Nerdly » ‘Attack on Titan: The Last Attack’ Review

11th Mar2025

‘Attack on Titan: The Last Attack’ Review

by James Rodrigues

For a limited run, Crunchyroll brought Attack on Titan: The Last Attack to cinema screens across the world. For fans of the series, it is a chance to see the culmination of this grand story as one colossal film on the big screen, even if you have already watched the conclusion prior to this. For everyone else, it cannot be recommended that they watch this finale to a plot-heavy and in-depth storyline without watching the previous 87 episodes. It would be like starting Game of Thrones from the final two episodes.

For those unaware of the series, Attack on Titan began life as a manga series from Hajime Isayama before being adapted into an anime series. From its first episode in 2013, viewers were engrossed with its fascinating set-up that saw humanity living beneath giant walls fighting titans, which are large humanoid creatures that devour humans.

It was an important series that introduced anime to a new generation and catapulted the medium into the mainstream, resulting in an explosion of interest for something previously considered niche. Without the series growing so popular, you likely would not have this massive finale showing on so many screens across the Western world.

Central to the story is Eren Jaeger, who vowed revenge on the Titans after they left him motherless as a young child. That was the beginning of his journey which led him to fight titans in the Survey Corps, discovering long-hidden truths, and what kind of world lurks outside the walls. To protect the home that he grew up in, he plots the “Rumbling,” a terrifying plan to eradicate every living thing outside of the walls that could pose a threat. With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, a motley crew of Eren’s former friends and enemies unite to stop this deadly mission.

Across the four seasons, which unfolded across a decade, beloved characters were put at risk as the narrative took fascinating routes, giving the story interesting layers as it focused upon more familiar horrors such as fascism. This feature offers the chance to experience the final two specials together without a ten-month gap to wait in between, all of which works exceptionally on the big screen. The stunning animation is mesmerising to witness, bringing alive each brilliantly rendered battle, the heartbreaking losses, and the many hardships which saw the characters repeatedly beaten down.

The most astounding thing is how, despite the 145-minute runtime, the film feels much quicker as it flies by. It is all part of an engrossing story about the cyclical nature of violence and war, where being faced with the reality of our actions does not stop humanity’s destructive nature from triumphing. It is not a feel-good message, yet that does not stop characters from persevering in the face of such overwhelming odds. Plus, it remains worth the ticket price to see Levi committing the best kill of the entire series on the big screen. Adding to that is a cute post-credits scene which has fun with the fandom’s reactions to such an ending, while also offering some much-needed hope for the future.

In a world full of franchise extensions and revivals, I doubt that this will be the final Attack on Titan work that is ever released. Perhaps a sequel series will eventually arrive, but whether or not that happens, this is the triumphant culmination of an exceptional 21st-century story. Attack on Titan: The Last Attack reminds me of why I fell in love with the series, and I am glad to have seen this powerful story reach its finale on the big screen. So long, Survey Corps, and thanks for all the napes you slashed.