When does the Hello Kitty movie premiere? July 21, 2028 — Derrick Jr. & Aoshima; New Line/WBPA; Sanrio’s first Hollywood theatrical. Not Kuromi-only; cast TBA.
Current target date: Friday, July 21, 2028 (Theatrical premiere). We update this page when studios or publishers move the window.
Hello Kitty feature opens July 21, 2028 (WB/New Line/WBPA). Derrick+Aoshima; Flynn/Naito; Sanrio Hollywood debut. ≠ Dynamic Duo; ≠ Kuromi stealth title.
Theatrical premiere
Friday, July 21, 2028
July 21, 2028 — Sanrio’s bow finally gets a Hollywood Friday
The Hello Kitty feature opens Friday, July 21, 2028. New Line and WB Pictures Animation — with Flynn’s decade-long Sanrio courtship and Naito joining to produce — send the 1974 icon into theaters under Derrick and Aoshima after years of script passes (Chan currently writing; Fox, Dippold, and others drafted earlier).
Sanrio calls it Hello Kitty’s Hollywood theatrical debut under “One World, Connecting Smiles.” Dynamic Duo (June 30) is the prior WBPA Friday that summer — Robins, not ribbons.
Confirmed: Jul 21 2028 WB/New Line Sanrio feature — not a Kuromi stealth title, not undated
Confirmed: July 21, 2028 theatrical; Derrick + Aoshima; Flynn/Naito; New Line + WBPA; Sanrio rights first for Hollywood film. Not confirmed as still hybrid-locked, as Matsuda directing, or as a 2026–27 open from early rumor cycles. Fake “Hello Kitty live-action 2025” stubs are museum pieces.
How long the bow waited for a billboard
- 2019 — New Line lands Sanrio film rights (first Hollywood grant).
- 2021 — project publicly announced after Flynn’s long courtship.
- Years of drafts — Garant/Lennon treatment; multiple screenwriters.
- 2025 — July 21, 2028 date via Sanrio/WB; Matsuda briefly attached.
- 2026 — Derrick + Aoshima take directing; Naito produces; Chan script.
- Jul 21, 2028 — current theatrical target.
Before July 2028 — buy the right Sanrio ticket
- Marquee: Hello Kitty / July 21, 2028 — Warner Bros.
- Dynamic Duo is June 30 — different WBPA title.
- Theme-park cafés and merch drops are not the movie date.
- Ignore “Matsuda still directing” scrapers after the Derrick/Aoshima announce.
- Cast TBA — don’t trust random celebrity voice posters yet.
Sanrio spent decades saying no to Hollywood — July 21, 2028 is the first time Hello Kitty gets a studio Friday
The interesting fact isn’t “cute cat movie incoming.” It’s that Flynn spent nearly a decade convincing Sanrio’s founder circle to license a feature at all — then New Line/WBPA printed a real July 21, 2028 global date with Derrick and Aoshima on the chair. Merch conquered the world first; the billboard came last.
SEO that still calls this undated vaporware or a random 2025 hybrid stub is arguing with Sanrio’s own press release.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about this release date.
1When does the Hello Kitty movie open?
July 21, 2028 worldwide from Warner Bros. Pictures — New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures Animation producing Sanrio’s Hollywood theatrical debut. Sanrio’s own PR locked that Friday.
2Who is directing?
David Derrick Jr. (Moana 2) and John Aoshima (Ultraman: Rising) helm. An earlier director attachment (Leo Matsuda) was superseded when Derrick and Aoshima were announced. Beau Flynn and Ramsay Naito produce.
3Is it live-action, animated, or a hybrid?
Early development talk floated animated/live-action hybrid language. Current studio framing is a Warner Bros. Pictures Animation / New Line feature adventure with Hello Kitty and friends — treat final technique mix as TBD until official materials spell it out, and ignore “100% live-action remake” fan posters.
4Is this a Kuromi or My Melody movie instead?
No. The dated title is Hello Kitty’s feature debut (Sanrio characters may appear as friends). Separate Sanrio merch IP is not a different July 21 SKU.
Explore more hubs
Jump into another category — anime, games, movies, sport, and events calendars.