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Spirited Away

Spirited Away

Prepare to be spirited away.

2001124 minPGMidcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
Director
Hayao Miyazaki
Starring
Rumi Hiiragi, Miyu Irino, Mari Natsuki, Takashi Naitô

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.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Spirited Away?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Spirited Away 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 Spirited Away?

Spirited Away 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
  • Cast

Reception

Is Spirited Away worth watching?

Spirited Away's Midcredits score is the 99th percentile of all films, from 5.1M ratings across 6 sources. 92% 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

99th percentile among Animation99th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)99th
Approval (how many liked it)99th

88 /100

99th percentile of all films

99th percentile among Animation99th percentile among 2000s

Critics 96 · Audience 87

Critics liked it more than audiences did.

Rating distribution

Ratings pile up at 9–10 with almost no detractors — near-universal love.

92% liked it

99th percentile of all films

99th percentile among Animation99th percentile among 2000s
92% rated it 7–108% rated it 1–6

Critics 96% · Audience 96%

On Rotten Tomatoes, critics and audiences approve at similar rates.

Awards

1 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 51 wins / 28 noms overall

  • WonAcademy Awards· Best Animated Feature
  • NominatedBAFTA Awards· Best Film not in the English Language

Reach

How many have seen it

99th percentile

5.1M ratings across platforms

99th percentile among Animation99th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 27% in 30 days

Box office

Budget¥2B

In Japanese yen, not converted to dollars.

Opening weekend$450K
Domestic gross$15M
Worldwide gross$361M

94th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A wildly imaginative fantasy set in a beautifully animated spirit world full of strange creatures and Japanese folklore.

Fans praised

  • boundless imaginative world-building and surreal creativity
  • stunning hand-drawn animation and breathtaking visual artistry
  • emotionally resonant coming-of-age journey with a relatable heroine

Detractors panned

  • incoherent, aimless plot with no logical structure or clear rules
  • annoying protagonist and flat, uninteresting characters
  • overlong runtime with slow pacing and tedious filler scenes

What stands out

Cinematography95

stunning hand-painted frames, masterful use of color and composition

Atmosphere95

immersive, dreamlike spirit world blending awe and unease

Originality90

unprecedented fusion of Japanese folklore and fantasy

Sound and music90

Joe Hisaishi's emotive score enhances wonder and melancholy

CharactersDivisive75

memorable eccentric spirits; Chihiro divides audiences as whiny or authentic

Emotional impactDivisive75

moving for many, especially Chihiro's growth; others find it unaffecting

Plot and storyDivisive45

episodic, dreamlike narrative that some find profound, others pointless

PacingDivisive40

leisurely, meditative rhythm; detractors call it slow and meandering

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 even
  • US vs non-US even

Watch experience

What is Spirited Away 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 that leaves you smiling.

It is gentle, takes its time and leaves you hopeful. 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
ContemplativeTenseJoyful
Heaviest: throughout
Warm humor
Register
Awestruck · 1% of films: Wonder at something vast or marvelous.Tender · 13% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film is sincerely told, taking its fantastical world and characters at face value while balancing wonder with moments of peril.
The rideThe film sustains a quiet, reflective tension from Chihiro's arrival through her trials, with moments of relief and warmth woven in.
StructureThe story is told largely in chronological order with a clear beginning (becoming trapped), middle (working in the bathhouse), and end (escape and return).

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Hopeful.

The answer rests on this: HopefulWistful · 8% of films
Why it leaves you this wayLeaves the viewer with a gentle sense of hope for the future reinforced by a lingering wonder about the magical world and the bonds formed there.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet 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% (this title) · Fish out of water 2% · 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. · Portal fantasy: Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).

4% of films fit this archetype

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

Why this archetypeChihiro is transported into a hidden spirit world and must find her way back to the human world; the story is driven by her adaptation and growth rather than a conventional quest.

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 filmsSelfComingof age
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% (this title) · Coming of age 5% (this title) · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% (this title) · 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% · 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

Coming of age · 5% of filmsIdentity · 14% of filmsPurpose · 9% of films
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 themeChihiro's journey through the spirit world forces her to grow up, discover who she is, and find a reason to keep going despite fear and loss.
StanceThe film celebrates Chihiro's growth and the power of love and courage to overcome obstacles, framing her journey as a triumph of self-discovery.

The world

ContemporaryInstitutionalWildernessAlternate dimensionMagical realism
Orchestral modernFolkForeground music · original score · Joe Hisaishi
Settinga supernatural bathhouse in the spirit world, entered through a tunnel near modern Japan
MusicHisaishi's score blends orchestral grandeur with playful melodies that underscore the film's magical and tender tone.

Content guide

Is Spirited Away okay for kids?

PG

Spirited Away is rated PG: “Rated PG for some scary moments” (MPAA). As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (45/100), sexual content at minimal (7/100), language at minimal (4/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (30/100) and frightening material at moderate (60/100). Overall it is heavier than 74% of PG-rated films.

Ratings in 27 other countries
  • UKPG
  • AustraliaPG
  • Germany0
  • FranceTP
  • IrelandPG
  • JapanG
  • South KoreaALL
  • BrazilL
  • Austria0
  • CzechiaU
  • Denmark7
  • FinlandK-7
  • Hong KongI
  • Hungary12
  • ItalyT
  • MexicoA
  • Netherlands6
  • Norway9
  • Poland12
  • PortugalM/6
  • PRPG
  • Russia12+
  • Spain12
  • Sweden7
  • Switzerland12
  • Taiwan0+
  • Türkiye10A
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 27% of all filmsHeavier than 74% of PG-rated films
Violence & Gore
Moderate
typical for a PG-rated film
heavier than 73%
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
light for a PG-rated film
heavier than 8%
Profanity
None / Minimal
light for a PG-rated film
heavier than 6%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
typical for a PG-rated film
heavier than 61%
Frightening / Intense
Moderate
heavy for a PG-rated film
heavier than 89%

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 89% of PG-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 Spirited Away have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Spirited Away?

Cast

4 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen.

Rumi Hiiragi
as Chihiro
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Miyu Irino
as Haku
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
Mari Natsuki
as Yubaba
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Takashi Naitô
as Father
Yasuko Sawaguchi
as Mother
Tatsuya Gashûin
as Aogaeru
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Ryûnosuke Kamiki
as Bô
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
Yumi Tamai
as Rin
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Yô Ôizumi
as Bandai-gaeru
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Koba Hayashi
as Kawa no Kami
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Spirited Away?

Movies like Spirited Away include Mary and the Witch's Flower (2017), Castle in the Sky (1986) and The Secret World of Arrietty (2010). Of the 12 closest matches, several are portal fantasies, and several are films set in another dimension.

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

Hayao Miyazaki wrote and directed 6 of these 12. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Spirited Away?

2.2K other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: supernatural drama. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.