Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time

Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021) is the fourth and final installment of the Rebuild of Evangelion film series, directed by Hideaki Anno and produced by Studio Khara. This long-awaited conclusion wraps up the story of Shinji Ikari and the fractured world of Evangelions—giant biomechanical mechs used to battle apocalyptic threats known as Angels. Set after the devastating events of Evangelion 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, the film follows Shinji, Asuka, and Rei as they wander a ruined world trying to heal from trauma. Meanwhile, the final conflict between WILLE (led by Misato) and NERV (commanded by Gendo Ikari) unfolds, culminating in a metaphysical battle that rewrites reality itself. The film is as much about emotional closure as it is about spectacle. Shinji finally confronts his guilt, pain, and role in the destruction of the world. The final act, filled with surreal imagery and narrative loops, acts as both a deconstruction and farewell to the entire Evangelion mythos. Anno uses this film to purge the series' history of despair and trauma, offering something unprecedented in Evangelion: genuine closure and hope. At the box office, Thrice Upon a Time was a massive success in Japan. It grossed over ¥10.28 billion (approx. $92 million USD) domestically, making it the highest-grossing Evangelion film and one of the top Japanese box office hits of 2021. Its international release was handled through Amazon Prime Video, where it debuted globally (outside Japan) on August 13, 2021 in multiple dubbed and subtitled languages. Despite bypassing traditional theatrical release overseas, it reached a wide audience and received significant critical attention. Critically, the film was widely praised. It holds a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes (from a small but consistent set of reviews) and received strong fan approval for tying up a notoriously complex and emotionally dense franchise. Critics noted the film’s maturity, its inventive animation (including 2D-3D hybrid sequences), and the emotional payoff that eluded previous endings (The End of Evangelion in particular). Many called it Anno’s redemption arc, both creatively and emotionally. The film won Best Animation of the Year at the 45th Japan Academy Film Prize and received numerous accolades at the Tokyo Anime Awards Festival and Mainichi Film Awards. It was also named Best Animated Film by several anime and film outlets in 2021. The legacy of Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time is monumental. It concluded one of anime’s most iconic and psychologically charged franchises with surprising tenderness and thematic clarity. For fans and newcomers alike, it redefined what a mecha anime finale could be—less about destruction and more about personal rebirth, healing, and moving on.