My biggest problem with tie-in films to popular anime is that everything that happens in them is ultimately inconsequential in order to fit into the manga's storyline. No real risks are taken and the movies suffer as a result. This film blows everything quite literally out of the water. Film Z manages to tie itself into the larger story perfectly, feeling like an actual cannon story arc that hits just as hard as some of the best One Piece has to offer. I feel insane to say this, but the antagonist Z may be the best villain One Piece has had yet. He feels like an actualproper threat to the straw hats and his backstory is both believable and sympathetic.

This should be considered essential viewing for any fans of Luffy and his friends.