🎥Best Studio Ghibli Movies Ranked
Studio Ghibli films have shaped global animation with hand-drawn wonder, environmental themes, and emotional depth that resonate across generations. Ranking them highlights which entries deliver the strongest storytelling and lasting influence. Vote for your favorites!
What counts: Best means critical acclaim, cultural impact, and rewatch value. Figures are approximate.
Spirited Away▲ Rising
Chihiro's journey through a spirit bathhouse redefined fantasy animation and won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Its blend of wonder and coming-of-age grit still tops fan and critic lists decades later.
Year: 2001Director: Runtime: 125 minIMDb: 8.6/10Oscars: 1
added by IJRin 9 rankingsSpirited Away
43Grave of the Fireflies▲ Rising
Two siblings struggle to survive in wartime Japan, turning loss into one of animation’s most harrowing portraits of resilience. Its unflinching honesty makes it essential yet emotionally taxing viewing.
Year: 1988Director: Runtime: 89 minIMDb: 8.5/10Oscars: 0
added by IJRin 4 rankingsGrave of the Fireflies
37Princess Mononoke▲ Rising
A prince’s quest to heal a curse collides with iron-age industry and forest gods, delivering Ghibli’s most epic environmental clash. Its moral ambiguity and sweeping battles set a new bar for animated action.
Year: 1997Director: Runtime: 134 minIMDb: 8.4/10Oscars: 0
added by IJRin 3 rankingsPrincess Mononoke
29Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind▲ Rising
A princess seeks peace between humans and toxic jungle insects in a post-apocalyptic world. Its ecological message and bold heroine launched Miyazaki’s feature career.
Year: 1984Director: Runtime: 117 minIMDb: 8.1/10Oscars: 0
added by IJRin 3 rankingsNausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
26Kiki's Delivery Service▲ Rising
A young witch starts a delivery business and learns independence in a charming seaside town. Its breezy coming-of-age story and memorable flying sequences keep it a perennial favorite.
Year: 1989Director: Runtime: 103 minIMDb: 7.9/10Oscars: 0
added by IJRin 2 rankingsKiki's Delivery Service
20Castle in the Sky▲ Rising
Two children race pirates and the military to protect a floating city of ancient technology. Its high-flying adventure and inventive steampunk world earned it early Ghibli acclaim.
Year: 1986Director: Runtime: 124 minIMDb: 8/10Oscars: 0
added by IJRin 2 rankingsCastle in the Sky
19Two sisters befriend a forest spirit in rural Japan, turning everyday life into quiet magic. The film’s gentle tone and iconic bus-stop scene cemented its status as Ghibli’s most comforting classic.
Year: 1988Director: Runtime: 86 minIMDb: 8.1/10Oscars: 0
added by IJRin 3 rankingsMy Neighbor Totoro
16A cursed WWI pilot turned bounty hunter battles air pirates over the Adriatic. Its stylish 1930s setting and dry humor give it a unique adult appeal among Ghibli films.
Year: 1992Director: Runtime: 94 minIMDb: 7.7/10Oscars: 0
added by IJRin 2 rankingsPorco Rosso
14A goldfish princess trades her fins for legs and sparks a seaside friendship. Its playful watercolor style and childlike wonder make it one of Ghibli’s most accessible entries.
Year: 2008Director: Runtime: 100 minIMDb: 7.7/10Oscars: 0
added by IJRPonyo
7From Up on Poppy Hill▲ Rising
High-schoolers fight to save a historic clubhouse while navigating first love in 1960s Yokohama. Its nostalgic slice-of-life charm and period detail stand out.
Year: 2011Director: Runtime: 91 minIMDb: 7.4/10Oscars: 0
added by IJRFrom Up on Poppy Hill
7The Wind Rises▲ Rising
Aviation engineer Jiro Horikoshi pursues his dream amid rising militarism before WWII. Its biographical depth and bittersweet romance mark Miyazaki’s most mature work.
Year: 2013Director: Runtime: 126 minIMDb: 7.8/10Oscars: 0
added by IJRThe Wind Rises
5The Tale of the Princess Kaguya▲ Rising
A bamboo cutter’s adopted daughter grows into a celestial being torn between Earth and the moon. Its delicate ink-wash art and folk-tale purity earned critical raves.
Year: 2013Director: Runtime: 137 minIMDb: 8/10Oscars: 0
added by IJRin 2 rankingsThe Tale of the Princess Kaguya
5A cursed girl and a flamboyant wizard navigate war and destiny inside a walking castle. Its inventive visuals and romantic tension rank it among Miyazaki’s most rewatchable fantasies.
Year: 2004Director: Runtime: 119 minIMDb: 8.2/10Oscars: 0
added by IJRin 2 rankingsHowl's Moving Castle
4A prince and a wizard confront a mysterious imbalance threatening their fantasy world. Its darker tone and uneven adaptation drew mixed reactions yet retains visual ambition.
Year: 2006Director: Runtime: 115 minIMDb: 6.7/10Oscars: 0
added by IJRTales from Earthsea
1A Tokyo office worker reflects on her childhood while visiting rural relatives. Its quiet introspection and adult perspective remain rare in Ghibli’s catalog.
Year: 1991Director: Runtime: 119 minIMDb: 7.7/10Oscars: 0
added by IJROnly Yesterday
-2Tanuki raccoon dogs use shape-shifting powers to resist suburban development. Its folk humor and environmental satire give it a distinct, playful voice.
Year: 1994Director: Runtime: 119 minIMDb: 7.3/10Oscars: 0
added by IJRPom Poko
-3Whisper of the Heart▼ Falling
A bookish teen falls for a violin-maker while chasing her writing dreams in Tokyo. Its grounded romance and creative process story remain a quiet standout.
Year: 1995Director: Runtime: 111 minIMDb: 7.9/10Oscars: 0
added by IJRWhisper of the Heart
-4Slice-of-life vignettes follow an ordinary Japanese family through daily mishaps. Its comic-strip style and gentle humor offer a refreshing change of pace.
Year: 1999Director: Runtime: 104 minIMDb: 7.2/10Oscars: 0
added by IJRMy Neighbors the Yamadas
-4Lupin the Third attempts a daring heist to free a princess from a counterfeit empire. Its fluid action and charming caper tone launched Miyazaki’s feature reputation.
Year: 1979Director: Runtime: 100 minIMDb: 7.6/10Oscars: 0
added by IJRThe Castle of Cagliostro
-5When Marnie Was There▼ Falling
A lonely girl uncovers family secrets while befriending a mysterious mansion resident. Its atmospheric mystery and emotional payoff rank it among later Ghibli highlights.
Year: 2014Director: Runtime: 103 minIMDb: 7.7/10Oscars: 0
added by IJRWhen Marnie Was There
-6The Cat Returns▼ Falling
A girl is pulled into a feline kingdom after saving a cat prince. Its light comic tone and whimsical cat society make it an easy crowd-pleaser spin-off.
Year: 2002Director: Runtime: 75 minIMDb: 7.2/10Oscars: 0
added by IJRThe Cat Returns
-6Ocean Waves▼ Falling
A high-school love triangle is revisited years later through memory. Its understated realism and emotional honesty mark it as an early TV-film gem.
Year: 1993Director: Runtime: 72 minIMDb: 6.9/10Oscars: 0
added by IJROcean Waves
-9The Red Turtle▼ Falling
A castaway’s survival story unfolds wordlessly with a mysterious turtle companion. Its minimalist beauty and wordless storytelling earned international praise.
Year: 2016Director: Runtime: 80 minIMDb: 7.5/10Oscars: 0
added by IJRThe Red Turtle
-18Earwig and the Witch▼ Falling
An orphan girl uses wits and magic in a witch’s household. Its modern CG look and lighter tone divided fans but introduced Ghibli to new techniques.
Year: 2020Director: Runtime: 82 minIMDb: 6/10Oscars: 0
added by IJREarwig and the Witch
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