My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising

My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising is widely considered the best of the MHA theatrical films, featuring Class 1-A assigned to a small island community while they run a provisional hero office. When a villain named Nine arrives seeking a rare Quirk ability needed to complete his own power, the students must mount a defense against an opponent far beyond their current ability — ultimately forcing Deku and Bakugo to combine their powers in a way that feels like a genuine culmination of their rivalry and grudging respect. The film delivers the kind of all-hands Class 1-A team battle that the TV series rarely provides, giving supporting characters meaningful combat moments alongside the main cast.

Heroes Rising's climax was described by creator Kohei Horikoshi as something he had been planning for the final chapter of the manga — a revelation that gives the film enormous significance despite its non-canon status. The fight sequences are among the best-animated in the franchise, with Bones delivering exceptional sakuga across the film's extended confrontation. The emotional payoff of Deku and Bakugo's dynamic in the final battle is a genuine highlight of their arc across the entire series. For MHA fans, this film is essential viewing — not because of its plot implications but because it delivers a version of the Deku/Bakugo relationship that the TV series takes much longer to develop.