Cowboy Bebop Movie in Theaters, Plot, Cast, and More
by Mathelene
Updated Jan 22, 2024
Cowboy Bebop Movie in Theaters
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie is making a comeback in American theaters as part of Anime Expo's Cinema Nights. Fans can catch it in over 300 U.S. theaters from January 21 to January 23, presented by AX to promote Japanese pop culture. The movie, based on the 1998 anime series, is set within the anime's timeline, focusing on a thrilling bounty case. It doesn't deviate from the series but enhances the experience with improved animation, storytelling, and captivating music.
This marks the fourth U.S. theatrical release, the last one being in 2018. AX's Cinema Nights series aims to create a lively atmosphere for anime enthusiasts to gather, discuss, and celebrate their favorite shows. Cowboy Bebop: The Movie's return provides both old and new fans a chance to enjoy the iconic anime on the big screen.
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Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, also known as Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' on Heaven's Door, is a 2001 Japanese anime film based on the Cowboy Bebop series. Created by Hajime Yatate, the movie is set between episodes 22 and 23 of the original series. It follows the bounty hunter crew of the spaceship Bebop as they try to stop a mysterious terrorist planning to unleash a virus and wipe out the human population of Mars.
The film was a collaborative effort with key staff from the original series, including director Shinichirō Watanabe and composer Yoko Kanno. To maintain continuity, the movie retains the series' style but introduces improvements like enhanced animation and live-action filming techniques.
It incorporates Arabic aesthetics, with Watanabe even traveling to Morocco for research. Released in 2001 in Japan and 2002 in the United States, the film garnered over $3 million globally, received positive reviews, and earned a nomination for Best Animated Film from the Online Film Critics Society.
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie Plot
On Mars, just before Halloween, Faye witnesses a terrorist, Vincent Volaju, causing a tanker explosion that releases a deadly pathogen, leading to a government bounty of 300 million Woolongs. The crew aims to capture Vincent. Faye and Edward discover Vincent's past as a soldier immunized against the pathogen but now driven insane. Jet uncovers the nanomachine's origin at the Cherious Medical company.
Spike, encountering Cherious's agent Elektra, is thrown off a train by Vincent, who releases more nanomachines, leaving only Elektra alive. She provides a blood sample for a vaccine, as Vincent plans to use giant jack-o'-lantern balloons to spread nanomachines at a Halloween parade.
Jet recruits crop-duster pilots to disperse the vaccine, while Faye manipulates the weather system. Spike faces Vincent in a showdown, and despite the nanomachines' release, he survives due to the vaccine. Elektra shoots Vincent, who expresses gratitude before dying.
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie Cast
Spike Spiegel
Kōichi Yamadera
Steve Blum
Faye Valentine
Megumi Hayashibara
Wendee Lee
Jet Black
Unshō Ishizuka
Beau Billingslea
Edward Wong
Aoi Tada
Melissa Fahn
Elektra Ovilo
Ai Kobayashi
Jennifer Hale
Vincent Volaju
Tsutomu Isobe
Daran Norris
Lee Sampson
Yūji Ueda
Dave Wittenberg
Rashid
Mickey Curtis
Nicholas Guest
Character
Japanese Voice Actor
English Dub Actor
Where to Watch Cowboy Bebop: The Movie?
You can watch Cowboy Bebop: The Movie by renting or buying it on Amazon Video. This means you have the option to stream the film online through the Amazon Video platform. Whether you choose to rent it for a temporary viewing or purchase it to keep and watch whenever you want, Amazon Video provides a convenient way to access the movie.
By selecting the rental option, you can enjoy the film for a specific period, typically for a day or two. On the other hand, if you decide to purchase it, you'll have the movie in your digital library, allowing you to watch it repeatedly. This streaming service offers flexibility for viewers to enjoy Cowboy Bebop: The Movie based on their preferences and convenience.
Cowboy Bebop Movie in Theaters - FAQs
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie is set to return to over 300 theaters in the U.S. for three days, from January 21 to January 23, as part of Anime Expo's Cinema Nights.
The movie is set between episodes 22 and 23 of the original Cowboy Bebop series and follows the Bebop crew as they attempt to capture a terrorist named Vincent Volaju, who plans to unleash a deadly pathogen on Mars.
You can find information on the locations and showtimes for Cowboy Bebop: The Movie on the AX Cinema Nights website.
Fans appreciate the movie's cool vibe, improved animation, storytelling, and mesmerizing music, enhancing the overall Cowboy Bebop experience.
This marks the fourth time the movie is being shown in American theaters, with the most recent screening occurring in 2018.