The initial theatrical run in July 1997 was standard. But it was the exclusive releases—the limited theatrical screenings, the first-press laser discs, and the peculiar "Resurrection" showings—that created the mythos of the "1997 exclusive."
For one night only, return to the Geofront. We are hosting an screening of the 1997 cinematic finale, The End of Evangelion . See the Third Impact on the big screen where it belongs. neon genesis evangelion the end of evangelion 1997 exclusive
And then, there is the battle.
Watching the 1997 film today, it is staggering how well it holds up. The animation is fluid, visceral, and terrifying. The opening invasion of NERV headquarters by the JSSDF remains one of the most chilling sequences in animation history. It isn't the clean, sanitized violence of giant robots; it is messy, grounded, and shockingly human. The initial theatrical run in July 1997 was standard