Fullmetal Alchemist (2017) is a Japanese-language superhero film adapted from Manga, directed by Fumihiko Sori and starring Ryosuke Yamada and Tsubasa Honda. The film is a standalone production outside any shared cinematic universe and was released by Warner Bros. Japan. Audience rating: 6.2/10.
What is Fullmetal Alchemist (2017) about?
Two alchemist brothers attempt to revive their dead mother using forbidden alchemy, losing their bodies in the process. They seek the Philosopher's Stone to restore what was taken. Based on Hiromu Arakawa's manga.
Released in 2017, Fullmetal Alchemist was directed by Fumihiko Sori and produced under the Warner Bros. Japan banner. The film occupies a significant place within the Independent — telling a self-contained story outside of shared-continuity superhero franchises.
The film features lead performances from Ryosuke Yamada, Tsubasa Honda, Dean Fujioka, among others, anchoring a story that adapts characters first brought to life in Manga. Its source material gives the film a foundation rooted in decades of published storytelling, which Sori and the creative team interpret through a cinematic lens.
The film's 6.2 audience rating indicates a mixed response. Even so, it holds interest as part of the broader Independent catalogue and for how it fits into the lineage of Manga-based cinema.
What happens in Fullmetal Alchemist (2017)? — Full Plot
We open in a Victorian-era alternate world where alchemy is a recognized scientific discipline. Two young brothers — Edward Elric (Ryosuke Yamada) and Alphonse Elric (CGI-rendered) — have attempted to bring their dead mother back to life through alchemy.
The resurrection attempt failed catastrophically. Their mother's body was malformed and dies again. Edward lost his right arm and left leg. Alphonse lost his entire body — only his soul remains, attached to a suit of armor.
Edward and Alphonse become State Alchemists — official military researchers. They embark on a journey to find the Philosopher's Stone, an ancient artifact that could potentially restore Alphonse's body.
The brothers encounter the Homunculi — humanoid creatures created by a corrupt alchemist named Father. The Homunculi are pursuing the Philosopher's Stone for their own purposes. The brothers fight several Homunculi across multiple locations.
The military discovers that Father is the source of the Homunculi. Father has been manipulating the state alchemy program for centuries.
The final battle is at Father's headquarters. The Elric brothers, with help from other state alchemists, defeat Father. The Philosopher's Stone is destroyed. Alphonse is partially restored.
Fullmetal Alchemist (2017) grossed approximately $14 million globally on a $13 million budget — modest commercial success at theaters but extensive streaming reach. Manga fans were widely critical of the adaptation's divergences. Netflix has produced two additional Fullmetal Alchemist sequels.
Who stars in Fullmetal Alchemist (2017)?
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What are some facts about Fullmetal Alchemist (2017)?
Fullmetal Alchemist released in 2017, placing it within the 2010s era of comic book cinema — a decade that saw superhero films become the dominant force at the global box office.
Directed by Fumihiko Sori, the film was produced by Warner Bros. Japan and adapts source material from Manga.
The principal cast features Ryosuke Yamada and Tsubasa Honda, with key supporting roles played by Dean Fujioka, Yasuko Matsuyuki.
The film belongs to Independent — an independent / standalone production, not tied to a shared cinematic universe.
Fullmetal Alchemist carries an audience rating of 6.2 — a middling reception but one that hasn't prevented its cultural footprint.
The Manga source material for Fullmetal Alchemist has been in continuous publication for decades, giving filmmakers a rich well of storylines, character arcs, and iconography to draw upon.
Modern superhero films like this one use a mix of practical effects and digital VFX, with entire sequences often shot against volume walls or LED stages pioneered by shows like The Mandalorian.
Fullmetal Alchemist is catalogued on Movies on Comics among our collection of 162 comic book films spanning 48 years of cinema — from Richard Donner's 1978 Superman to the present day.
