Top 10 Best Ghibli Movies

As one of Ghibli’s most lighthearted and whimsical films, The Cat Returns feels like a hidden gem in the studio's catalog. The story follows Haru, a 17-year-old high school girl who, like many of her peers, struggles with self-confidence and often lets others dictate her choices. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she saves a cat from being run over by a truck. As a result, she is whisked away to the Cat Kingdom, where she meets the cat prince (Lune) and unknowingly agrees to marry him. This sets the stage for an adventure with a dapper, top-hatted cat named Baron Humbert von Gikkingen.

The Cat Returns is a rare comedic outing for Ghibli, a studio known more for tugging at the heartstrings than for eliciting laughter from audiences.

IMDb Rating: 7.2

Tomatometer Score: 88%

Audience Rating: 82%

Spirited Away is a 2001 Japanese animated film directed and written by Hayao Miyazaki, blending coming-of-age themes with the supernatural. The story follows 10-year-old Chihiro Ogino (Hiiragi), who, while moving to a new house, accidentally stumbles into the world of Japanese Shinto spirits. After her parents are transformed into pigs by the witch Yubaba (Natsuki), Chihiro must work in Yubaba's bathhouse to find a way to save her parents and return to the human world.

Spirited Away won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 75th Academy Awards, making it the first (and only) non-English, hand-drawn animated film to earn this honor. It also won the Golden Bear at the 2002 Berlin International Film Festival (shared with Bloody Sunday) and was included in the British Film Institute's list of top 50 films to see at the age of 14. In 2016, the film was ranked as the fourth best film of the 21st century by 177 international critics, becoming the highest-rated animated feature on the list. The New York Times also ranked it second in its 2017 list of "The Best Movies of the 21st Century So Far."

IMDb Rating: 8.6
Tomatometer: 97%
Audience Rating: 96%

Princess Mononoke is an epic Japanese animated fantasy film directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli in 1997. The word 'Mononoke' (物の怪) isn't a name, but a term in Japanese that refers to spirits or demons, often understood as 'vengeful souls.' The film debuted in Japan on July 12, 1997, and later in the U.S. on October 29, 1999.

The film is set in the late Muromachi period (1392 - 1572) in a mystical forested landscape where firearms gradually replace swords, and the samurai have become little more than bandits. In this time, humans are driven by the desire to conquer nature using both strength and intellect, but their reckless exploitation of the environment sparks a wrath from nature itself, bringing disasters upon humankind.

Although animated films are often considered children's fare, Mononoke Hime is most suited for older audiences, particularly adults and teenagers. The film tackles a timeless issue: the protection of the environment. It is a perfect blend of historical fantasy, telling the story of an intense, unyielding battle between nature and human greed. Despite lacking the cute characters typical of other Ghibli films, Princess Mononoke remains a classic that cemented Ghibli's legacy.

IMDb Rating: 8.4

Tomatometer: 93%

Audience Rating: 94%

Porco Rosso is the sixth animated feature directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by the legendary Studio Ghibli, first released in 1992. Set during World War I, the film follows a fighter pilot who becomes a bounty hunter targeting "air pirate" bandits in the Adriatic Sea. After a curse transforms his face into that of a pig, the pilot, once known as Marco Pagot, takes on the name Porco Rosso, which means 'Red Pig' in Italian, due to his red airplane. Despite the chaos around him, Porco Rosso embodies noble qualities and a distinctly Italian sense of honor and masculinity.

The film is one of the few light-hearted offerings from Ghibli but still carries profound messages.

IMDb Rating: 7.7

Tomatometer: 95%

Audience Rating: 87%

Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) is a beloved Japanese anime about Kiki, a young witch who is old enough to leave her family and live independently for a year to complete her training. Kiki sets off one evening with the support of her loved ones, flying on her mother's broomstick and accompanied by her cat Jiji, with dreams of starting her own delivery service. Though the storyline may not seem particularly thrilling, the film's vibrant animation, especially the lively flying scenes, makes it a visual delight. Kiki's Delivery Service even has a 2014 live-action adaptation, though it doesn’t compare to the original masterpiece.

IMDb Rating: 7.8

Tomatometer: 98%

Audience Rating: 88%

Have you prepared your tissues? Grave of the Fireflies is a tear-jerking masterpiece from Ghibli that can touch even the hardest of hearts. Set in the final months of World War II, the film follows the survival struggle of two orphaned siblings. It may just be one of the most poignant and difficult-to-understand war films you will ever see.

The story is based on the novel by Akiyuki Nosaka, written as a semi-autobiographical apology to his younger sister. As with many Ghibli films, it has been highly praised for its artistic value, animation, and music.

One film critic has called Grave of the Fireflies one of the most impactful anti-war films ever created. Animation historian Ernest Rister compared it to the works of director Steven Spielberg, stating, “This is the most humanistic animated film I have ever seen.” However, for the Japanese, this film is more of a fable about dignity than an anti-war message.

IMDb Rating: 8.5
Tomatometer: 100%
Audience Rating: 95%

Although the top 3 positions may shift, My Neighbor Totoro will always be a symbol of the Ghibli brand. Released in 1988, this Japanese animated film was produced by Ghibli, with Hayao Miyazaki writing and directing the script.

My Neighbor Totoro is considered one of Miyazaki’s earliest major animated films. It’s joyful, innocent, and suitable for viewers of all ages. This film marked the beginning of Miyazaki’s hand-drawn animation era. Much like Pixar's Toy Story, the quirky and lovable characters from this film have become iconic, cherished by generations. While the film's simplicity might not be as captivating to modern audiences, for anyone in need of a warm embrace after a long day, there’s nothing better than the cuddly neighbor, Totoro.

IMDb Rating: 8.1

Tomatometer: 95%

Audience Rating: 94%

The Wind Rises is a historical animated film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, released in the summer of 2013. The movie is based on the manga of the same name, which was itself inspired by a short story written by Tatsuo Hori (1904–1953), a prominent 20th-century Japanese writer, poet, and translator. Miyazaki has stated that this would be his final film. The English title of the film is The Wind Rises.

The Wind Rises became the highest-grossing film in Japan in 2013. It won multiple awards, including the Japan Academy Prize for Best Animated Film, and received prestigious nominations such as the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film.

IMDb Rating: 7.7

Tomatometer: 88%

Audience Rating: 85%

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is a 2013 anime film produced by Studio Ghibli, written and directed by Isao Takahata. It is based on the Japanese folktale ‘The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter’.

One of Ghibli’s most recent successes, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya was nominated for an Academy Award due to its breathtaking hand-drawn animation, which is among the finest ever created in animation history. This film exemplifies the unique artistic style of Ghibli and tells an epic story of the mysterious princess who shines out of a bamboo stalk, capturing her poignant coming-of-age journey.

IMDb Rating: 8.0
Tomatometer: 100%
Audience Rating: 90%

Howl's Moving Castle is a 2004 Japanese animated fantasy film directed and written by Hayao Miyazaki, based on the 1986 novel by British author Diana Wynne Jones. Produced by Toshio Suzuki, the animation was done by Studio Ghibli and distributed by Toho. The Japanese voice cast includes Baisho Chieko and Kimura Takuya, while the English version features Jean Simmons, Emily Mortimer, and Christian Bale. Set in a fictional kingdom where magic and early 20th-century technology coexist, the film follows Sophie, a young hat maker who is cursed by a witch to become an elderly woman. Sophie encounters the wizard Howl and, together, they challenge the king, who demands Howl’s participation in a war against a neighboring country.

Howl's Moving Castle received critical acclaim, particularly for its visual design and the way Miyazaki explored themes of war and love. The film was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 78th Academy Awards and won several other accolades, including four Tokyo Anime Awards and a Nebula Award for Best Script.

IMDb Rating: 8.2
Tomatometer: 87%
Audience Rating: 93%