One Piece: Curse of the Sacred Sword

During a stop on Asuka Island, the Straw Hat crew encounters a legendary blade known as the Seven Star Sword, said to carry a curse. On the voyage back to the Going Merry, Zoro vanishes from his post as Marines close in on the ship. The crew slips away to a safer harbor and discovers a village sworn to keep the cursed weapon under lock and key. The assault intensifies and Zoro resurfaces amid the Marines, leaving Luffy and friends unsure where his loyalties truly lie. A figure from Zoro's past hints at a deeper connection to the blade and sets up a new test for the crew.

Directed by Kazuhisa Takenouchi, this 2004 feature expands the One Piece universe on the big screen. It adapts material from Eiichiro Oda's manga with Yoshiyuki Suga contributing to the screenplay, delivering classic pirate humor and action. The movie keeps the energy of the crew through quick banter and familiar abilities during skirmishes, while introducing new allies and obstacles that feel earned rather than gimmicky.

Fans remember the film for weaving a mythic blade into the One Piece mythos and keeping the crew's chemistry front and center. Its visuals resonate with colorful sea battles, trickster humor, and the franchise's signature pacing. The sword's legend adds weight to the voyage, drawing in longtime viewers and inviting newcomers to explore the series' theatrical side. Cosplay and fan art frequently reference the sword and the crew, reinforcing the film's place in the larger fan imagination.

Reception and themes align with One Piece's bread and butter: loyalty, friendship, and standing by your crew when the odds rise. The story balances fast paced battles with light hearted humor, while rewarding longtime fans with familiar dynamics. It sits at 6.9 out of 10 from 239 votes, signaling a solid, if not groundbreaking, entry in the franchise. The film also showcases the crew's resilience when faced with uncertainty.