10 Best Pokémon Appearances In Detective Pikachu

Mewtwo makes the top five purely by virtue of its status as a Legendary Pokémon and general cinematic appeal. It makes for some good moments, but ultimately is underused, atonal and a bit more of a deus ex machina even than it usually is.

After being involved in the opening exchanges of the movie, Mewtwo largely takes a backseat until the third act, which is clearly the worst. That’s not because of Mewtwo’s involvement, per sé, but the various twists of the plot hardly make the most of them either.

Mewtwo can certainly come off as hammy if played poorly, with the overly mystical vibes of the creature and the all knowing sense of omnipotence it brings. Pokémon: The First Movie leaned into this exactly the right amount, but Detective Pikachu sidesteps it entirely.

We see occasional moments of the real Mewtwo, but for the majority of the time it’s controlled by Bill Nighy’s Clifford, neutering its potential. No longer is Mewtwo an all knowing being with knowledge beyond our comprehension; it’s just a man with a few standard superpowers.

Still though, it’s Mewtwo, so it’ll be a crowd pleaser regardless.