My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (2019)
Movie · 2019 · Animation, Action, Fantasy, Adventure · 1h 44m · PG-13 · Japanese
Curator score: 6.9/10 (13.6K ratings)
Tagline: When There's Nothing to be gained, Rising to the challenge at those times, is surely the mark... OF A TRUE HERO!
Class 1-A visits Nabu Island where they finally get to do some real hero work. The place is so peaceful that it's more like a vacation... until they're attacked by a villain with an unfathomable Quirk! His power is eerily familiar, and it looks like Shigaraki had a hand in the plan. But with All Might retired and citizens' lives on the line, there's no time for questions. Deku and his friends are the next generation of heroes, and they're the island's only hope.
Ratings:
- Curator score: 6.9/10
- IMDb: 7.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
- Metacritic: 70
- TMDB: 8.1/10
Director: Kenji Nagasaki
Production: BONES, dentsu, movic, Nippon Television Network Corporation, Shueisha, Sony Music Entertainment (Japan)
Cast: Daiki Yamashita, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Yoshio Inoue, Mio Imada, Yuka Terasaki, Tomoyo Kurosawa, Yuki Kaji, Kaito Ishikawa, Ayane Sakura, Toshiki Masuda, Yoshimasa Hosoya, Ryo Hirohashi, Marina Inoue, Tasuku Hatanaka, Kei Shindo, Kiyotaka Furushima, Masakazu Nishida, Eri Kitamura, Toru Nara, Aoi Yuuki
Where to watch: Netflix, Crunchyroll, Netflix Standard with Ads
Curator Review
Verdict: A high-energy superhero anime sequel with stronger pacing, bigger action, and a crowd-pleasing emotional payoff. It works best if you already like My Hero Academia’s character dynamics and want a polished, fan-service-heavy team-up movie.
Best for: My Hero Academia fans; Viewers who like ensemble superhero action; Fans of rivalry-driven shonen stories; People who want a big emotional finale; Anime viewers looking for glossy theatrical animation
Skip if: You want a fully standalone story; You dislike franchise continuity and fan-service; You prefer grounded or low-key superhero stories; You are not invested in the cast or their relationships
Overview: Heroes Rising is exactly the kind of franchise movie that knows what its audience wants and delivers it with confidence. The setup is simple, the island setting gives the story room to breathe, and the film quickly shifts into a sustained action showcase that feels larger and more cinematic than the TV series.
Worth noting: What stands out most is how well it uses the core trio of Deku, Bakugo, and the rest of Class 1-A as a team. The movie leans into character chemistry, rivalry, and the idea of young heroes stepping up before the adults can save them. Even when the plot is straightforward, the momentum stays strong and the animation gives the big fights real punch.
Bottom line: The final stretch is the main attraction: loud, emotional, and engineered for maximum hype. It is less interested in subtlety than in catharsis, but for fans of the series that is a feature, not a flaw. If you want a polished superhero anime with genuine scale and a satisfying payoff, this is one of the better theatrical entries in the genre.
Top Letterboxd reviews:
- Ethan Ethan: TW:
The first student from class 1-A to appear was Mineta.
- Mauricio Velazco: Cinema. Dead serious, better than the first.
- Elijah999: My hero: Animation budget rising
- Tom Page: Wow you guys, that bakudeku fic was so cinematic
- Tommy Williams: WE DID IT 1A!
WE SAVED THE ISLAND!
*Island on Fire*
Recommended similar titles:
- Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018 · Animation, Action, Adventure · 1h 57m · PG · Curator 9.6/10 (5.1M ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads)
A stylish, character-driven superhero story about a young hero learning to lead under pressure.
- The Incredibles (2004 · Action, Adventure, Animation · 1h 55m · PG · Curator 8.9/10 (3.1M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus)
Combines family dynamics, superhero teamwork, and escalating set-piece action with real warmth.
- Big Hero 6 (2014 · Adventure, Family, Animation · 1h 42m · PG · Curator 7.2/10 (2.3M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus, fuboTV)
A glossy, emotional team superhero adventure with youthful energy and strong crowd appeal.
- X-Men: First Class (2011 · Action, Science Fiction, Adventure · 2h 12m · PG-13 · Curator 5.5/10 (1.6M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus, Max)
Focuses on young powered characters, mentorship, and the formation of a team under crisis.
- Captain America: Civil War (2016 · Adventure, Action, Science Fiction · 2h 27m · PG-13 · Curator 6.2/10 (2.9M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus, Hulu, AMC+, AMC, Philo)
A superhero ensemble built around rivalry, loyalty, and the emotional cost of choosing sides.
- Avengers: Endgame (2019 · Adventure, Science Fiction, Action · 3h 1m · PG-13 · Curator 8.1/10 (4.8M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus, TNT, TBS, tru TV)
Big-scale payoff storytelling that rewards long-term investment in a large heroic cast.
- Shazam! (2019 · Action, Comedy, Fantasy · 2h 12m · PG-13 · Curator 3.0/10 (1.2M ratings) · Where to watch: Max)
A playful but heartfelt take on a young hero discovering responsibility and power.
- Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (2021 · Animation, Action, Fantasy · 1h 45m · PG-13 · Curator 7.6/10 (374.5K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Crunchyroll, Netflix Standard with Ads)
A theatrical shonen action film with strong character emotion and polished fight choreography.
- Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2020 · Animation, Action, Fantasy · 1h 57m · R · Curator 7.9/10 (378.7K ratings) · Where to watch: Crunchyroll)
A high-intensity anime feature that builds toward a major emotional and action-driven climax.
- The Lego Batman Movie (2017 · Animation, Action, Comedy · 1h 44m · PG · Curator 8.1/10 (1.2M ratings) · Where to watch: fuboTV, Max)
A fast, joke-friendly superhero film that still understands team dynamics and heroic self-image.
- Megamind (2010 · Animation, Action, Comedy · 1h 36m · PG · Curator 5.8/10 (1.4M ratings) · Where to watch: Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus)
A witty superhero story that plays with legacy, identity, and the meaning of being a hero.
Topics: anime, superhero, action-adventure, shonen, ensemble cast, coming-of-age, high-stakes battle, emotional finale, theatrical animation
https://watchlist.tannermartz.com/apple/movie/my-hero-academia-heroes-rising/592350
My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (2019)
Movie · 2019 · Animation, Action, Fantasy, Adventure · 1h 44m · PG-13 · Japanese
Curator score: 6.9/10 (13.6K ratings)
When There's Nothing to be gained, Rising to the challenge at those times, is surely the mark... OF A TRUE HERO!
Overview Class 1-A visits Nabu Island where they finally get to do some real hero work. The place is so peaceful that it's more like a vacation... until they're attacked by a villain with an unfathomable Quirk! His power is eerily familiar, and it looks like Shigaraki had a hand in the plan. But with All Might retired and citizens' lives on the line, there's no time for questions. Deku and his friends are the next generation of heroes, and they're the island's only hope.
Ratings
Curator score: 6.9/10
IMDb: 7.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Metacritic: 70
TMDB: 8.1/10
Production BONES, dentsu, movic, Nippon Television Network Corporation, Shueisha, Sony Music Entertainment (Japan)
Cast Daiki Yamashita, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Yoshio Inoue, Mio Imada, Yuka Terasaki, Tomoyo Kurosawa, Yuki Kaji, Kaito Ishikawa, Ayane Sakura, Toshiki Masuda, Yoshimasa Hosoya, Ryo Hirohashi, Marina Inoue, Tasuku Hatanaka, Kei Shindo, Kiyotaka Furushima, Masakazu Nishida, Eri Kitamura, Toru Nara, Aoi Yuuki
Where to watch Netflix, Crunchyroll, Netflix Standard with Ads
Curator Review
Verdict
A high-energy superhero anime sequel with stronger pacing, bigger action, and a crowd-pleasing emotional payoff. It works best if you already like My Hero Academia’s character dynamics and want a polished, fan-service-heavy team-up movie.
Best for
My Hero Academia fans
Viewers who like ensemble superhero action
Fans of rivalry-driven shonen stories
People who want a big emotional finale
Anime viewers looking for glossy theatrical animation
Skip if
You want a fully standalone story
You dislike franchise continuity and fan-service
You prefer grounded or low-key superhero stories
You are not invested in the cast or their relationships
Overview
Heroes Rising is exactly the kind of franchise movie that knows what its audience wants and delivers it with confidence. The setup is simple, the island setting gives the story room to breathe, and the film quickly shifts into a sustained action showcase that feels larger and more cinematic than the TV series.
Worth noting
What stands out most is how well it uses the core trio of Deku, Bakugo, and the rest of Class 1-A as a team. The movie leans into character chemistry, rivalry, and the idea of young heroes stepping up before the adults can save them. Even when the plot is straightforward, the momentum stays strong and the animation gives the big fights real punch.
Bottom line
The final stretch is the main attraction: loud, emotional, and engineered for maximum hype. It is less interested in subtlety than in catharsis, but for fans of the series that is a feature, not a flaw. If you want a polished superhero anime with genuine scale and a satisfying payoff, this is one of the better theatrical entries in the genre.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Ethan Ethan (3★) · 793 likes
TW:
The first student from class 1-A to appear was Mineta.
Mauricio Velazco (4.5★) · 630 likes
Cinema. Dead serious, better than the first.
Elijah999 (4★) · 613 likes
My hero: Animation budget rising
Tom Page (4.5★) · 439 likes
Wow you guys, that bakudeku fic was so cinematic
Tommy Williams (4★) · 417 likes
WE DID IT 1A!
WE SAVED THE ISLAND!
*Island on Fire*
Recommended similar titles
2018 · Animation, Action, Adventure · 1h 57m · PG · Curator 9.6/10 (5.1M ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
A stylish, character-driven superhero story about a young hero learning to lead under pressure.
2004 · Action, Adventure, Animation · 1h 55m · PG · Curator 8.9/10 (3.1M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus
Combines family dynamics, superhero teamwork, and escalating set-piece action with real warmth.
2014 · Adventure, Family, Animation · 1h 42m · PG · Curator 7.2/10 (2.3M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus, fuboTV
A glossy, emotional team superhero adventure with youthful energy and strong crowd appeal.
2011 · Action, Science Fiction, Adventure · 2h 12m · PG-13 · Curator 5.5/10 (1.6M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus, Max
Focuses on young powered characters, mentorship, and the formation of a team under crisis.
2016 · Adventure, Action, Science Fiction · 2h 27m · PG-13 · Curator 6.2/10 (2.9M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus, Hulu, AMC+, AMC, Philo
A superhero ensemble built around rivalry, loyalty, and the emotional cost of choosing sides.
2019 · Adventure, Science Fiction, Action · 3h 1m · PG-13 · Curator 8.1/10 (4.8M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus, TNT, TBS, tru TV
Big-scale payoff storytelling that rewards long-term investment in a large heroic cast.
2019 · Action, Comedy, Fantasy · 2h 12m · PG-13 · Curator 3.0/10 (1.2M ratings) · Where to watch: Max
A playful but heartfelt take on a young hero discovering responsibility and power.
2021 · Animation, Action, Fantasy · 1h 45m · PG-13 · Curator 7.6/10 (374.5K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Crunchyroll, Netflix Standard with Ads
A theatrical shonen action film with strong character emotion and polished fight choreography.
2020 · Animation, Action, Fantasy · 1h 57m · R · Curator 7.9/10 (378.7K ratings) · Where to watch: Crunchyroll
A high-intensity anime feature that builds toward a major emotional and action-driven climax.
2017 · Animation, Action, Comedy · 1h 44m · PG · Curator 8.1/10 (1.2M ratings) · Where to watch: fuboTV, Max
A fast, joke-friendly superhero film that still understands team dynamics and heroic self-image.
2010 · Animation, Action, Comedy · 1h 36m · PG · Curator 5.8/10 (1.4M ratings) · Where to watch: Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus
A witty superhero story that plays with legacy, identity, and the meaning of being a hero.
Topics
anime, superhero, action-adventure, shonen, ensemble cast, coming-of-age, high-stakes battle, emotional finale, theatrical animation
Open My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (2019) on Curator TV