Rating: 3.5/5
“Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution” — an anime movie that features a recap of the latter half of “Jujutsu Kaisen” (JJK) season 2 and the first two episodes of the story’s Culling Game Saga — was released in American theaters on Dec. 5. The first two episodes are teasers for the rest of JJK season 3, “The Culling Game Part 1,” which will be released in early January 2026.
Although I had already watched season 2, I wanted to see the beautifully animated fights on the big screen. However, I was very disappointed to see how fast-paced the recap of the Shibuya Incident, often referred to as the latter half of season 2, was, and how little focus was put on some fights.
Instead of spending more time on well-choreographed, animated fight scenes like Sukuna vs. Mahoraga, which would have looked fantastic on screen, the recap chose to allocate time towards plot-driven fights. For example, Itadori Yuji’s fight against the villain Mahito in Shibuya Station carries a lot of plot significance and character development for Yuji, but it doesn’t work well in a movie format. Too much exposition for a season that most fans have watched would stir them away from the movie.
An unintended side effect of the recap is that it requires viewers to have prior knowledge of the plot, which makes it harder for newcomers to understand the movie, ultimately making it hard for them to enjoy most of the film. Furthermore, the recap jumps right into the middle of the season, and retells everything in non-chronological format. Instead, the movie should’ve emphasized scenes featuring fight choreography and fluid animation, as those would’ve been more appreciated on the large screen.
Luckily, the second half of the movie proved to be its saving grace. Although only two episodes, the second half of the movie provided a very satisfactory introduction to season 3. The first episode takes place immediately after the end of the Shibuya Incident, so viewers jump right back into action.
The fights contained in these two episodes were extremely well-choreographed, animated, and colorful. Unique camera angles and perspectives were utilized for these fights, adding a layer of realism. The agile movements of the characters compelled viewers to actually pay attention to every corner of the screen.
The most captivating fight in these episodes is Yuji vs. Yuta. There was a tense atmosphere with this fight, as it felt more like a chase rather than a fight on equal footing. Aside from the story implications of the fight, it was visually stunning. This fight fully utilizes the environment of a desolate Shibuya, Japan, with both characters jumping around the city and using it as their arena.
The music scores in the Culling Game episodes deserve praise for their emotional and engaging composition. Synths and orchestral instruments are fused to form a cinematic atmosphere. Glitchy and distorted sounds are interspersed throughout the soundtrack to create an unsettling ambience, a fitting sound for the aesthetic of JJK.
Overall, “Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution” is weighed down heavily because of its recap portion. If the movie were just the first four episodes of “The Culling Game Part 1,” it would’ve been a better movie experience.
