Best Japanese Movies
This page is updated regularly. Subscribe, so you don't miss new recommendations. The list of "Best Japanese Movies" contains films with the following parameters. Style: anime, inspirational, sincere, touching, stylized and sad. Plot: friendship, love, family relations, storytelling, children, transformation, danger, death, teenager and mother daughter relationship. Genre: Animation, Drama and Adventure. Country: Japan, USA and France.
Best Japanese Movies
TOP Movies: Memoirs of a Geisha (2005), Our Little Sister (2015), Your Name. (2016), Letters from Iwo Jima (2006), Nobody Knows (2004), The Gentlemen (2019), Bullet Train (2022), Toy Story 3 (2010), The Ring (2002), Inside Out (2015), Shoplifters (2018), A Silent Voice (2016), Nobody (2021), Like Father, Like Son (2013), Big Hero 6 (2014), Shrek 2 (2004), Princess Mononoke (1997), Spirited Away (2001), Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022), Summer Days with Coo (2007).
List of Best Movies
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 145 min.
Story:
A sweeping romantic epic set in Japan in the years before World War II, a penniless Japanese child is torn from her family to work as a maid in a geisha house.
Style:
captivating, sentimental, dramatic, serious, romantic ...
Audience:
teens, chick flick, girls' night, teen drama
Plot:
love story, geisha, women, age difference, japanese culture, older man younger woman relationship, brothel, beauty, orphan, love and romance, mentor, femininity ...
Time:
1920s, 1940s, 1930s, ancient times, 20th century ...
Place:
japan, asia, china, east asia, america ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Family
Country: Japan, France
Duration: 127 min.
Story:
A story that revolves around three sisters who live in their grandmother's home and the arrival of their 13-year-old half sister.
Style:
touching, sincere, realistic, captivating, independent film ...
Plot:
teenage girl, sister sister relationship, food, orphan, teenager, japanese girl, family relations, stepsister stepsister relationship, sisters, funeral, responsibility, friendship ...
Time:
2010s, year 2015
Place:
japan
Is relevant?
384K
Genre: Animation, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 106 min.
Story:
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 ...
Style:
anime, touching, melancholic, sweet, romantic ...
Audience:
teens, date night, family outing, kids, teen drama
Plot:
time travel, body swapping, beautiful scenery, plot twist, destiny, school, love story, girl, friendship, schoolgirl, love, memory loss ...
Time:
year 2016, year 2013, 2020s, 2010s
Place:
tokyo, japan, east asia
Is relevant?
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: USA
Duration: 141 min.
Story:
The story of the battle of Iwo Jima between the United States and Imperial Japan during World War II, as told from the perspective of the Japanese who fought it.
Style:
realistic, epic, contemplative, disturbing, touching ...
Audience:
family outing, adult
Plot:
world war two, war, military, japanese history, battles, anti war, survival, japanese military, japanese army, imperial japan, violence, stallion ...
Time:
1940s, 20th century, year 2006, ancient times, 2000s ...
Place:
japan, asia, nebraska, tokyo, germany
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 141 min.
Story:
In a small Tokyo apartment, twelve-year-old Akira must care for his younger siblings after their mother leaves them and shows no sign of returning.
Style:
touching, depressing, atmospheric, gloomy, bleak ...
Audience:
kids, teens
Plot:
poverty, childhood, children, young kid, child abandonment, dysfunctional family, brother brother relationship, innocence lost, responsibility, neglect, jailbait, family relations ...
Time:
year 2004, 2000s, 21st century
Place:
japan, tokyo, east asia, asia, california ...
Is relevant?
452K
Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 113 min.
Story:
A drug lord tries to sell off his highly profitable empire.
Style:
dark comedy, realistic, stylized, black comedy, neo noir ...
Audience:
boys' night, family friendly
Plot:
organized crime, gangster, marijuana, money, gang, criminal underworld, british, crime boss, tough guy, gang war, sarcasm, swearing ...
Time:
2020s, 2010s, 21st century
Place:
london, england, europe, britain, united kingdom
Is relevant?
524K
Genre: Action, Comedy, Thriller
Country: USA, Japan
Duration: 127 min.
Story:
Unlucky assassin Ladybug is determined to do his job peacefully after one too many gigs gone off the rails. Fate, however, may have other plans, as Ladybug's latest mission puts him on a collision course with lethal adversaries from around the ...
Style:
funny, suspense, disturbing, captivating, tense ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
train, assassin, hitman, mission, tough guy, runaway train, luck, revenge, husband and wife, crew, assignment, killer ...
Time:
2020s
Place:
japan, bolivia, tokyo, asia, mexico ...
Is relevant?
961K
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 103 min.
Story:
Woody, Buzz, and the rest of Andy's toys haven't been played with in years. With Andy about to go to college, the gang find themselves accidentally left at a nefarious day care center. The toys must band together to escape and return home ...
Style:
feel good, funny, touching, emotional, humorous ...
Audience:
kids, teens, family outing, toddlers, girls' night ...
Plot:
toys, escape, objects come to life, friendship, friends, toy story, dinosaur, toy comes to life, anthropomorphism, dog, betrayal, doll ...
Time:
2010s, year 2010, 2000s, 21st century
Place:
iran, north america, ohio
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
400K
Genre: Horror, Mystery
Country: USA, Japan
Duration: 115 min.
Story:
It sounded like just another urban legend: A videotape filled with nightmarish images, leading to a phone call foretelling the viewer's death in exactly seven days. As a newspaper reporter, Rachel Keller was naturally skeptical of the story, ...
Style:
scary, atmospheric, suspense, creepy, suspenseful ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
supernatural, ghost, life is a bitch, supernatural horror, death, twists and turns, urban legend, female protagonist, danger, investigation, curse, paranormal phenomena ...
Time:
year 2002, 2000s, 21st century
Place:
seattle, astoria oregon, washington state, fictional island
Is relevant?
903K
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min.
Story:
Growing up can be a bumpy road, and it's no exception for Riley, who is uprooted from her Midwest life when her father starts a new job in San Francisco. Like all of us, Riley is guided by her emotions - Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness. ...
Style:
touching, inspirational, emotional, motivational, 3d animation ...
Audience:
kids, family outing, family friendly, teens, pre-teens ...
Plot:
joy, imaginary friend, memory, creativity, parents and children, dream, childhood, life philosophy, coming of age, friendship, anger, happy ending ...
Time:
year 2015, 2010s, 2000s, year 2016, 21st century
Place:
san francisco, minnesota, california, tibet, usa
Is relevant?
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Japan
Duration: 121 min.
Story:
After one of their shoplifting sessions, Osamu and his son come across a little girl in the freezing cold. At first reluctant to shelter the girl, Osamu’s wife agrees to take care of her after learning of the hardships she faces. Although the ...
Style:
independent film, sexy, sexual, art house, cerebral ...
Audience:
date night, teens, adult
Plot:
poverty, shoplifting, father son relationship, social realism, poor family, beach, supermarket, child abduction, shoplifter, family drama, husband wife relationship, orphan ...
Time:
near future, 2010s
Place:
tokyo, east asia, japan, sarajevo, nebraska ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Animation, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 130 min.
Story:
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 ...
Style:
anime, sincere, touching, romantic, sweet ...
Audience:
teens, kids
Plot:
bullying, disability, deaf, sign language, friendship, teenager, high school, japanese schoolgirl, coming of age, japanese school, suicide attempt, redemption ...
Time:
2010s
Place:
japan
Is relevant?
386K
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA, China, Japan
Duration: 92 min.
Story:
Hutch Mansell, a suburban dad, overlooked husband, nothing neighbor — a "nobody." When two thieves break into his home one night, Hutch's unknown long-simmering rage is ignited and propels him on a brutal path that will uncover dark ...
Style:
brutal, suspense, entertaining, funny, suspenseful ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
one man army, tough guy, secret identity, retribution, revenge, martial arts, one against many, home invasion, twists and turns, vigilante, chase, vengeance ...
Time:
2020s
Place:
america, usa, pentagon
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 121 min.
Story:
Ryota Nonomiya is a successful businessman driven by money. He learns that his biological son was switched with another child after birth. He must make a life-changing decision and choose his true son or the boy he raised as his own.
Style:
touching, sincere, disturbing, psychological, poignant ...
Audience:
family friendly
Plot:
family drama, family reunited, boy, parents and children, architect, parenthood, moral dilemma, father son relationship, self discovery, class differences, introspection, life turned upside down ...
Time:
year 2013, 21st century
Place:
japan, tokyo, asia
Is relevant?
548K
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Family, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min.
Story:
The special bond that develops between plus-sized inflatable robot Baymax, and prodigy Hiro Hamada, who team up with a group of friends to form a band of high-tech heroes.
Style:
entertaining, feel good, exciting, touching, inspirational ...
Audience:
teens, family outing, kids, family friendly, toddlers ...
Plot:
superhero, robot, friendship, heroes, revenge, good versus evil, young heroes, androids and robots, friends, boy genius, villain, inventor ...
Time:
future, year 2014, 2010s, 2030s, 21st century
Place:
san francisco, tokyo, north america, california
Is relevant?
550K
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min.
Story:
Shrek, Fiona and Donkey set off to Far, Far Away to meet Fiona's mother and father. But not everyone is happy. Shrek and the King find it hard to get along, and there's tension in the marriage. The fairy godmother discovers that Shrek has ...
Style:
fairy tale, feel good, 3d animation, computer animated, entertaining ...
Audience:
family outing, pre-teens, kids, family friendly, teens ...
Plot:
princess, cat, transformation, kingdom, creature, shrek, dragon, talking animal, donkey, godmother, prince, true love ...
Time:
year 2004, 2000s, medieval times, middle ages, 16th century
Is relevant?
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 133 min.
Story:
Ashitaka, a prince of the disappearing Ainu tribe, is cursed by a demonized boar god and must journey to the west to find a cure. Along the way, he encounters San, a young human woman fighting to protect the forest, and Lady Eboshi, who is trying to ...
Style:
anime, philosophical, atmospheric, captivating, stylized ...
Audience:
kids, family outing, teens, family friendly, adult
Plot:
wolf, human animal relationship, friendship, mythology, nature, strong female lead, human spirit, forest, hopes, princess, moral ambiguity, demon ...
Time:
15th century, 16th century, year 1997, near future, 90s ...
Place:
japan, asia, tokyo
Is relevant?
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi
Country: Japan, USA
Duration: 106 min.
Story:
Led by a strange dream, scientist Aki Ross struggles to collect the eight spirits in the hope of creating a force powerful enough to protect the planet. With the aid of the Deep Eyes Squadron and her mentor, Dr. Sid, Aki must save the Earth from its ...
Style:
computer animated, adult animation, anime, 3d animation, exciting ...
Audience:
kids, teens, boys' night, adult
Plot:
alien, post apocalypse, battles, alien invasion, space station, dystopia, cyberpunk, space, scientist, military, space travel, heroic mission ...
Time:
future, 2000s, 21st century
Place:
new york, tucson arizona, arizona
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
955K
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Country: Japan, USA
Duration: 124 min.
Story:
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.
Style:
anime, surreal, atmospheric, stylized, offbeat ...
Audience:
family outing, kids, family friendly, teens, pre-teens ...
Plot:
friendship, magic, supernatural, surrealism, witch, parallel world, imaginary, fantasy world, ghost, japanese mythology, creature, curses spells and rituals ...
Time:
2000s, year 2001, year 2002, y2k, 21st century
Place:
japan, asia, tokyo, seattle
Is relevant?
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Country: USA, Japan
Duration: 102 min.
Story:
Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for adventure has taken its toll: He has burned through eight of his nine lives, leaving him with only one life left. Puss sets out on an epic journey to find the mythical Last Wish and restore his nine lives.
Style:
3d animation, epic fantasy, fairy tale, anime, saga ...
Audience:
kids
Plot:
shrek, anthropomorphic cat, cat, talking animal, talking cat, furry, animal, anthropomorphic animal, travel, wolf, wish fulfillment, excalibur ...
Time:
2020s
Place:
spain, europe
Is relevant?
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 138 min.
Story:
A small, lone Kappa miraculously survives over 200 years into modern day Japan, when he is found by young Koichi. Coo, who is secretly adopted by Koichi's family, searches with his new human friend for unpopulated places in hopes of finding any ...
Style:
humorous, anime, adult animation, captivating, sincere ...
Audience:
family outing
Plot:
mythical creature, friendship, journey, supernatural, family relations, guard dog, bicycle, river, kindergarten, television studio, school class, firefly ...
Time:
2010s, 21st century
Place:
japan
Is relevant?
Genre: Animation, Short, Action, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Country: Japan
Duration: 20 min.
Story:
A spin-off scenario taking place after the events of the TV special Dragon Ball Z: Bardock - The Father of Goku, in which Bardock survives the destruction of Planet Vegeta and is sent into the past, combating Frieza's ancestor Chilled and ...
Style:
anime, suspenseful, captivating, feel good, serious ...
Plot:
dragon ball, magic, heroes, save the world, fantasy world, superhero, revenge, good versus evil, danger, superhuman powers, friendship, imaginary ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Animation, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Country: Japan
Duration: 117 min.
Story:
After her werewolf lover unexpectedly dies in an accident, a woman must find a way to raise the son and daughter that she had with him. However, their inheritance of their father's traits prove to be a challenge for her.
Style:
anime, heartbreaking, sweet, atmospheric, colorful ...
Audience:
family outing, family friendly, kids, adult
Plot:
werewolf, childhood, children, parents and children, single mother, wolf, female werewolf, death of father, supernatural, school, family relations, wilderness ...
Time:
2010s, year 2012
Place:
japan, tokyo
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 115 min.
Story:
Bob Parr has given up his superhero days to log in time as an insurance adjuster and raise his three children with his formerly heroic wife in suburbia. But when he receives a mysterious assignment, it's time to get back into costume.
Style:
entertaining, funny, humorous, exciting, computer animated ...
Audience:
kids, family outing, family friendly, girls' night, pre-teens ...
Plot:
superhero, good versus evil, heroes, secret identity, superhuman powers, superhuman speed, superheroine, strong female character, satire, disguise, superhero team, villain ...
Time:
year 2004, 60s, year 1947, 1940s, 20th century ...
Place:
usa, north america, chicago, fictional island, seattle
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 116 min.
Story:
Tsuneo is a university student working part-time in a mah-jong parlour. Lately the customers have been talking about an old lady who pushes a baby carriage through the streets. They say she is carrying something for a crime syndicate, and they ...
Style:
sexy, sweet, inspirational, touching, lyrical ...
Plot:
love, disability, love story, cerebral palsy, young love, youth, mother daughter relationship, character study, prejudice, young woman, unfulfillment, loneliness ...
Place:
japan
Is relevant?
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: Japan
Duration: 100 min.
Story:
A young athlete whose running days might be behind her, a compulsive liar, a shy researcher, a bitter old woman, and a little girl with a big secret—the only thing they have in common is the annual Wind Festival in Fula City. The festival ...
Style:
anime, captivating, exciting, entertaining, sincere ...
Audience:
family outing, kids
Plot:
pokemon, pikachu, friendship, obsessive quest, friends, teamwork, good versus evil, superpower, imaginary, heroic mission, young heroes, heroes ...
Time:
2010s
Is relevant?
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy
Country: Japan
Duration: 104 min.
Story:
Television special that served as a prequel to the theatrical film, "One Piece Film: Gold".
Style:
anime, captivating, stylized, colorful, humorous ...
Audience:
family friendly, teens
Plot:
pirate, treasure hunt, fantasy world, one piece, giant fish, sea voyage, friendship, gold, treasure hunter, dream world, superpower, hidden treasure ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Animation, Action, Sci-Fi
Country: Japan
Duration: 55 min.
Story:
Posing as lovers on vacation, Motoko and Batou work to try to stop a terrorist organization whose symbol is the Scrasath. Meanwhile, Togusa investigates a murder of a man who possessed a prosthetic leg manufactured by the Mermaid's Leg ...
Style:
anime, serious, suspenseful, rough, exciting ...
Plot:
androids and robots, cyberpunk, terrorism, ghost in the shell, fighting crime, special agent, partner, artificial intelligence, murder, imaginary, danger, undercover ...
Time:
future, 21st century
Place:
japan
Is relevant?
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Country: Japan
Duration: 135 min.
Story:
Two alchemist brothers go on a quest for the Philosopher's Stone after an attempt to revive their dead mother goes horribly wrong.
Style:
anime, stylized, exciting, emotional, captivating ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
alchemy, alchemist, imaginary, young heroes, physical appearance, dealing with death, brother brother relationship, superhero, heroes, curses spells and rituals, danger, teenage life ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 122 min.
Story:
After being stricken with Alzheimer's disease in the prime of his life, a successful young businessman slips slowly away from his loving family.
Style:
realistic, touching, psychological, emotional, captivating ...
Plot:
alzheimer's disease, family relations, mental illness, businessman, family problems, family in crisis, unfulfillment, supportive spouse, mental disorder, terminal illness, love, friendship ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
japan
Is relevant?
