---
title: "Pokémon Detective Pikachu"
year: 2019
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/pokemon-detective-pikachu"
fi1m_id: "pokemon-detective-pikachu"
imdb_id: "tt5884052"
tmdb_id: 447404
wikidata_id: "Q47492499"
fi1m_score: 65
critics_score: 59
critics_reviews: 25
published: "2026-10-05T15:10:59.578320+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-05T15:11:00.239206+00:00"
region: "CH"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019)

Directed by Rob Letterman · 1h 45m · Action, Adventure, Fantasy

## Identity

Pokémon Detective Pikachu

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/pokemon-detective-pikachu
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** pokemon-detective-pikachu
- **IMDb ID:** tt5884052
- **TMDB ID:** 447404
- **Wikidata ID:** Q47492499
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5884052/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/447404, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47492499

**Fi1m score: 65** · Critics 59 from 25 reviews

*In a sentence:* The cuddly detective earns his keep; several of the humans are fortunate to be on the payroll

> Ryan Reynolds makes a cuddly detective good company, and Ryme City rewards a look around. But *Pokémon Detective Pikachu* struggles with a muddled mystery and human characters who rarely earn equal attention.

## Synopsis

Humans and Pokémon share the neon-lit streets of Ryme City. Tim Goodman (Justice Smith) teams up with Detective Pikachu (voiced by Ryan Reynolds) to work through a mystery, with Pikachu supplying a running stream of wisecracks. Lucy Stevens (Kathryn Newton), Lieutenant Hide Yoshida (Ken Watanabe) and Howard Clifford (Bill Nighy) are among the human characters in their world. The investigation pairs a human with a creature whose cuddly appearance comes with a knowing voice, against a backdrop of rain-slicked streets and Pokémon living alongside people.

## Review

Director Rob Letterman has a workable idea: let the creatures inhabit a detective film, then give its cuddliest investigator a voice that knows how ridiculous this looks. *Pokémon Detective Pikachu* is decent family entertainment, particularly when it lets its mismatched leads do the talking. The trouble is that the mystery demands more attention than its writing earns. There is enough comic pleasure to keep it moving, but the confusion becomes a substantial nuisance.

Ryan Reynolds understands the casting joke and gets useful mileage out of it. Pikachu’s soft appearance makes the knowing delivery funny before a line has quite finished, and the performance leaves room for warmth beneath the wisecracks. We laughed at the discrepancy between that cuddly face and the snark coming out of it. Some of the dialogue would barely qualify as a joke in a human mouth; here, the speaker supplies the extra work.

Justice Smith helps by giving Tim Goodman something for that energy to bounce against. Their chemistry makes the partnership worth following even when the investigation becomes difficult to care about, and the affection between them gives the film some welcome warmth. But Tim is thinly written, leaving Justice Smith with too little to make him interesting on his own. The human characters need more than proximity to a funny creature to hold our attention.

John Mathieson’s neon-lit, rain-slicked Ryme City gives the detective conceit a setting it deserves. The lighting establishes a noir atmosphere without making the Pokémon look out of place, while Nigel Phelps’s production design makes the city feel inhabited beyond the immediate business of the plot. Its detail invites us to look around, and the creatures seem to have somewhere to belong. The disappointment is how little time the film gives us to explore that everyday coexistence.

The screenplay, credited to Rob Letterman, Benji Samit, Derek Connolly and Dan Hernandez, is much less inviting. Exposition keeps arriving without bringing a corresponding sense of clarity, and the detective story grows cumbersome when it ought to be drawing us further in. Familiar plotting is not necessarily a fault in a family adventure; a clean, predictable chase can be perfectly satisfying. Here, the complications make the formula harder to follow without making it more interesting.

Editors Mark Sanger and James Thomas fare better with the comic partnership than with the stretches of explanation. The exchanges have a welcome quickness, but the larger adventure loses that easy pace as its plot becomes busier. Henry Jackman’s music does its job without giving the film much additional character. The action is also too familiar for a setting that keeps offering such peculiar things to look at.

A family detective film can afford a simple solution if following the clues is funny and the company engaging. This one has the company, intermittently, but makes the investigation needlessly awkward. At 105 minutes, it could use fewer explanations and more time with the creatures. Pokémon enthusiasts have enough reason to try it; anyone coming chiefly for the detective work should temper their expectations.

*Fi1m score 65, published 5 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

The consensus is mixed, with most critics finding some family entertainment in Pokémon Detective Pikachu despite its weak story. Praise centres on Ryan Reynolds’s voice performance, particularly the contrast between Pikachu’s cuddly appearance and his dry remarks. Several reviews also credit his chemistry with Justice Smith with giving the film warmth. The neon-lit city and playful Pokémon encounters attract admiration, even among critics who find the mystery ordinary or confusing.

Reservations cluster around convoluted plotting, heavy exposition and a drift towards familiar blockbuster action. The spread is broad: warmer reviews find enough humour and charm to forgive the formula, while detractors see an adaptation that offers newcomers little reason to care. The effects divide opinion particularly sharply. Eye for Film praises the convincing interaction between actors and digital creatures; Variety finds the Pokémon poorly integrated into the live-action setting. Even Reynolds cannot persuade every critic that the dialogue is funny.

## Straight answers

**Is Pokémon Detective Pikachu worth watching?**

*Pokémon Detective Pikachu* is worth trying for Pokémon enthusiasts and families drawn to its comic partnership, though our score of 65 reflects substantial flaws. Ryan Reynolds makes the cuddly investigator funny and warm, and Ryme City rewards a look around, but we find the mystery needlessly confusing and the human characters thinly written.

**How long is Pokémon Detective Pikachu, and what is it rated?**

*Pokémon Detective Pikachu* runs 1h 45m. It is an action and adventure film.

**Where can I watch Pokémon Detective Pikachu in Switzerland?**

*Pokémon Detective Pikachu* is streaming on HBO Max in Switzerland, and it is also available to rent from Apple TV from CHF 4.50. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How does Pokémon Detective Pikachu compare to Who Framed Roger Rabbit?**

*Pokémon Detective Pikachu* offers an engaging central partnership, but we recommend [*Who Framed Roger Rabbit*](https://film.one/film/who-framed-roger-rabbit) more warmly for its sharper detective story and inventive comedy. Both build convincing settings where humans and animated creatures share space; *Pikachu* is chiefly worth trying for Pokémon enthusiasts, while *Roger Rabbit* better serves those coming for the detective work, despite its occasionally busy mystery.

**What should I watch after Pokémon Detective Pikachu?**

After *Pokémon Detective Pikachu*, try [*Who Framed Roger Rabbit*](https://film.one/film/who-framed-roger-rabbit) (1988, Fi1m 89): For a sharper detective story built around humans and animated creatures sharing space. Then [*Paddington*](https://film.one/film/paddington) (2014, Fi1m 84): For another unlikely creature whose good company matters more than the mechanics of the plot; and [*Kiki's Delivery Service*](https://film.one/film/kikis-delivery-service) (1989, Fi1m 86): For a city where everyday routines make the presence of magic feel ordinary.

### Reviews we read (25)

- **Empire**, Olly Richards (70/100, inferred): Richards finds the film entertaining despite weak plotting and heavy-handed exposition. He especially praises Ryan Reynolds’s comic performance and the odd-couple chemistry with Justice Smith. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/pokmon-detective-pikachu-review/)
- **The Guardian**, Steve Rose (70/100, inferred): Rose finds the film entertaining family fare, though its mystery and human characters are fairly ordinary. He singles out Ryan Reynolds’s comic energy for giving the movie the spark it needs. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/may/03/pokemon-detective-pikachu-review-ryan-reynolds-grabs-film-by-scruff-of-the-neck)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Michael Rechtshaffen (65/100, inferred): The critic finds the film fitfully entertaining and better than expected, though its elements never fully come together. Ryan Reynolds’s voice performance is singled out for bringing Pikachu an effective balance of wit and pathos. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/pokemon-detective-pikachu-review-1207169/)
- **RogerEbert.com** (64/100, inferred): The URL identifies a RogerEbert.com review of this film, but the page is blocked. Its verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be verified. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/pokemon-detective-pikachu-2019)
- **Screen Daily**, Tim Grierson (64/100, inferred): The accessible page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. No specific praise or complaint is visible in the excerpt. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/pokemon-detective-pikachu-review/5138965.article)
- **Evening Standard**, Charlotte O'Sullivan (3/5): O'Sullivan finds the film a surreal, enjoyable comedy, with Ryan Reynolds especially well suited to Pikachu. She also praises its intricate landscapes and says the gags are genuinely funny. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/pokemon-detective-pikachu-review-ryan-reynolds-in-his-goofy-element-a4138976.html)
- **Little White Lies**, Hannah Strong (2/3/3): Strong finds the film silly but sincere, a warm and enjoyable nostalgia trip that never overstays its welcome. She praises the charm of Pikachu and the chemistry between Reynolds and Smith, while noting that the Pokémon world feels underexplored. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/pokemon-detective-pikachu)
- **Radio Times**, Victoria Luxford (3/5): The review finds the film charming and says its focus on making a good film, rather than strict brand faithfulness, is a strength. It cautions that viewers unfamiliar with Pokémon may get lost in its colourful world. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-b7t5x6/pokmon-detective-pikachu/)
- **Time Out**, Phil de Semlyen (3/5): The critic finds the adaptation fun, but says its plotting becomes ponderous and familiar. The playful anarchy is what initially makes it entertaining. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/pokemon-detective-pikachu)
- **Total Film**, Neil Smith (3/5): The critic finds the film entertaining but held back by a boilerplate formula. Reynolds’s wisecracking Pikachu is singled out as its greatest asset. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/detective-pikachu-review/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Katie Walsh (55/100, inferred): Walsh finds the film silly fun overall, though its story becomes baffling. She praises the committed, playful world-building and neo-noir atmosphere. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-pokemon-detective-pikachu-review-20190508-story.html)
- **Slant Magazine**, Pat Brown (2/4): The review finds the film an efficiently structured but ultimately unresolved brand exercise. It praises Ryan Reynolds’s casting as Pikachu for balancing the character’s adorable appearance with absurd humor. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/detective-pikachu-review/)
- **Variety**, Peter Debruge (30/100, inferred): Debruge finds the film a half-baked, disappointing adaptation that requires familiarity with the franchise. He praises the Charizard battle as a glimpse of the action the film could have delivered, while criticizing the effects and the Pokémon’s unconvincing integration into the live-action world. [Read](https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/pokemon-detective-pikachu-review-ryan-reynolds-1203203447/)
- **Vulture**, Bilge Ebiri (30/100, inferred): Ebiri finds the film mostly uninspired and neither funny nor committed enough to its genre conceit. He praises the contrast of Pikachu’s cuddly appearance with Ryan Reynolds’s snarky voice, while finding the Pokémon themselves fun to watch. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2019/05/pokmon-detective-pikachu-2019-review.html)
- **Eye for Film**, Amber Wilkinson (78/100, inferred): Wilkinson finds it an entertaining, funny adaptation that should appeal to children and adults. She especially praises the lived-in world and the actors’ seamless interaction with the CGI Pokémon. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/pokemon-detective-pikachu-2019-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson)
- **Paste**, Joelle Monique (7.7): Monique finds the film an enjoyable, if predictable, family-friendly romp. She praises its neon-noir cinematography and Ryan Reynolds’s infectious performance as Pikachu. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/detective-pikachu/pokemon-detective-pikachu-1)
- **HeyUGuys** (70/100, inferred): The critic finds it a fun, charming film, though its story lacks bite and feels somewhat predictable. They praise the vivid design of Ryme City and the playful interplay among the main characters. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/detective-pikachu-review/)
- **The Playlist**, Ryan Oliver (B-): Oliver finds the film an entertaining, visually striking adventure, despite its uneven narrative and tonal shifts. He especially praises the world-building and the believable chemistry between Ryan Reynolds’s Pikachu and Justice Smith’s Tim. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/pokemon-detective-pikachu-review-20190503/)
- **Consequence**, Dominick Suzanne-Mayer (65/100, inferred): The critic finds the film an enjoyable, endearing family movie, though its pacing and muddled tone make it a slight letdown. The outstanding animation is praised, even as Pokémon are too often hidden or shown only in fleeting glimpses. [Read](https://consequence.net/2019/05/film-review-pokemon-detective-pikachu/)
- **Digital Spy**, Hugh Armitage (65/100, inferred): The critic finds it an enjoyable but flawed film, with a bizarre plot and uneven visual effects. Reynolds and Smith’s chemistry and the bond between their characters provide the movie’s strongest asset. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a27180388/detective-pikachu-review-pokemon-ryan-reynolds/)
- **/Film**, Hoai-Tran Bui (6.5/10): The review finds the film mostly effective, though its convoluted plot and dull protagonist keep it from fully embracing its unusual premise. It praises the vibrant, richly realized world and the scene-stealing Pokémon, especially Pikachu and Psyduck. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/566135/detective-pikachu-review/)
- **Den of Geek**, Matthew Byrd (3/5): Byrd finds the film charming and inventive at first, but says it declines into a generic blockbuster. He praises the lively world-building and the way the Pokémon and noir influences are blended. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/detective-pikachu-review/)
- **NME**, Alex Flood (★★★): The review finds the film witty and enjoyable, but says its rushed finale keeps it from fully evolving. It praises the chemistry between Justice Smith and Ryan Reynolds, which carries the first half. [Read](https://www.nme.com/reviews/pokemon-detective-pikachu-review-2483548)
- **The Skinny**, Jamie Dunn (★★): Dunn finds the film visually striking but ultimately unsatisfying and confusing. He praises the neon-lit, rain-slicked look of Ryme City, while faulting the convoluted plot and weak blend of noir and Pokémon charm. [Read](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/pokemon-detective-pikachu)
- **The Wrap**, Alonso Duralde (30/100, inferred): Duralde finds the film overstuffed, underwritten and difficult to follow, with little wit or engagement for newcomers. He praises a striking forest sequence, while noting that Ryan Reynolds works hard to sell the dialogue. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/detective-pikachu-film-review-pokemon-ryan-reynolds-2019-duralde/)

## Details

- **Director:** Rob Letterman
- **Director:** Rob Letterman
- **Screenplay:** Dan Hernandez, Derek Connolly, Rob Letterman, Benji Samit
- **Story:** Benji Samit, Nicole Perlman, Dan Hernandez
- **Cinematography:** John Mathieson
- **Editor:** Mark Sanger, James Thomas
- **Music:** Henry Jackman
- **Production design:** Nigel Phelps
- **Costume design:** Suzie Harman
- **Producer:** Don McGowan, Mary Parent, Cale Boyter
- **Cast:** Ryan Reynolds as Detective Pikachu (voice); Justice Smith as Tim Goodman; Kathryn Newton as Lucy Stevens; Bill Nighy as Howard Clifford; Ken Watanabe as Lieutenant Hide Yoshida; Chris Geere as Roger Clifford; Suki Waterhouse as Ms. Norman; Josette Simon as Grams
- **Runtime:** 1h 45m
- **First release (Japan):** 3 May 2019
- **Genres:** Action, Adventure, Fantasy
- **Budget:** $150 million
- **Box office:** $450 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_uE8kX0CkY

## Where to watch in Switzerland

- HBO Max: streaming, uhd
- Apple TV: rent CHF 4.50, hd
- Apple TV: buy CHF 5.00, hd

*Checked 2026-10-05.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, SK, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *Who Framed Roger Rabbit* (1988), Fi1m 89: For a sharper detective story built around humans and animated creatures sharing space. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/who-framed-roger-rabbit.md)
- *Paddington* (2014), Fi1m 84: For another unlikely creature whose good company matters more than the mechanics of the plot. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/paddington.md)
- *A Town Called Panic* (2009): For creature comedy that gives its peculiar inhabitants far more room to misbehave.
- *Kiki's Delivery Service* (1989), Fi1m 86: For a city where everyday routines make the presence of magic feel ordinary. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/kikis-delivery-service.md)
- *The Great Mouse Detective* (1986): For a small detective whose investigation has more purpose than this one’s.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/pokemon-detective-pikachu