Skip to main content
Celluloid
AnimationDramaWar Editor's Pick

Grave of the Fireflies Review (1988) — 83% Celluloid Score

Directed by Isao Takahata · 1988 ·

Short answer

Is Grave of the Fireflies worth watching?

Yes. Grave of the Fireflies (1988) earns an 83% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

83%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

87% Editorial Rating
89% Audience snapshot · excluded
81 Metascore
★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4
8.5 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
1h 29m
Age rating
NR (US) · 12A (UK) · M (Australia) · PG (Canada) · 12 (South Korea)
Cast
Tsutomu Tatsumi , Ayano Shiraishi , Yoshiko Shinohara , Akemi Yamaguchi , Masayo Sakai , Kozo Hashida , Kazumi Nozaki , Yoshio Matsuoka , Masahiro Kanetake , Kiyoshi Yanagawa
Streaming
Netflix
Country
Japan
Language
Japanese

Also known as 火垂るの墓 La Tumba de las Luciérnagas Le Tombeau des Lucioles Die letzten Glühwürmchen Túmulo dos Vagalumes 반딧불의 묘 萤火虫之墓 螢火蟲之墓

Where to watch

  • Netflix

Rent: Amazon Video

Buy: Amazon Video

Where to watch Grave of the Fireflies by country

Country Streaming on
India Netflix
Indonesia Netflix
Japan Netflix
Malaysia Netflix
Nigeria Netflix
Pakistan Netflix
Philippines Netflix
South Africa Netflix
South Korea Netflix
Thailand Netflix
Turkey Netflix
United Arab Emirates Netflix
United Kingdom Netflix
United States Netflix

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is positive (87/100).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (89%).
  • Metascore signals universal acclaim (81/100).
  • Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4/5).
  • IMDb users score it 8.5/10.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded animation, drama, war pick
  • Short runtime — easy weeknight watch

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

    Is Grave of the Fireflies worth watching?

    Yes — Grave of the Fireflies earns an 83% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded animation, drama, war pick. Read our full review (4.5/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    IMDb Top 250 #36 (8.5/10) — Grave of the Fireflies remains one of the most highly rated films of all time.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

    What is Grave of the Fireflies about?

    In the final months of World War II, 14-year-old Seita and his sister Setsuko are orphaned when their mother is killed during an air raid in Kobe, Japan. After a falling out with their aunt, they move into an abandoned bomb shelter. With no surviving relatives and their emergency rations depleted, Seita and Setsuko struggle to survive.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English Grave of the Fireflies

    Grave of the Fireflies (1988) Review: Hunger After the Bombs

    Grave of the Fireflies is Isao Takahata's animated war drama about two orphaned children in 1945 Kobe, and one of the most devastating films ever made.

    Yes, once. It is a masterpiece of animated drama and an essential war film, best for teens and adults ready for a profoundly sad, unsentimental story.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    Grave of the Fireflies stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    Grave of the Fireflies production still 1
    Grave of the Fireflies production still 2
    Grave of the Fireflies production still 3
    Grave of the Fireflies production still 4
    Grave of the Fireflies production still 5
    Grave of the Fireflies production still 6

    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    Grave of the Fireflies: frequently asked questions

    Is Grave of the Fireflies worth watching?

    Yes. Grave of the Fireflies (1988) has a Celluloid Score of 83%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

    Where can I watch Grave of the Fireflies?

    In the United States, Grave of the Fireflies streams on Netflix with a subscription, and you can rent it from Amazon Video or buy it from Amazon Video. Elsewhere: Netflix in India; Netflix in Indonesia; Netflix in Japan; Netflix in Malaysia. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is Grave of the Fireflies?

    Grave of the Fireflies runs 1 hour 29 minutes (89 minutes).

    What is Grave of the Fireflies rated?

    Grave of the Fireflies is rated NR in the United States, 12A in the UK, M in Australia, PG in Canada and 12 in South Korea. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in Grave of the Fireflies?

    Grave of the Fireflies is directed by Isao Takahata and stars Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Yoshiko Shinohara, Akemi Yamaguchi, Masayo Sakai.

    What is the Metascore for Grave of the Fireflies?

    Metacritic's Metascore for Grave of the Fireflies is 81 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

    More Like This

    Ranked by genre overlap and Celluloid Score. More movies like Grave of the Fireflies →