Katsuhiro Otomo’s groundbreaking cyberpunk anime returns to North American theaters in stunning 4K and select IMAX locations.
One of the most influential anime films ever made is heading back to the big screen. Katsuhiro Otomo’s landmark cyberpunk masterpiece AKIRA will return to theaters across the United States and Canada on September 4, 2026, with screenings available in 4K and IMAX.
Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment will distribute the theatrical re-release, giving longtime fans and a new generation of moviegoers another chance to experience Neo-Tokyo on the biggest screen possible. The film will be offered in its original Japanese language with English subtitles as well as an English-dubbed version.
Originally released in Japan in 1988, AKIRA helped redefine what audiences around the world expected from animation. Its detailed hand-drawn visuals, groundbreaking action, mature storytelling and dystopian vision of the future became enormously influential across anime, science fiction, filmmaking, music, fashion and pop culture.
AKIRA Remains a Landmark of Anime and Cyberpunk
AKIRA takes place decades after World War III transforms Tokyo. By 2019, the sprawling metropolis of Neo-Tokyo has become a volatile landscape filled with biker gangs, political unrest, government experiments and growing social tension.
Kaneda leads a group of young motorcycle-riding delinquents tearing through the city and clashing with rival gangs. Everything changes when his friend Tetsuo crashes after encountering a mysterious child connected to a secret government program.
The military quickly arrives and takes both the child and the injured Tetsuo into custody. Determined to save his friend, Kaneda becomes caught in a much larger conspiracy involving experiments, extraordinary psychic abilities, and the mysterious force known as Akira.
Inside the military research facility, Tetsuo undergoes intense experimentation that awakens devastating powers within him. As those abilities grow, so does his instability, placing Kaneda, Neo-Tokyo and potentially the entire world in danger.
Katsuhiro Otomo Changed Animation Forever
AKIRA was directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, who also created the original manga that inspired the film. Otomo’s adaptation became a defining moment for Japanese animation when it arrived in theaters, showing international audiences that animated movies could deliver complex themes, graphic violence, political commentary, and ambitious cinematic storytelling on a massive scale.
The film would go on to become a major influence on generations of filmmakers, animators and artists while helping open the door for anime to reach a much wider global audience. Crunchyroll describes the movie as a work that helped establish a gold standard for science fiction and cyberpunk storytelling.
Its influence can still be seen throughout modern entertainment, from animated movies and television to live-action science fiction, video games and countless recreations of Kaneda’s iconic motorcycle slide.
Now, nearly four decades after its original release, audiences will once again be able to experience that visual spectacle theatrically.
AKIRA 4K and IMAX Release Date
AKIRA returns to select theaters in the United States and Canada beginning September 4, 2026. The theatrical run will include traditional 4K presentations along with select IMAX screenings.
Some theaters are already listing showtimes extending beyond opening day, although availability will vary by location and format.
For a movie celebrated for its enormous cityscapes, explosive action, intricate animation and unforgettable sound design, IMAX could offer one of the best opportunities yet to revisit Neo-Tokyo on the big screen.
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