Studio Ghibli has produced 24 feature films since 1984. Founded by legendary directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, it is the most critically acclaimed animation studio in history — with more films scoring above 90% on Rotten Tomatoes than any other studio, animated or otherwise.
Whether you want to watch every film in order, find the best ones to start with, or know where to stream them — this is the complete guide.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How many Studio Ghibli movies are there? | 24 feature films (1984–2023) |
| Best film to start with | Spirited Away or My Neighbor Totoro |
| Highest rated on Rotten Tomatoes | The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013) — 100% |
| Highest rated on MyAnimeList | Spirited Away — 8.77 |
| Most recent film | The Boy and the Heron (2023) |
| Where to stream (US) | Max (HBO) — all films except Grave of the Fireflies |
| Grave of the Fireflies streaming | Netflix — separate rights holder |
Table of Contents
- All 24 Ghibli Films in Release Order
- All Ghibli Films Ranked Best to Worst
- Top 5 Films — Detailed Reviews
- Films by Director — Miyazaki vs Takahata
- Where to Watch Every Ghibli Film
- Which Ghibli Film Should You Watch First?
- FAQ
All 24 Studio Ghibli Movies in Release Order
Studio Ghibli was officially founded in June 1985, but Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) is typically included as the spiritual first film — it was the project that led directly to the studio’s creation.
| # | Title | Year | Director | Runtime | Genre | RT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind | 1984 | Miyazaki | 117 min | Fantasy, Adventure, Sci-Fi | 87% |
| 2 | Castle in the Sky (Laputa) | 1986 | Miyazaki | 124 min | Adventure, Fantasy, Steampunk | 95% |
| 3 | Grave of the Fireflies | 1988 | Takahata | 89 min | War, Drama | 97% |
| 4 | My Neighbor Totoro | 1988 | Miyazaki | 86 min | Family, Fantasy, Slice of Life | 94% |
| 5 | Kiki’s Delivery Service | 1989 | Miyazaki | 102 min | Fantasy, Coming-of-Age | 98% |
| 6 | Only Yesterday | 1991 | Takahata | 118 min | Drama, Slice of Life, Romance | 100% |
| 7 | Porco Rosso | 1992 | Miyazaki | 94 min | Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy | 97% |
| 8 | Pom Poko | 1994 | Takahata | 119 min | Fantasy, Comedy, Environmental | 91% |
| 9 | Whisper of the Heart | 1995 | Yoshifumi Kondō | 111 min | Romance, Drama, Coming-of-Age | 94% |
| 10 | Princess Mononoke | 1997 | Miyazaki | 134 min | Fantasy, Action, Environmental | 93% |
| 11 | My Neighbors the Yamadas | 1999 | Takahata | 104 min | Comedy, Slice of Life | 76% |
| 12 | Spirited Away | 2001 | Miyazaki | 125 min | Fantasy, Adventure, Coming-of-Age | 97% |
| 13 | The Cat Returns | 2002 | Hiroyuki Morita | 75 min | Fantasy, Adventure, Comedy | 89% |
| 14 | Howl’s Moving Castle | 2004 | Miyazaki | 119 min | Fantasy, Romance, Adventure | 87% |
| 15 | Tales from Earthsea | 2006 | Gorō Miyazaki | 115 min | Fantasy, Adventure | 42% |
| 16 | Ponyo | 2008 | Miyazaki | 101 min | Fantasy, Family, Adventure | 91% |
| 17 | The Secret World of Arrietty | 2010 | Hiromasa Yonebayashi | 94 min | Fantasy, Adventure, Family | 95% |
| 18 | From Up on Poppy Hill | 2011 | Gorō Miyazaki | 91 min | Drama, Romance, Slice of Life | 84% |
| 19 | The Wind Rises | 2013 | Miyazaki | 126 min | Historical Drama, Romance, Biography | 89% |
| 20 | The Tale of Princess Kaguya | 2013 | Takahata | 137 min | Fantasy, Drama, Historical | 100% |
| 21 | When Marnie Was There | 2014 | Hiromasa Yonebayashi | 103 min | Drama, Mystery, Supernatural | 92% |
| 22 | The Red Turtle | 2016 | Michaël Dudok de Wit | 80 min | Drama, Fantasy (no dialogue) | 90% |
| 23 | Earwig and the Witch | 2020 | Gorō Miyazaki | 82 min | Fantasy, Adventure | 38% |
| 24 | The Boy and the Heron | 2023 | Miyazaki | 124 min | Fantasy, Drama, Coming-of-Age | 97% |
All 24 Ghibli Films Ranked Best to Worst
Ranked by a combination of Rotten Tomatoes critics score, MyAnimeList score, and cultural impact. 22 of 24 films are Certified Fresh — an extraordinary achievement for any studio.
| Rank | Film | Year | RT Score | MAL Score | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 1 | Spirited Away | 2001 | 97% | 8.77 | Everyone — the best starting point |
| 🥈 2 | Princess Mononoke | 1997 | 93% | 8.67 | Mature viewers, epic fantasy fans |
| 🥉 3 | Grave of the Fireflies | 1988 | 97% | 8.54 | Anyone ready for an emotional masterpiece |
| 4 | The Boy and the Heron | 2023 | 97% | — | Longtime Ghibli fans, Miyazaki’s final word |
| 5 | The Tale of Princess Kaguya | 2013 | 100% | — | Art film lovers, Takahata’s greatest work |
| 6 | Kiki’s Delivery Service | 1989 | 98% | 8.24 | All ages — gentle, perfect, timeless |
| 7 | Only Yesterday | 1991 | 100% | 7.44 | Adults seeking quiet, profound reflection |
| 8 | Porco Rosso | 1992 | 97% | 7.98 | Miyazaki’s most personal and playful film |
| 9 | Howl’s Moving Castle | 2004 | 87% | 8.67 | Romance fans — visually stunning |
| 10 | My Neighbor Totoro | 1988 | 94% | 8.25 | Families, first Ghibli for children |
| 11 | Castle in the Sky | 1986 | 95% | 8.26 | Adventure fans — pure Miyazaki joy |
| 12 | The Secret World of Arrietty | 2010 | 95% | — | Family viewing — underrated gem |
| 13 | When Marnie Was There | 2014 | 92% | 8.04 | Mystery and emotional depth fans |
| 14 | Pom Poko | 1994 | 91% | — | Environmentalism + quirky Japanese folklore |
| 15 | Ponyo | 2008 | 91% | 7.96 | Young children — a gentle fairytale |
| 16 | The Red Turtle | 2016 | 90% | — | No dialogue — pure visual storytelling |
| 17 | The Wind Rises | 2013 | 89% | 8.13 | Historical drama fans — bittersweet |
| 18 | The Cat Returns | 2002 | 89% | — | Light fun — best watched after Whisper of the Heart |
| 19 | Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind | 1984 | 87% | 8.36 | Where it all began — essential for completionists |
| 20 | Whisper of the Heart | 1995 | 94% | 8.22 | Romance fans — the most grounded Ghibli love story |
| 21 | From Up on Poppy Hill | 2011 | 84% | 7.78 | Quiet, nostalgic, underrated |
| 22 | My Neighbors the Yamadas | 1999 | 76% | — | Unique comic-strip style — polarising but charming |
| 23 | Tales from Earthsea | 2006 | 42% | — | Completionists only — weakest Ghibli entry |
| 24 | Earwig and the Witch | 2020 | 38% | — | Skip unless you’re watching everything — CGI misfire |
Top 5 Films — Detailed Reviews
🥇 #1 — Spirited Away (2001)
Ten-year-old Chihiro stumbles into the spirit world while moving to a new home. Her parents are transformed into pigs and she must work at a supernatural bathhouse to save them — navigating a world of gods, spirits, and ancient magic entirely on her own.
Spirited Away won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2003 — the only non-English-language film to win in that category until The Boy and the Heron challenged it in 2024.
It grossed over $395 million worldwide, setting records that held for over a decade for an anime feature in several markets. It is Miyazaki’s most complete film — the one that works on every level simultaneously, for every age.
Best for: Everyone. This is Ghibli’s crown jewel and the single best introduction to the studio.
#2 — Princess Mononoke (1997)
Young warrior Ashitaka is cursed by a demon and travels west to find a cure — walking into a war between the industrializing humans of Irontown and the forest gods, led by a wolf-raised girl named San (Mononoke). With a score of 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, Princess Mononoke is one of Studio Ghibli’s most ambitious and mature works, with themes of environmentalism and moral complexity that resonate powerfully with adult audiences.
Best for: Viewers who want Ghibli’s most epic, morally complex story. Not for young children.
#3 — Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Two orphaned siblings — teenage Seita and four-year-old Setsuko — struggle to survive in Japan during the final months of World War II. Grave of the Fireflies is frequently cited as one of the greatest anti-war films ever made.
It is also the most painful film in the Ghibli catalog — not recommended for its first viewing alongside something lighter. Roger Ebert called it “an emotional experience so powerful that it forces a rethinking of animation as a medium.”
Best for: Adults and older teenagers. This is not a children’s film. Watch it when you are emotionally prepared.
#4 — The Boy and the Heron (2023)
Hayao Miyazaki’s final film — announced as his retirement project, though he has said this seven times before. Twelve-year-old Mahito follows a mysterious grey heron into an abandoned tower and enters a fantasy realm where life and death blur.
The Boy and the Heron grossed over $167.7 million worldwide, setting new box office records for an anime feature in the United States, and became the first original anime production to claim the top spot at the North American box office on its opening weekend. It won the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
Best for: Existing Ghibli fans — this film rewards decades of familiarity with Miyazaki’s themes.
#5 — The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)
Isao Takahata’s final film and his masterpiece. Based on the oldest Japanese folktale — “The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter” — it follows a tiny girl discovered inside a bamboo shoot who grows into a celebrated princess, only to grieve the loss of the simple life she loves.
The Tale of Princess Kaguya holds a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the highest-rated Studio Ghibli film by critics, despite being lesser-known than Spirited Away or Howl’s Moving Castle. The watercolor pencil animation style is unlike anything else in Ghibli’s catalog.
Best for: Art film lovers and those who appreciate Takahata’s more grounded, experimental approach.
Films by Director — Miyazaki vs Takahata
Studio Ghibli was built on two distinct artistic visions — Hayao Miyazaki’s fantastical, adventure-driven films and Isao Takahata’s grounded, emotional dramas. Understanding the difference helps you choose where to start.
| Director | Style | Films | Start With |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hayao Miyazaki | Fantasy, adventure, flight, environmental themes, strong female leads | Nausicaä, Laputa, Totoro, Kiki’s, Porco Rosso, Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howl’s, Ponyo, The Wind Rises, The Boy and the Heron | Spirited Away |
| Isao Takahata | Realism, grief, Japanese society, experimental animation, no magic | Grave of the Fireflies, Only Yesterday, Pom Poko, My Neighbors the Yamadas, Princess Kaguya | Grave of the Fireflies (if you want emotional intensity) or Only Yesterday (quieter, slower) |
| Other Ghibli Directors | Varies — Yonebayashi (Arrietty, Marnie), Gorō Miyazaki (Earthsea, Poppy Hill, Earwig) | Arrietty, When Marnie Was There, Cat Returns, Whisper of the Heart, Red Turtle, Earwig | When Marnie Was There or Arrietty |
Where to Watch Every Ghibli Film (2026)
Simple answer: Max (HBO) has 23 of the 24 Studio Ghibli films in the US, following an exclusive deal with Warner Bros. Discovery renewed in March 2024. Grave of the Fireflies is the single exception – it streams on Netflix because its distribution rights belong to Shinchosha Publishing rather than Studio Ghibli.
| Platform | Films Available | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max (HBO) | 23 of 24 films | $9.99/mo (ads) / $16.99/mo (no ads) | Best option — all Ghibli except Grave of the Fireflies |
| Netflix | Grave of the Fireflies only (US) | $7.99/mo (ads) | Full catalogue outside US/Canada |
| Digital Rental (Amazon, Apple TV) | All 24 films | $3.99–$5.99 per film | Best if you only want one specific film |
Which Studio Ghibli Film Should You Watch First?
| You Are | Start With | Then Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Complete Ghibli beginner | Spirited Away | Princess Mononoke → Howl’s Moving Castle |
| Watching with young children (5–10) | My Neighbor Totoro | Kiki’s Delivery Service → Ponyo → Arrietty |
| Want to cry (in a good way) | Grave of the Fireflies | Only Yesterday → The Tale of Princess Kaguya |
| Love romance and coming-of-age | Whisper of the Heart | The Cat Returns → Kiki’s Delivery Service |
| Want Miyazaki’s most epic film | Princess Mononoke | Nausicaä → Castle in the Sky |
| Ready to watch everything in order | Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) | Follow release order all the way to The Boy and the Heron |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Studio Ghibli movies are there?
24 feature films, starting with Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) and ending with The Boy and the Heron (2023). The studio was officially founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata.
What is the best Studio Ghibli movie?
Spirited Away (2001) is the most universally acclaimed Ghibli film — with a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, an 8.77 on MyAnimeList, an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, and the highest box office of any Ghibli film for decades. For critics specifically, The Tale of Princess Kaguya and Only Yesterday both hold 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Where can I watch Studio Ghibli movies?
In the US, Max (HBO) streams 23 of the 24 Studio Ghibli films under an exclusive deal renewed in March 2024. Grave of the Fireflies is only on Netflix in the US due to separate distribution rights. Outside the US, Netflix carries the full international Ghibli catalogue.
Are Studio Ghibli movies connected to each other?
No — each Ghibli film is a completely standalone story with its own world, characters, and themes. The only exception is The Cat Returns (2002), which is a loose spinoff of Whisper of the Heart (1995) featuring the cat character Baron. Otherwise, you can watch any film in any order.
Is The Boy and the Heron Miyazaki’s last film?
Miyazaki has declared retirement seven previous times — in 1986, 1992, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2008, and 2013 — each time returning to make another film. The Boy and the Heron (2023) is his most recent film and currently his last, but Miyazaki has made no absolute guarantee that it will be his final work.
Which Ghibli film is not on Max?
Grave of the Fireflies (1988) is not on Max. Its North American streaming rights belong to Shinchosha Publishing rather than Studio Ghibli, so it streams on Netflix in the US and Canada instead.
What is the shortest Studio Ghibli movie?
The Cat Returns (2002) at 75 minutes is the shortest feature in the Ghibli catalog, followed by My Neighbor Totoro at 86 minutes.
Final Thoughts
Studio Ghibli’s catalog is one of the most consistent bodies of work in cinema history. Of their 24 films, only two are considered “rotten” by Rotten Tomatoes — and three hold a perfect score of 100% — a strike rate no other major studio, animated or live-action, comes close to matching.
Start with Spirited Away. Then Princess Mononoke. Then, when you’re ready for something that will stay with you forever, Grave of the Fireflies.
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