What it was like
Dandadan: First Encounter brings the wildest anime of 2025 to U.S. theaters on June 6, 2026 — a limited theatrical run from GKIDS and Fathom Events that packages the first arc of the beloved series for the big screen experience it deserves.
The series follows Momo Ayase, who believes in ghosts but not aliens, and Ken Okarun, who believes in aliens but not ghosts — until the day they both turn out to be right. What follows is a supernatural action comedy that mixes paranormal investigator energy with shounen battle sequences and genuine emotional depth. The theatrical presentation brings the animation's kinetic visual style — OLM's dynamic direction, Eunyoung Choi's fluid action choreography — to a format where the scale actually registers.
GKIDS theatrical screenings typically run at AMC, Regal, and Cinemark locations with subtitled and dubbed options. Check your local listings for exact showtimes and theater availability in Los Angeles and San Diego.
This is not a watch-at-home event. The theatrical window is limited. If you've already watched the series on Netflix, this is the original Japanese broadcast presentation — the one that made the animation community stop what it was doing when it premiered.
Tickets available through Fandango and the AMC app. Limited dates, limited theaters.