Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale (2017)

«Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale» (original title: Gekijô-ban Sôdo Âto Onrain: Sword Art Online – Ôdinaru sukêru) is a 2017 feature-length anime film based on the light novel series «Sword Art Online» by author Reki Kawahara. The events of the film take place after the second season of the anime series (Sword Art Online II) and before the start of the «Alicization» arc. The plot introduces viewers to a new augmented reality technology — Ordinal Scale, which allows players to interact with virtual objects in the real world using a special device called «Augma». Kirito, Asuna, and their friends find themselves drawn into a dangerous game when it turns out that bosses from the world of Aincrad are appearing in reality, and losing battles results in memory loss. The film combines action, science fiction, and drama, exploring themes of memory, identity, and the impact of technology on human relationships.

Basic Information

• Release Date: February 18, 2017 (Japan), March 9, 2017 (USA)
• Duration: 1 hour 59 minutes
• Studio: A-1 Pictures
• Director: Tomohiko Ito
• Screenwriter: Reki Kawahara (original story), Tomohiko Ito
• Composer: Yuki Kajiura
• Genres: Action, Adventure, Science Fiction, Drama

Plot

In 2026, a few years after the SAO incident, a new augmented reality game appears — Ordinal Scale. Unlike full dive, it uses the Augma device, which projects virtual objects into the real world. Kirito is initially skeptical of the game, but Asuna and other friends quickly become engrossed in it. Soon they discover that bosses from Aincrad are appearing in Ordinal Scale, and if a player loses, they lose memories related to SAO. Kirito and his team must uncover the secret behind the game and save their friends, including Asuna, who risks losing her most precious memories.

Chronology of the «Sword Art Online» Franchise

The «Sword Art Online» franchise spans several anime seasons, films, and spin-offs. Below is the recommended viewing order for the main works:

• Sword Art Online (Season 1, 2012) — 25 episodes. First arc: Aincrad — players are trapped in a deadly VRMMORPG where death in the game means death in reality. Second arc: Fairy Dance — Kirito rescues Asuna from another virtual game.
• Sword Art Online: Extra Edition (2013) — a special episode summarizing the first season and containing new content.
• Sword Art Online II (Season 2, 2014) — 24 episodes. Phantom Bullet arc: Kirito investigates murders linked to the game Gun Gale Online. Calibur arc: the team embarks on a quest for a legendary sword. Mother's Rosario arc: Asuna meets a girl named Yuuki who suffers from an incurable disease.
• Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale (2017) — a feature-length film, the events of which take place between the second season and the Alicization arc.
• Sword Art Online: Alicization (Season 3, 2018–2019) — 47 episodes (split into Alicization and Alicization: War of Underworld). Kirito enters a new virtual world «Underworld» with extremely realistic AI.
• Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of Underworld (2019–2020) — continuation of Alicization, 23 episodes. The final battle for the fate of Underworld.
• Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night (2021) — a feature-length film retelling the events of Aincrad from Asuna's perspective.
• Sword Art Online Progressive: Scherzo of Deep Night (2022) — continuation of Progressive, covering the fifth floor of Aincrad.

Where to Watch

Official platforms for watching the film may vary by region. At the time of writing (August 2026), the film is available on:

• Crunchyroll (subtitles and dubbing)
• Netflix (in some regions)
• Amazon Prime Video (rental/purchase)
• Apple TV (rental/purchase)

For Ukrainian viewers, it is recommended to check availability on localized services such as:

• Search on UAKino

Note: availability may change, so we advise checking current information on the platforms.