If you're trying to figure out when when did scott pilgrim come out, you're probably realizing it’s not just one date. This thing is a hydra. Every time you think you’ve pinned down a release, a new version or a remaster pops up like a boss fight you didn't see coming.
Honestly, the Scott Pilgrim timeline is a bit of a mess because the creator, Bryan Lee O'Malley, spent nearly a decade just finishing the books, while the movie and game were being developed simultaneously. It’s a rare case where the adaptation actually caught up to the source material in real-time.
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The Graphic Novels: Where It All Started (2004–2010)
Most people forget that Scott Pilgrim was a slow burn. It wasn't an overnight hit. The first black-and-white volume, Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life, hit shelves on August 18, 2004. At the time, it was just this weird indie comic from Oni Press that blended Canadian slacker culture with video game tropes.
O’Malley didn't just dump all six books at once. He took his time. Here is how the original release schedule actually looked:
- Volume 1: August 18, 2004
- Volume 2: June 15, 2005
- Volume 3: May 24, 2006
- Volume 4: November 14, 2007
- Volume 5: February 4, 2009
- Volume 6: July 20, 2010
That final book, Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour, came out only a few weeks before the movie hit theaters. If you think about it, that’s incredibly stressful for a writer. O’Malley was finishing the ending of his life's work while Edgar Wright was literally filming a version of that same ending.
The Movie: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010)
The live-action movie is usually what people mean when they ask when the series debuted. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World officially premiered in the United States on August 13, 2010.
It’s legendary for its "flop" status that turned into a cult obsession. It opened against The Expendables and Eat Pray Love, which is basically the worst possible counter-programming. It made almost no money at the box office, but within a year, you couldn't go to a college dorm without seeing the poster.
The movie feels like a time capsule of 2010. You've got Michael Cera at the height of his "awkward guy" era and a supporting cast that includes a pre-Captain America Chris Evans and a pre-Captain Marvel Brie Larson. It’s wild to look back at now.
The Video Game: A Disappearing Act (2010 & 2021)
The game has its own weird history. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game (the 8-bit style beat-em-up) was released on August 10, 2010, for the PlayStation Network and later on Xbox Live Arcade.
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Then it just... disappeared. Due to licensing issues, the game was delisted in 2014. You literally couldn't buy it for seven years. It became this "lost" piece of media until Ubisoft finally re-released the Complete Edition on January 14, 2021.
The Netflix Anime: Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (2023)
The most recent entry is the Netflix anime, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. This dropped on November 17, 2023.
What’s cool about this is that it isn’t a remake. Even though the marketing made it look like a straight adaptation of the books, it’s actually an alternate-timeline sequel. If you haven't seen it, just know that it subverts everything you think you know about the story. It brought back the entire original movie cast for the voices, which is a feat in itself given how famous they all became.
Why the Dates Matter
If you’re a newcomer, the order you consume this stuff matters. Most fans suggest starting with the books because the movie has to cut a lot of the character growth to fit into two hours. The anime is definitely meant to be watched last because it plays with your expectations of the original plot.
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Summary Checklist for Your Collection
- Original Comics: Start here for the full story (began 2004).
- The Movie: Watch for the visuals and the music (2010).
- The Game: Play the Complete Edition (2021) for the Anamanaguchi soundtrack.
- The Anime: Watch this only after you know the story (2023).
If you're looking to dive deeper into the series, your best bet is to grab the Color Collection of the graphic novels. They were released starting in 2012 and they make the art pop in a way the original black-and-white versions just didn't. It's the definitive way to experience the world Bryan Lee O'Malley created over twenty years ago.