JuJutsu Kaisen: Execution isn’t a wholly original feature — it compiles the anime’s second season and inserts the first two episodes of season three, which begin the Culling Games arc from the original manga. That structure makes Execution the quickest way to experience the opening of the new season on the big screen, ahead of the anime’s January 2026 television premiere. The film is scheduled to premiere in Japan on Nov. 7, 2025, and in North America on Dec. 5, 2025.
Season three brings Special Grade sorcerer Yuta Okkotsu — the lead of Jujutsu Kaisen 0 — into the main series, and higher-ups in the jujutsu hierarchy order him to carry out a grim task: the execution of his former classmate Yuji Itadori. Their long-awaited confrontation hits theaters for the first time in this film. If Mappa treats episodes 40 and 41 (“Thunderclap” parts 1 and 2) with the same care — or expands on them — Execution could prove to be a holiday-season highlight for fans.
“Thunderclap” from season two is frequently praised as one of anime’s most memorable sequences, despite the 2023 production controversy that accompanied its initial broadcast. Reports at the time described staff pushed to extreme deadlines, and the broadcast version reportedly didn’t reflect the animators’ full intentions.
The sequence centers on a high-profile clash between Sukuna and Mahoraga, showcasing experimental camera work, inventive animation choices, and relentless action. A later Blu-ray release added footage and refinements that enhanced the sequence — but a theatrical release gives the studio the chance to rework, expand, or reanimate key beats entirely. From the new trailer alone it isn’t obvious whether additional animation or fresh production work was included, and it would be a missed opportunity if such a monumental sequence were not presented in its most polished form on the biggest screens.
The second season helped propel JuJutsu Kaisen to widespread acclaim — it was a dominant talking point in 2024’s anime conversation — and the back-to-back release of episodes 40 and 41 sparked intense discussion across the fandom. Viewers were aware of the production struggles, which only amplified appreciation for what ultimately aired. When the Blu-ray arrived on March 18 it included added frames, color adjustments, and expanded motion, offering a fuller presentation than the original broadcast. Still, a cinema presentation can do more than tidy an existing cut — it can provide new animation, revised pacing, and a sound mix worthy of a theatrical experience.
Episodes 40 and 41 stand as a high-water mark for the series, and they deserve to be handled with ambition. The Culling Games arc is among the most eagerly awaited storylines set to unfold next year; if Mappa wants to start the season on the strongest note, a theatrical re-presentation of the anime’s most spectacular sequence — rendered with the highest production values — would be the ideal way to do it.
Source: Polygon
