As a fan of Kaiju No. 8, I walked into the theater with excitement—and walked out feeling a bit ripped off.

Let’s get one thing out of the way: this “movie” is essentially a recap of the anime’s first season stitched together with one new filler episode. For casual viewers or newcomers, this might be a neat gateway into the series—especially since the recap is tightly edited and the new scenes offer a slight taste of what’s coming next. But for those of us who already watched the season religiously, it feels like we paid for a glorified recap with a few crumbs of new content.

The so-called “original content” doesn’t dive deep. It hints at the involvement of the old/retired division, with Hoshino playing a more pivotal role than expected. It teases a broader army that could potentially back up the current Defense Force. But that’s all it is—a tease. Nothing meaty, nothing satisfying enough to justify a movie ticket price.

Missed Opportunities with Hoshina

Like, if you are to decide—what would you expect the movie should cover? Personally, I was hoping for more. Maybe a deeper dive into Hoshina’s backstory: What drives him? What shaped him? Even a quiet segment about his “day off,” told from his own point of view, could’ve added emotional weight and character depth. He’s such a fan-favorite for a reason, and the movie missed a real opportunity to spotlight him.

What adds to the disappointment is that it at least could’ve been advertised clearly as a recap. But that was never front and center. It’s only when you dive deep on the internet that you realize it’s not a full original movie, which feels a bit misleading—especially for fans who went in expecting something new.

That said, the merch available was undeniably cute and tempting. If anything, the movie felt more like a solid marketing push for the next season and a reason to get fans into merchandise mode.

Final Verdict: For Newcomers Only

Overall, Kaiju No. 8: The Movie works best for newcomers or fans who need a quick refresher before Season 2. But if you’re a loyal follower expecting a cinematic expansion of the story, you might leave the theater feeling like you just paid for something you already saw… and barely got anything new in return.