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Kiki's Delivery Service

Kiki's Delivery Service

I was feeling blue, but I'm better now.

1989103 minGMidcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
Director
Hayao Miyazaki
Starring
Minami Takayama, Rei Sakuma, Kappei Yamaguchi, Keiko Toda

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.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Kiki's Delivery Service?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Kiki's Delivery Service streaming on HBO Max and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

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Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Kiki's Delivery Service?

Kiki's Delivery Service earns 12 badges, led by Top 1% of films and Stood the test of time.

Show 4 more
  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Content
  • Cast

Reception

Is Kiki's Delivery Service worth watching?

Kiki's Delivery Service's Midcredits score is the 99th percentile of all films, from 1.5M ratings across 6 sources. 90% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

99th percentile

Better received than 99% of films

98th percentile among Animation99th percentile among 1980s
Acclaim (how much people like it)97th
Approval (how many liked it)98th

81 /100

97th percentile of all films

97th percentile among Animation98th percentile among 1980s

Critics 85 · Audience 81

Critics and audiences broadly agree.

Rating distribution

A tight consensus around 8.0 — people broadly agree on this one.

90% liked it

98th percentile of all films

97th percentile among Animation98th percentile among 1980s
90% rated it 7–1010% rated it 1–6

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 3 wins / 0 noms overall

Reach

How many have seen it

99th percentile

1.5M ratings across platforms

98th percentile among Animation99th percentile among 1980s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 36% in 30 days

Box office

Budget¥800M

In Japanese yen, not converted to dollars.

Opening weekend$353K
Domestic gross$3.7M
Worldwide gross$18M

70th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A gentle, low-conflict coming-of-age film with beautiful animation and a focus on everyday life.

Fans praised

  • Beautiful, hand-drawn animation with rich detail
  • Heartfelt coming-of-age story about independence and self-belief
  • Charming, wholesome tone with no villain and uplifting message

Detractors panned

  • Plotless and boring with no real conflict or stakes
  • Thin, episodic script that meanders without narrative drive
  • Protagonist is unlikable and character development is weak

What stands out

Cinematography88

Lush hand-drawn backgrounds, stunning aerial views, rich color palette

AtmosphereDivisive85

Cozy, sun-drenched seaside town feels alive and inviting

Sound and music80

Joe Hisaishi's score is warm and evocative; some prefer original Japanese audio over English dub changes

Emotional impactDivisive75

Resonates with themes of self-doubt, burnout, and finding purpose

ActingDivisive75

English dub praised for Kirsten Dunst and Phil Hartman; some critics find dubbing grating

CharactersDivisive72

Kiki is relatable and charming in her struggles; detractors find her and supporting cast flat and underdeveloped

PacingDivisive50

Leisurely and meditative; fans find it calming, detractors find it sluggish

Plot and storyDivisive45

Simple, episodic slice-of-life story; fans call it charmingly low-stakes, detractors call it boring

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 1 point apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s even
  • Critics vs users 2 points apart
  • US vs non-US 1 point apart

Watch experience

What is Kiki's Delivery Service like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Feel-good: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something warm that leaves you smiling.

It is gentle, takes its time and leaves you feeling good. Skip it when you want things to move fast.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Patience.

What it feels like

Feel-good.

Moods
WarmHopefulBittersweet
Heaviest: middle
Register
WarmTender · 13% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneMiyazaki presents Kiki's journey with genuine warmth and a tender eye for everyday magic, never undercutting her struggles.
The rideThe film sustains a gentle, warm atmosphere with moments of melancholy and hopefulness, peaking emotionally when Kiki struggles with her powers.
StructureThe story unfolds in a linear, episodic fashion as Kiki settles into her new life, faces a crisis, and finds resolution.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Feeling good.

The answer rests on this: Feel-goodHopeful
Why it leaves you this wayKiki's journey and eventual triumph leave the viewer with a warm, uplifting feeling and belief in one's own abilities.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Voyage
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4% (this title): Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% (this title) · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Voyage and return: Into a strange world and back again, changed. · Fish out of water: Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).

4% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeKiki leaves home to start her independent life in a new town, experiencing the challenges of adapting to a new environment and finding her place.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfSelf-worth
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22% (this title): Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% (this title) · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% (this title) · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% (this title) · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Self

Self-worth · 7% of filmsComing of age · 5% of filmsCommunity · 14% of films: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores Kiki's journey to find her own value and confidence as she leaves home, faces setbacks, and discovers her place in a new community.
StanceThe film celebrates the quiet courage of growing up and finding one's place, embracing the beauty in everyday life and community.

The world

Early 20th centuryUrbanDomesticStylized realism
Orchestral modernPopSupportive music · original score · Joe Hisaishi
SettingA charming, nostalgic seaside town where Kiki starts a delivery service
MusicHisaishi's score blends whimsical orchestral themes with gentle pop accents, perfectly capturing the film's warm, nostalgic mood.

Content guide

Is Kiki's Delivery Service okay for kids?

G

Kiki's Delivery Service is rated G. As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at minimal (4/100), sexual content at minimal (9/100), language at minimal (2/100), drug and alcohol content at minimal (0/100) and frightening material at minimal (14/100). Overall it is heavier than 1% of G-rated films.

Ratings in 20 other countries
  • UKU
  • CanadaG
  • AustraliaG
  • Germany0
  • FranceTP
  • JapanG
  • South KoreaALL
  • BrazilL
  • Hong KongI
  • ItalyT
  • MexicoA
  • NetherlandsAL
  • NorwayA
  • Poland7
  • PRG
  • Russia6+
  • SpainAPTA
  • SwedenBtl
  • Switzerland12
  • Taiwan普遍級
Overall
None / Minimal · all five categories
Heavier than 1% of all filmsHeavier than 1% of G-rated films
Violence & Gore
None / Minimal
light for a G-rated film
heavier than 2%
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
light for a G-rated film
heavier than 21%
Profanity
None / Minimal
light for a G-rated film
heavier than 7%
Alcohol & Drugs
None / Minimal
light for a G-rated film
heavier than 1%
Frightening / Intense
None / Minimal
light for a G-rated film
heavier than 10%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is frightening material, heavier than 10% of G-rated films.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Kiki's Delivery Service have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Kiki's Delivery Service?

Cast

Minami Takayama
as Kiki
Breakout: Their highest-reaching film role at the time, and they went on to a career at least 3 times their standing then.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
newcomer then · star now
Rei Sakuma
as Jiji
Breakout: Their highest-reaching film role at the time, and they went on to a career at least 3 times their standing then.
Kappei Yamaguchi
as Tombo
First film: No prior film role; they had worked in television.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
newcomer then · star now
Keiko Toda
as Osono
Career best: Their highest-reaching film role by billing, audience size and rating.
Mieko Nobusawa
as Kokiri - Kiki's Mother
First film: No prior film role; they had worked in television.
Kôichi Miura
as Okino - Kiki's Father
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Haruko Katô
as Rô-fujin
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Hiroko Seki
as Barsa
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Yuriko Fuchizaki
as Ketto
Kôichi Yamadera
as Bakery Worker
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
newcomer then · star now

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Kiki's Delivery Service?

Movies like Kiki's Delivery Service include Howl's Moving Castle (2004), Spirited Away (2001) and Whisper of the Heart (1995). Of the 12 closest matches, several are stories about witches, and half are films set in a fictional world.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

Hayao Miyazaki wrote and directed 3 of these 12. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Kiki's Delivery Service?

312 other films share the rarest tag below, follows: magic user. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.