvern Divided (2013)
The war between Euro Britannia and the European Union continues. New orders are given to the W-0 Unit. To land in the middle of the enemy territory as a diversion. The pilots of the W-0 Unit consist only of the commanding officer, Leila, the only surviving Japanese from their last battle, Akito, and the three that escaped from the Eleven ghettos and lived in the underworld, Ryou, Yukiya, and Ayano. With everyone holding their respective expectations, the operation moves forward. On the other side in Euro Britannia, Shin, who made his benefactor commit suicide with the mysterious power of “Geass”, is appointed the leader of the Knights of St. Michael. As Shin steadily advances for the sake of his own ambition, he and his subordinates in the Ashura squad are given orders to deploy. The one that lives in order to fight, and the one that fights in order to live.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDragon Ball Z: Lord Slug (1991)
A Super Namekian named Slug comes to invade Earth. But the Z Warriors do their best to stop Slug and his gang.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBatman vs. Two-Face (2017)
Former Gotham City District Attorney Harvey Dent, one side of his face scarred by acid, goes on a crime spree based on the number '2'. All of his actions are decided by the flip of a defaced, two-headed silver dollar.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & action
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDragon Ball Z Side Story: Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans (1993)
Dr. Raichi is one of the only survivors of the Tuffles, a race that once lived on Planet Plant before the coming of the Saiyans. The Saiyans not only massacred the entire Tuffle race, but also stole their technology and conquered the planet, renaming it Planet Vegeta in honor of their king. Raichi managed to escape with a capsule and found refuge on the Dark Planet, a world at the end of the universe. His only wish is to eradicate the last remaining Saiyans.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisAvengers Confidential: Black Widow & Punisher (2014)
When the Punisher takes out a black-market weapons dealer, he stumbles upon a far-reaching terrorist plot devised by a group known as Leviathan.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & science fiction
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisEvangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (2009)
Under constant attack by monstrous creatures called Angels that seek to eradicate humankind, U.N. Special Agency NERV introduces two new EVA pilots to help defend the city of Tokyo-3: the mysterious Makinami Mari Illustrous and the intense Asuka Langley Shikinami. Meanwhile, Gendo Ikari and SEELE proceed with a secret project that involves both Rei and Shinji.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & science fiction
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBraveStarr: The Legend (1988)
Marshall Bravestarr is the lawman of the wild-west planet "New Texas" with help from Thirty-Thirty, his cybernetic talking horse and Deputy Fuzz, his sidekick and Shaman, his mentor. Bravestarr with his special powers fights the outlaw Tex-Hex, the leader of the Carrion Bunch, who are after the mineral Kerium, Bravestarr sets out to set things right and enforce peace and justice on "New Texas".
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & action
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMegazone 23 (1985)
A young biker stumbles onto a prototype motorcycle with a hidden function that has a link to the true nature of his world.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & action
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisAppleseed Alpha (2014)
The Third World War (2099–2126) devastated part of the Earth. Former nations are reforming while new powers emerge, and groups of humans struggle to survive in ruined cities. The story follows Deunan Knute and her partner Briareos as they search for the legendary city of Olympus.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & science fiction
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisJustice League: Gods and Monsters (2015)
In an alternate universe, very different versions of DC's Trinity fight against the government after they are framed for an embassy bombing.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action & animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBleach the Movie: Fade to Black (2008)
A strange disturbance in the World of the Living sends Ichigo and Kon to the Soul Society, where the Seireitei has been devastated by an explosion of reishi and Rukia is missing. Stranger still, none of the Soul Reapers remember Ichigo, and they think he’s the one responsible for the destruction. Now on the run, Ichigo is forced into a lonely battle in order to find Rukia and stop the real culprits!
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action & animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team - Miller's Report (1998)
Universal Century 0079. The One Year War rages on, and Shiro Amada and his unit, the 08th MS team, continue their struggle against Zeon forces in the jungles of Southeast Asia. But recent events have put them under close scrutiny by Federation leaders. Alice Miller, an officer of the Federation Intelligence Division, has been dispatched to ascertain the truth behind a series of events leading to the capture of a new enemy mobile armor. As she begins her investigation, the lines between Federation and Zeon become blurred. Is there really a spy among the 08th MS team?
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & action
Princess Principal Crown Handler: Chapter 4 (2025)
After a failed attempt to defect Princess Mary, Team White Pigeon is captured by the Kingdom's Home Office. When the Duke of Normandy discovers that the girls are spies for the Commonwealth, he orders them to become double agents for the Kingdom. Princesses is placed under the control of the Duke of Normandy, and the other four spies are temporarily released while remaining under constant surveillance. Meanwhile on Control's side, this incident leads to suspicions that the members of Team White Pigeon have become double agents for the Kingdom. In order to investigate the matter, Control assigns the team a new mission.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & action
Pokémon: The First Movie (1998)
Determined to prove its superiority, a bio-engineered Pokémon called Mewtwo lures Ash, Pikachu and others into a Pokémon match like none before.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & action
Worth the HypeMovies like thisDouble Team (1997)
A CIA agent is interned for failing to kill an international terrorist. Escaping from his island exile, he teams up with a flamboyant arms dealer and sets out to find the terrorist and rescue the agent's family. Together they're a two-man arsenal... with enough voltage to rock the free world.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both action & science fiction
SnoozefestMovies like thisRunaway (1984)
In the near future, a police officer specializes in malfunctioning robots. When a robot turns out to have been programmed to kill, he begins to uncover a homicidal plot to create killer robots... and his son becomes a target.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both science fiction & action
SnoozefestMovies like thisWerner: Eat My Dust!!! (1996)
Because of a bet, Werner and his friend have to construct the fastest vehicle to win a race, because life depends on it.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & action
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisKickboxer (1989)
If your enemy refuses to be humbled... Destroy him. Accompanied by his brother Kurt, American kickboxing champion Eric Sloane, arrives in Thailand to defeat the Eastern warriors at their own sport. His opponent: ruthless fighter and Thai champion, Tong Po. Tong not only defeats Eric, he paralyzes him for life. Crazed with anger, Kurt vows revenge.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both action
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Rundown (2003)
When Travis, the mouthy son of a criminal, disappears in the Amazon in search of a treasured artifact, his father sends in Beck, who becomes Travis's rival for the affections of Mariana, a mysterious Brazilian woman. With his steely disposition, Beck is a man of few words -- but it takes him all the discipline he can muster to work with Travis to nab a tyrant who's after the same treasure.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both action
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Lawnmower Man (1992)
A simple man is turned into a genius through the application of computer science.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both science fiction
SnoozefestMovies like thisMarked for Death (1990)
Just retired from the Drug Enforcement Agency, John Hatcher returns to his hometown and quickly discovers that drugs have infiltrated his old neighborhood. Determined to drive the dealers out, Hatcher crosses paths with a ferocious Jamaican drug lord who vows that Hatcher and his family are now marked for death.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both action
Popcorn FlickMovies like this
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Cowboy Bebop: The Movie?
The closest matches to Cowboy Bebop: The Movie are Dragon Ball Z: Broly - Second Coming (1994), BLAME! (2017) and Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack (1988). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Cowboy Bebop: The Movie?
Start with Dragon Ball Z: Broly - Second Coming (1994), the closest match to Cowboy Bebop: The Movie.
What is the highest-rated movie like Cowboy Bebop: The Movie?
Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (2009), rated 7.8/10 by 1,065 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Cowboy Bebop: The Movie?
Princess Principal Crown Handler: Chapter 4 (2025) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there Japanese movies like Cowboy Bebop: The Movie?
Yes: Dragon Ball Z: Broly - Second Coming (1994), BLAME! (2017) and Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack (1988).
How are movies similar to Cowboy Bebop: The Movie chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.