Jujutsu Kaisen Hidden Inventory / Premature Death Review

I’ve been following Jujutsu Kaisen since the anime first began airing in 2020, and it quickly cemented itself as one of the most popular modern shonen series. Between its dark themes, high-octane battles, and genuinely emotional storytelling, it’s managed to stand out in a crowded field of anime adaptations. We’ve already seen the franchise make the leap to the big screen once before with Jujutsu Kaisen 0, which served as both a prequel and a proper feature-length film. Now, in 2025, we’re back in theaters with Jujutsu Kaisen: Hidden Inventory / Premature Death – The Movie. Unlike JJK 0, this isn’t a brand-new story. Instead, it’s a compilation film that condenses the opening arc of Season 2 into a single cinematic experience. At first glance, that might seem unnecessary, but sitting through it, I found it surprisingly effective, emotional, and in some ways even more impactful than the episodic format.

To put it simply, this movie takes the first five episodes of Season 2, which cover the “Hidden Inventory” and “Premature Death” arcs, and re-edits them into a streamlined two-hour feature. The story is set in 2006, years before Yuji Itadori and the events of the main series. Instead, it focuses on a young Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto during their time as second-year students at Tokyo Jujutsu High. The central mission is deceptively simple. They are tasked with protecting Riko Amanai, a teenage girl who has been chosen as the Star Plasma Vessel, someone destined to merge with the immortal sorcerer Tengen in order to stabilize the balance of the Jujutsu world. As you can imagine, many factions want her dead, and the mission quickly escalates into a violent clash with dangerous enemies, including the infamous assassin Toji Fushiguro.

If you’ve already seen Season 2, you know how this arc unfolds. It’s a story of friendship, betrayal, and the tragic divergence of two of Jujutsu Kaisen’s most important characters. If you haven’t, the movie actually works really well as a self-contained tale. It doesn’t require prior knowledge of Yuji, Sukuna, or the Shibuya Incident. It’s about two best friends, Gojo and Geto, who start from a place of camaraderie and end up walking paths that will make them bitter enemies. That human drama is at the heart of this story, and it’s why this arc is so beloved.

You might wonder, why make this into a movie if the episodes already exist? I know I certainly did when it was announced that this film was being produced. Part of it is practical. Anime recap films aren’t new, series like Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer, and Neon Genesis Evangelion have all released condensed movie versions of their TV arcs. For Jujutsu Kaisen, though, it’s a bit more than a cash grab. The “Hidden Inventory / Premature Death” storyline is pivotal in understanding Gojo and Geto’s relationship, and by giving it a cinematic presentation, MAPPA and TOHO essentially elevate it into a tragic feature-length drama. It also helps keep momentum for the franchise while fans wait for the upcoming third season.

There’s also the simple fact that the arc feels like a movie when watched straight through. In episodic form, it was strong, but as a continuous two-hour film, the pacing and emotional throughline hit harder. It’s a smoother, more cohesive experience, which makes the heartbreak of its ending even more devastating.

The biggest selling point is the refined presentation. Transitions between episodes have been polished, giving the whole film a natural flow instead of feeling like stitched-together episodes. The soundtrack has been tweaked, making the action sequences feel even more cinematic. On top of that, the theatrical release comes with an exclusive “Juju Stroll” mini-anime, a short comedic piece showing Gojo, Geto, and Shoko in lighter moments. It’s a nice tonal contrast to the heaviness of the main story and a fun extra for fans who come out to theaters.

MAPPA has always been known for its kinetic, fluid animation, and this movie is a showcase of just how stunning their work can look on the big screen. The highlight for me, no surprise here, is Gojo vs. Toji. The battle is breathtaking, blending fast choreography with surreal displays of cursed energy. Seeing Gojo unleash Hollow Purple on a cinema screen, with booming sound design would be reason enough to head out and catch the movie in theatres.

But it’s not just spectacle. MAPPA have always known how to use quiet animation too. Facial expressions, subtle changes in body language, and heavy pauses all add to the emotional weight. One scene in particular, involving Geto’s fateful decision after the mission, lingers not because of flashy visuals, but because of the stillness. The animation gives weight to despair just as much as it does to combat.

At its core, this isn’t just an action story, it’s a tragedy. Gojo and Geto’s friendship is the emotional centerpiece. Gojo starts as cocky, carefree, and borderline arrogant, but through the trials of the mission, he begins to grow into the “strongest sorcerer” we know him as in the present timeline. Geto, meanwhile, is compassionate and idealistic at first. He cares deeply about protecting non-sorcerers and Riko herself. But witnessing the cruelty of humanity and the harsh demands of the Jujutsu world breaks him. His transformation from loyal friend to eventual villain is what gives this film its devastating punch.

The movie doesn’t shy away from its darker elements either. Death comes swiftly and brutally. Riko’s arc, in particular, is deeply tragic, exploring questions of fate, choice, and the crushing weight of destiny. It’s not a story with happy endings, and that’s what makes it resonate so strongly.

Music has always been an underrated strength of Jujutsu Kaisen, and the film doubles down on that. Familiar tracks are given richer mixing for the theater experience, and the emotional beats are punctuated by swelling orchestration. The new acoustic rendition of “Where Our Blue Is” is gorgeous, stripped down and melancholy, perfectly embodying the bittersweet tone of Gojo and Geto’s fractured bond.

Final Thoughts

So, was Jujutsu Kaisen: Hidden Inventory / Premature Death – The Movie necessary? Strictly speaking, no, you could watch Season 2’s first five episodes and get the exact same story. But “necessary” isn’t the point. This movie exists to give one of the most emotionally pivotal arcs in the series the cinematic treatment it deserves, and in that sense, it succeeds brilliantly. The refined pacing, the theater-quality sound and visuals, the bonus content, and the sheer emotional power of seeing Gojo and Geto’s downfall play out on the big screen make this a worthwhile experience for fans.

Best of all, the film doesn’t just feel like a cut together recap. I felt like I had experienced a full-fledged tragic anime film, one that could stand alongside Jujutsu Kaisen 0 as a story that cuts deep. If you’re already invested in this world, it’s absolutely worth seeing. And if you’re new, it’s an intense, self-contained introduction to just how powerful Jujutsu Kaisen’s storytelling can be.

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