Movies Set In Japanese

2001 • Rating 8.5 • animation, family, fantasy

A young girl, Chihiro, becomes trapped in a strange new world of spirits. When her parents undergo a mysterious transformation, she must call upon the courage she never knew she had to free her family.

Genre: Animation, Family, Fantasy

Style: Dark, Mind Bending

Audience: Family, Teens

Plot: Witch, Parent Child Relationship, Darkness, Bath House, Magic, Spirit, Parallel World, Amusement Park, Youkai, Japanese Mythology

Time: Year 2001, 2000S, 2001-07-20

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Rumi Hiiragi, Miyu Irino, Mari Natsuki, Takashi Naito, Yasuko Sawaguchi, Tatsuya Gashûin

2016 • Rating 8.5 • animation, romance, drama

High schoolers Mitsuha and Taki are complete strangers living separate lives. But one night, they suddenly switch places. Mitsuha wakes up in Taki’s body, and he in hers. This bizarre occurrence continues to happen randomly, and the two must adjust their lives around each other.

Genre: Animation, Romance, Drama

Style: Mind Bending, Surreal

Audience: Date Night, Family, Teens

Plot: High School, Race Against Time, Dreams, Afterlife, Natural Disaster, Supernatural, Time Travel, Comet, Romance, Tragedy

Time: Year 2016, 2010S, Time Travel Era, 2016-08-26

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Ryunosuke Kamiki, Mone Kamishiraishi, Ryo Narita, Aoi Yuuki, Nobunaga Shimazaki, Kaito Ishikawa

2026 • Rating 8.5 • animation, science fiction, war

The year is U.C.0105, twelve years after Char's Rebellion. "MAFTY" has begun resisting the Federation government's tyrannical rule by assassinating its ministers. Its leader is actually Hathaway Noa, the son of Bright Noa, who fought in the One Year War alongside Amuro Ray. Haunted by past trauma, Hathaway is drawn to a mysterious girl named Gigi Andalucia, whose strange powers stir memories within him. While swayed by her cryptic words, he continues preparing for MAFTY's mission -- the attack on the Adelaide Conference. Kenneth Sleg of the Earth Federation Forces prepares a defense operation for the Adelaide Conference and a plan to eliminate MAFTY and is approached by Handley Yoxon of the Criminal Police Organization with a secret proposal. As Hathaway and Kenneth pursue their respective goals, Gigi also sets off for Hong Kong to fulfill her own role.

Genre: Animation, Science Fiction, War, Drama

Style: Cerebral, Futuristic

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Family, Teens

Plot: Based On Novel Or Book, Sequel, Mecha, Anime, Real Robot, Gundam, The Year Is U, Twelve Years After Char'S Rebellion, Mafty, Has Begun Resisting The Federation Government'S Tyrannical Rule By Assassinating Its Ministers

Time: Year 2026, 2020S, 2026-01-30

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Kensho Ono, Reina Ueda, Junichi Suwabe, Soma Saito, Kenjiro Tsuda, Yui Ishikawa

1954 • Rating 8.5 • action, drama

A samurai answers a village's request for protection after he falls on hard times. The town needs protection from bandits, so the samurai gathers six others to help him teach the people how to defend themselves, and the villagers provide the soldiers with food.

Genre: Action, Drama

Style:

Audience: Date Night

Plot: Martial Arts, Japan, Samurai, Sword, Peasant, Village, Looting, Rice, Fencing, Moral Ambiguity

Time: Year 1954, 1950S, 1954-04-26

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Toshirō Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Yoshio Inaba, Seiji Miyaguchi, Minoru Chiaki, Daisuke Katō

1988 • Rating 8.4 • animation, drama, war

In the final months of World War II, 14-year-old Seita and his sister Setsuko are orphaned when their mother is killed during an air raid in Kobe, Japan. After a falling out with their aunt, they move into an abandoned bomb shelter. With no surviving relatives and their emergency rations depleted, Seita and Setsuko struggle to survive.

Genre: Animation, Drama, War

Style: Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Family

Plot: Sibling Relationship, Hunger, World War Ii, Wartime, Shelter, Struggle For Survival, Pacific Theater, Adult Animation, Semi Autobiographical, Anti War

Time: Year 1988, 1980S, 1988-04-16

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Yoshiko Shinohara, Akemi Yamaguchi, Masayo Sakai, Kozo Hashida

1962 • Rating 8.4 • action, drama, history

Down-on-his-luck veteran Tsugumo Hanshirō enters the courtyard of the prosperous House of Iyi. Unemployed, and with no family, he hopes to find a place to commit seppuku—and a worthy second to deliver the coup de grâce in his suicide ritual. The senior counselor for the Iyi clan questions the ronin’s resolve and integrity, suspecting Hanshirō of seeking charity rather than an honorable end. What follows is a pair of interlocking stories which lay bare the difference between honor and respect, and promises to examine the legendary foundations of the Samurai code.

Genre: Action, Drama, History

Style:

Audience: Date Night

Plot: Suicide, Japan, Samurai, Asia, Flashback, Revenge, Poverty, Black And White, Seppuku, Ronin

Time: Year 1962, 1960S, 1962-09-15

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Ishihama, Shima Iwashita, Tetsuro Tamba, Masao Mishima, Ichirō Nakatani

2018 • Rating 8.4 • animation, action, adventure

Struggling to find his place in the world while juggling school and family, Brooklyn teenager Miles Morales is unexpectedly bitten by a radioactive spider and develops unfathomable powers just like the one and only Spider-Man. While wrestling with the implications of his new abilities, Miles discovers a super collider created by the madman Wilson "Kingpin" Fisk, causing others from across the Spider-Verse to be inadvertently transported to his dimension.

Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Science Fiction

Style: Cerebral, Futuristic

Audience: Family, Teens

Plot: Superhero, Based On Comic, Aftercreditsstinger, Alternate Universe, Struggling To Find His Place In The World While Juggling School And Family, Brooklyn Teenager Miles Morales Is Unexpectedly Bitten By A Radioactive Spider And Develops Unfathomable Powers Just Like The One And Only Spider-Man, While Wrestling With The Implications Of His New Abilities, Miles Discovers A Super Collider Created By The Madman Wilson, Kingpin, Fisk

Time: Year 2018, 2010S, 2018-12-06

Place: United States Of America, English, Japanese, Spanish

Cast: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali, Brian Tyree Henry, Lily Tomlin

2004 • Rating 8.4 • fantasy, animation, adventure

Sophie, a young milliner, is turned into an elderly woman by a witch who enters her shop and curses her. She encounters a wizard named Howl and gets caught up in his resistance to fighting for the king.

Genre: Fantasy, Animation, Adventure

Style:

Audience: Family, Teens

Plot: Witch, Flying, Rain, Castle, Scarecrow, Body Exchange, Melancholy, Hatter, Bakery, Curse

Time: Year 2004, 2000S, 2004-09-09

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Chieko Baisho, Takuya Kimura, Akihiro Miwa, Tatsuya Gashûin, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Mitsunori Isaki

2016 • Rating 8.4 • animation, drama, romance

Shouya Ishida starts bullying the new girl in class, Shouko Nishimiya, because she is deaf. But as the teasing continues, the rest of the class starts to turn on Shouya for his lack of compassion. When they leave elementary school, Shouko and Shouya do not speak to each other again... until an older, wiser Shouya, tormented by his past behaviour, decides he must see Shouko once more. He wants to atone for his sins, but is it already too late...?

Genre: Animation, Drama, Romance

Style:

Audience: Date Night, Family, Teens

Plot: High School, Friendship, Suicide, Suicide Attempt, Deaf, Bullying, Coming Of Age, School, Based On Manga, Adult Animation

Time: Year 2016, 2010S, 2016-09-17

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Miyu Irino, Saori Hayami, Aoi Yuuki, Kensho Ono, Yuki Kaneko, Yui Ishikawa

1995 • Rating 7.9 • animation, drama, family

Shizuku lives a simple life, dominated by her love for stories and writing. One day she notices that all the library books she has have been previously checked out by the same person: "Seiji Amasawa."

Genre: Animation, Drama, Family

Style: Mind Bending, Surreal

Audience: Date Night, Family

Plot: Dreams, Library, Italy, Violin, Writing, Education, Love, Train, Based On Manga, Cartoon Cat

Time: Year 1995, 1990S, 1995-07-15

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Yoko Honna, Issey Takahashi, Takashi Tachibana, Shigeru Muroi, Minami Takayama, Mayumi Izuka

1989 • Rating 7.8 • animation, family, fantasy

A young witch, on her mandatory year of independent life, finds fitting into a new community difficult while she supports herself by running an air courier service.

Genre: Animation, Family, Fantasy

Style:

Audience: Family, Teens

Plot: Witch, Clock Tower, Bicycle Accident, Female Friendship, Bakery, Coming Of Age, Based On Children'S Book, Cartoon Cat, Cartoon Dog, Baking

Time: Year 1989, 1980S, 1989-07-29

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Minami Takayama, Rei Sakuma, Kappei Yamaguchi, Keiko Toda, Mieko Nobusawa, Koichi Miura

2025 • Rating 7.7 • animation, action, fantasy

The Demon Slayer Corps are drawn into the Infinity Castle, where Tanjiro, Nezuko, and the Hashira face terrifying Upper Rank demons in a desperate fight as the final battle against Muzan Kibutsuji begins.

Genre: Animation, Action, Fantasy

Style:

Audience: Adult, Family, Teens

Plot: Supernatural, Sequel, Based On Manga, Demon, Shounen, Anime, Brother Sister Relationship, Taisho Period, The Demon Slayer Corps Are Drawn Into The Infinity Castle, Where Tanjiro

Time: Year 2025, 2020S, 2025-07-18

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Natsuki Hanae, Takahiro Sakurai, Akira Ishida, Hiro Shimono, Yoshimasa Hosoya, Saori Hayami

2025 • Rating 7.7 • drama

In summer, Nagisa and Natsuo meet by the sea. Their vacant gazes reflect each other as they exchange awkward words and wade into the rain-drenched ocean. In winter, Li, a screenwriter, travels to a snow-covered village. There, she finds a guesthouse run by Benzo.

Genre: Drama

Style:

Audience: Date Night

Plot: Based On Manga, In Summer, Nagisa And Natsuo Meet By The Sea, Their Vacant Gazes Reflect Each Other As They Exchange Awkward Words And Wade Into The Rain-Drenched Ocean, In Winter, A Screenwriter, Travels To A Snow-Covered Village, There, She Finds A Guesthouse Run By Benzo

Time: Year 2025, 2020S, 2025-11-07

Place: Japan, Korean, Japanese

Cast: Shim Eun-kyung, Shinichi Tsutsumi, Yuumi Kawai, Mansaku Takada, Shiro Sano, Yoichiro Saito

2010 • Rating 7.7 • fantasy, animation, family

14-year-old Arrietty and the rest of the Clock family live in peaceful anonymity as they make their own home from items "borrowed" from the house's human inhabitants. However, life changes for the Clocks when a human boy discovers Arrietty.

Genre: Fantasy, Animation, Family

Style:

Audience: Family, Teens

Plot: Based On Novel Or Book, Cat, Forest, Based On Children'S Book, Little People, Dollhouse, Nostalgic, Anime, Year-Old Arrietty And The Rest Of The Clock Family Live In Peaceful Anonymity As They Make Their Own Home From Items, Borrowed

Time: Year 2010, 2010S, 2010-07-16

Place: France, Japan, United States Of America, Japanese

Cast: Mirai Shida, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Tomokazu Miura, Keiko Takeshita, Kirin Kiki, Shinobu Otake

1989 • Rating 7.6 • action, crime, drama

Mob assassin Jeffrey is no ordinary hired gun; the best in his business, he views his chosen profession as a calling rather than simply a job. So, when beautiful nightclub chanteuse Jennie is blinded in the crossfire of his most recent hit, Jeffrey chooses to retire after one last job to pay for his unintended victim's sight-restoring operation. But when Jeffrey is double-crossed, he reluctantly joins forces with a rogue policeman to make things right.

Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller

Style: Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night

Plot: Blindness And Impaired Vision, Police, Hitman, Hong Kong, Dramatic, Mob Assassin Jeffrey Is No Ordinary Hired Gun, The Best In His Business, He Views His Chosen Profession As A Calling Rather Than Simply A Job, When Beautiful Nightclub Chanteuse Jennie Is Blinded In The Crossfire Of His Most Recent Hit, Jeffrey Chooses To Retire After One Last Job To Pay For His Unintended Victim'S Sight-Restoring Operation

Time: Year 1989, 1980S, 1989-03-24

Place: Hong Kong, Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese

Cast: Chow Yun-Fat, Danny Lee Sau-Yin, Sally Yeh, Paul Chu Kong, Kenneth Tsang, Shing Fui-On

2022 • Rating 7.4 • animation, fantasy, adventure

A long-running conspiracy is swirling over a mysterious power wielded by the Queen in Raja, a small country west of Tempest. When a slime who evolved into a Demon Lord named Rimuru Tempest crosses paths with Hiiro, a survivor of the Ogre race, an incredible adventure packed with new characters begins. The power of bonds will be put to the test!

Genre: Animation, Fantasy, Adventure

Style:

Audience: Family, Teens

Plot: Monster, Magic, Slime, Reincarnation, Demon, Shounen, Anime, Other World, Isekai, Adventure

Time: Year 2022, 2020S, 2022-11-25

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Miho Okasaki, Makoto Furukawa, Megumi Toyoguchi, Tomoaki Maeno, Sayaka Senbongi, Mao Ichimichi

2026 • Rating 7.2 • action, crime, thriller

Interim sheriff Ulysses, called to the snowbound town of Normal, MN, uncovers an international criminal conspiracy at the heart of the seemingly quaint whistle-stop when he comes to the aid of a bank-robbing couple caught up in a deadly mess.

Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller

Style: Suspenseful

Audience: Adult

Plot: Small Town, Sheriff, Bank Robbery, Small Town Sheriff, Corrupt Mayor, Secret Benefactor, Action Packed, Criminal Plot, Criminal Conspiracy, Small Town Minnesota

Time: Year 2026, 2020S, 2026-04-16

Place: United States Of America, English, Japanese

Cast: Bob Odenkirk, Henry Winkler, Lena Headey, Ryan Allen, Billy MacLellan, Brendan Fletcher

2025 • Rating 6.6 • horror, mystery

A man trapped in an endless sterile subway passageway sets out to find Exit 8. The rules of his quest are simple: do not overlook anything out of the ordinary. If you discover an anomaly, turn back immediately. If you don’t, carry on. Then leave from Exit 8. But even a single oversight will send him back to the beginning. Will he ever reach his goal and escape this infinite corridor?

Genre: Horror, Mystery

Style: Cerebral

Audience: Adult, Teens

Plot: Exit, Based On Video Game, Found Footage, Station, Anomaly, Cautionary, Introspective, Psychological, Liminal, Metro

Time: Year 2025, 2020S, 2025-08-28

Place: Japan, Japanese, Space

Cast: Kazunari Ninomiya, Yamato Kochi, Nana Komatsu, Naru Asanuma, Kotone Hanase, Hirota Otsuka

2008 • Rating 6.3 • family, action, adventure

Speed Racer is a young and brilliant racing driver. When corruption in the racing leagues costs his brother his life, Speed must team up with the police and the mysterious Racer X to bring an end to the corruption and criminal activities.

Genre: Family, Action, Adventure, Comedy

Style:

Audience: Family, Teens

Plot: Car Race, Loss Of Loved One, Chimp, Family, Duringcreditsstinger, Woman Director, Live Action Remake, Based On Tv Series, Euphoric, Speed Racer Is A Young And Brilliant Racing Driver

Time: Year 2008, 2000S, 2008-05-07

Place: United States Of America, Japanese, English

Cast: Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox, Benno Fürmann

2018 • Rating 5.8 • horror

Rumored to have been lost, Antrum appears as a cursed film from the 1970s. Viewers are warned to proceed with caution. It’s said to be a story about a young boy and girl who enter the forest in an attempt to save the soul of their recently deceased pet. They journey to “The Antrum,” the very spot the devil landed after being cast out of heaven. There, the children begin to dig a hole to hell.

Genre: Horror

Style:

Audience: General Audience

Plot: Curse, Occult, Found Footage, Lost Film, Pov (Point Of View), Analog, Cursed Videos, Entrance To Hell, Moloch, Pseudo Documentary

Time: Year 2018, 2010S, 2018-10-14

Place: Canada, Hungarian, Japanese, English

Cast: Nicole Tompkins, Rowan Smyth, Dan Istrate, Circus-Szalewski, Shu Sakimoto, Kristel Elling

2026 • Rating 0.0 • animation, fantasy, adventure

After concluding the opening ceremony of the Demon Kingdom Federation Tempest, Rimuru and his companions are invited by the Celestial Emperor Hermesia of the great elven nation – the Magi Dynasty Salion – to visit her private resort island. As the group enjoys their brief vacation, a mysterious woman named Yura appears. A new incident unfolds against the backdrop of the boundless azure sea.

Genre: Animation, Fantasy, Adventure, Comedy

Style:

Audience: Family, Teens

Plot: Monster, Magic, Slime, Shounen, Anime, Isekai, After Concluding The Opening Ceremony Of The Demon Kingdom Federation Tempest, Rimuru And His Companions Are Invited By The Celestial Emperor Hermesia Of The Great Elven Nation, The Magi Dynasty Salion, To Visit Her Private Resort Island

Time: Year 2026, 2020S, 2026-02-27

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Miho Okasaki, Mao Ichimichi, Tomoaki Maeno, Makoto Furukawa, Sayaka Senbongi, Hisako Kanemoto

2026 • Rating 0.0 • music, documentary

ONE OK ROCK DETOX JAPAN TOUR 2025 AT NISSAN STADIUM IN CINEMAS unleashes the raw pulse of a career-defining night—documenting the band's commanding takeover of Japan's iconic Nissan Stadium—where thunderous riffs, soaring vocals, and 70,000 voices collide into something electric, forging an unbreakable bond between the band and their worldwide legion of fans.

Genre: Music, Documentary

Style:

Audience: General Audience

Plot: Concert, Live Performance, Rock Band, Concert Film, J Pop, Yokohama, Rock, One Ok Rock Detox Japan Tour, At Nissan Stadium In Cinemas Unleashes The Raw Pulse Of A Career-Defining Night, Documenting The Band'S Commanding Takeover Of Japan'S Iconic Nissan Stadium

Time: Year 2026, 2020S, 2026-04-17

Place: Japan, South Korea, Japanese

Cast: Takahiro Moriuchi, Toru Yamashita, Ryota Kohama, Tomoya Kanki