Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (劇場版 カウボーイビバップ 天国の扉 Gekijōban Kaubōi Bibappu: Tengoku no Tobira?, known in Japan as Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' on Heaven's Door, also known as Cowboy Bebop: Heaven's Door in English), is the 2001 animated film directed by Shinichirō Watanabe. The plot centers on Spike Spiegel and the crew of Bebop as they search for a criminal who is planning to release a virus on Mars. Opening on September 1, 2001 in Japan and in the U.S. on August 11, 2002, the film grossed over $3 million worldwide and received positive reviews.