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Films from Japan

Best Movies from Japan

Explore Japan's cinema on Celluloid — ranked by Celluloid Score with critic consensus, audience ratings, and expert reviews.

Quick Answer

The highest-rated Japan film on Celluloid is Seven Samurai (1954) with a 94% Celluloid Score — Celluloid Pick.

12
Films indexed
87%
Avg. Celluloid Score
1
Languages
12
Critic reviews

Guide to Japan Movies on Celluloid

Each film from Japan in our catalog includes aggregated scores from five sources, unique synopsis and consensus text, and linked critic reviews where available.

Titles are indexed by original language and country of production for easier discovery.

Essential Japan Picks

Top 5 by Celluloid Score
Seven Samurai 1954 · Akira Kurosawa · Japanese

Kurosawa's epic template for action cinema remains unmatched in scope, character, and editing rhythm.

94%
Celluloid Score Celluloid Pick
Tokyo Story 1953 · Yasujirô Ozu · Japanese

Ozu's minimalist domestic masterpiece routinely tops critics' polls as one of the greatest films ever made.

93%
Celluloid Score Celluloid Pick
Rashomon 1950 · Akira Kurosawa · Japanese

The film that introduced Japanese cinema to the world and gave us the term Rashomon effect.

92%
Celluloid Score Celluloid Pick
Spirited Away 2001 · Hayao Miyazaki · Japanese

Miyazaki's masterpiece won the Oscar for animation and remains Japan's most beloved export.

92%
Celluloid Score Celluloid Pick
Ran 1985 · Akira Kurosawa · Japanese

Kurosawa's King Lear adaptation is among the most visually overwhelming war films ever made.

90%
Celluloid Score Celluloid Pick

Japan Movie Reviews

All reviews →

Full critic reviews with answer-engine summaries — each review answers whether the film is worth watching, what it is about, and where to stream it.

Seven Samurai (1954) ★★★★★

Seven Samurai (1954) Review: A Japan Classic

Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai (1954) endures as a defining action landmark from Japan, with scores that still shape how audiences discover cinema from the region.

Essential viewing — a certified classic.
Tokyo Story (1953) ★★★★½

Tokyo Story (1953) Review: A Japan Classic

Yasujirô Ozu's Tokyo Story (1953) endures as a defining drama landmark from Japan, with scores that still shape how audiences discover cinema from the region.

Essential viewing — a certified classic.
Rashomon (1950) ★★★★½

Rashomon (1950) Review: A Japan Classic

Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon (1950) endures as a defining crime landmark from Japan, with scores that still shape how audiences discover cinema from the region.

Essential viewing — a certified classic.
Spirited Away (2001) ★★★★★

Spirited Away (2001) Review: A Japan Classic

Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away (2001) endures as a defining animation landmark from Japan, with scores that still shape how audiences discover cinema from the region.

Essential viewing — a certified classic.
Ran (1985) ★★★★½

Ran (1985) Review: A Japan Classic

Akira Kurosawa's Ran (1985) endures as a defining action landmark from Japan, with scores that still shape how audiences discover cinema from the region.

Essential viewing — a certified classic.
Godzilla Minus One (2023) ★★★★½

Godzilla Minus One (2023) Review: A Japan Classic

Takashi Yamazaki's Godzilla Minus One (2023) endures as a defining action landmark from Japan, with scores that still shape how audiences discover cinema from the region.

Essential viewing — a certified classic.
Your Name (2016) ★★★★½

Your Name (2016) Review: A Japan Classic

Makoto Shinkai's Your Name (2016) endures as a defining animation landmark from Japan, with scores that still shape how audiences discover cinema from the region.

Essential viewing — a certified classic.
Princess Mononoke (1997) ★★★★½

Princess Mononoke (1997) Review: A Japan Classic

Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke (1997) endures as a defining animation landmark from Japan, with scores that still shape how audiences discover cinema from the region.

Essential viewing — a certified classic.
Akira (1988) ★★★★½

Akira (1988) Review: A Japan Classic

Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira (1988) endures as a defining animation landmark from Japan, with scores that still shape how audiences discover cinema from the region.

Essential viewing — a certified classic.
Black Box Diaries (2024) ★★★★☆

Black Box Diaries Review: Shiori Ito's Courageous Self-Investigation

Shiori Ito turns her own camera on her years-long fight for justice in Japan — raw, urgent, and impossible to look away from.

Essential documentary filmmaking.
Battle Royale (2000) ★★★★½

Battle Royale (2000) Review: A Japan Classic

Kinji Fukasaku's Battle Royale (2000) endures as a defining thriller landmark from Japan, with scores that still shape how audiences discover cinema from the region.

Strongly recommended — a staple of its national cinema.
Happyend (2024) ★★★★½

Happyend Review: Gen Z Anger in a Near-Future Tokyo Hangout Movie

Neo Sora's 175-minute Tokyo drama threads surveillance-state anxiety through a loose friendship story that builds political fury sideways.

Patient, prickly, and urgently of-the-moment.

Popular Genres

Drama 6 Action 4 Animation 4 Fantasy 2 Crime 1 Romance 1

All Japan Movies

Ranked by Celluloid Score

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best movies from Japan?

Browse our Japan catalog sorted by Celluloid Score — the highest-rated films appear first with critic and audience ratings on every card.

How does Celluloid rate films from Japan?

Celluloid Score averages critic reviews, audience ratings, Metascore, Letterboxd, and IMDb into a single percentage, paired with written consensus and critic reviews.