30 Powerful Films,Japanese cinema has experienced a boom in recent times. Godzilla Minus One, Suzume and Perfect Days are examples of the excellent films that have renewed interest in Japanese cinema. Japan ranks fourth in terms of film production and third in box office earnings. The film industry in Japan, which has been around for over 100 years, is among the world’s oldest. Japan’s abundant film history and numerous films can be daunting. From comedy to drama and horror, Japanese movies are a must-see. Akira Kurosawa and Hayao Miyazaki are among the most influential.
directors who have emerged from Japan. This impressive and historic industry is epitomized by some of the best Japanese films ever made, and they are a must-see for anyone interested in international cinema.
Top Japanese Movies(30 Powerful Films)
In 1896, Japan showcased the kinetoscope, a novel storytelling method that was first developed in ancient Japan. Japan’s film industry rapidly expanded and began to gain recognition. Japan gained fame in the years that followed, thanks to Jidaigeki, which depicted Japan before the Meiji restoration, monster movies, animes, samurai films, and well-received slow-motion dramas. Yet, there is much more.
The top-grossed Japanese films include animated ones, with 2020’s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba—The Movie: Mugen Train being the most successful in both Japan and the world. In Japan, Bayside Shakedown 2 is the seventh highest-grossing live-action film and ranks fifteenth globally. The list includes both animated and non-animated films. While examining the history of Japanese cinema, it highlights the craft and quality of the films. This is a Western interpretation from narrator who doesn’t speak Japanese. The aim is to exhibit the classics and top-notch movies of Japan’s exceptional film culture.
30. Ring (1998)
The release of Ring or Ringu in North America was instrumental in establishing J-Horror’s global presence. The 2002 American remake of The Ring, while not a well-known classic in America, is worth watching.
Ring’s release was met with critical acclaim and box-office success. Similar to the American version, the film depicts a reporter uncovering the truth behind ‘an old footage that leads to people dying seven days later’. The movie not only popularized Japanese horror in the West but also revived horror filmmaking in Japan, resulting in Pulse, The Grudge, and Dark Water. The latest Japanese horror releases, including One Cut to the Dead and Tag, are a standout. Tubi has started streaming Ring.
29. Paprika (2006)
Satoshi Kon’s Paprika is the concluding film in his collection, featuring a dream detective who uses psychedelic technology to track down terrorism. Paprika has been likened by many to the American movie Inception. Despite sharing many plotlines and themes, Christopher Nolan has not acknowledged the film’s influence.
It’s possible that Nolan and Kon’ influenced their work before. Perfect Blue and Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream have been noted to share similarities. Paprika’s 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes is currently being streamed on Tubi.
28. House (1977)
The most experimental film on this list is House, directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi. A young girl and her friends are ensnared in the country house of an elderly aunt, only to be eaten by the household.
Despite receiving poor reviews at first, the film managed to do well commercially in Japan. It gained worldwide cult status after its release in America in the late 2000s. By blending live action, animation, and stop motion, the film adopts a new cinematic approach. The BFI correspondent, Sarah Cleary, remarked that the movie House is like many good ghost stories in its exploration of how past events can have an impact on the present day. Max’s current channel is House.
27. Shall We Dance? (1996)
Is Shall We Dance the same thing as its American equivalent? In the rom-com, a middle aged accountant joins dance classes to escape his mundane life.
Masayuki Suo helmed the film, which was a hit at the box office in Japan and America. According to Roger Ebert, the movie is a thoroughly enjoyable film that features well-crafted characters and conveys effervescence while still maintaining commodiousness. The movie is not currently being streamed in America.
26. Battle Royale (2000)
Kinji Fukasaku’s final film, Battle Royale, is a blend of horror and action. The film is swashbuckling, gory and explosive. The deserted island is where 42 teenagers have been left, and they must fight for their lives before the final survivor can leave.
Directors such as Quentin Tarantino have a deep appreciation for the film, which has been recognized as defining work in “battle royale.” Although the movie is considered a cult-favorite in America, it was surprisingly successful in Japan and beyond. Several countries banned the film, and it was not distributed in America due to legal concerns. Nonetheless, it was ultimately released in the United States in 2010. You can stream Battle Royale for free on Tubi, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel and Amazon Prime.
25. Your Name (2016)
In the anime titled Your Name, two students exchange bodies while on a rare comet. The film gained popularity in Japan and abroad, and Toho Studios is said to be working on a live-action version.
Your Name encompasses a mix of romance, comedy, heartbreak, witty surprises, catchy melodied endings, and unexpected depth. The film’s goal is to portray puppy love and the cultural significance of natural disasters while keeping the story brief. Rotten Tomatoes rates the film at 98%. Currently, it can be streamed on Crunchy Roll.
24. The Twilight Samurai (2002)
The Twilight Samurai, starring Hiroyuki Sanada and Rie Miyazawa, is directed by Yoji Yamada and features a low-level samura in which his sedentary life is disrupted by the arrival of ‘girl’ from his past.
It’s a slow, muted film.” Taking place before the Meiji Restoration, it adopts a distinct approach to the “samurai story” that is present in several other Jidaigeki films. The Twilight Samurai received 12 Japanese Academy Awards and was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film, also. Sadly, it is not currently streaming.
23. Woman in the Dunes (1964)
A New Wave thriller, Sand Woman, features an amateur entomologist who arrives in the village and takes up residence with a widow at the bottom of sand dune.
Director Hiroshi Teshigahara’s masterpiece, featuring Eiji Okada and Kyko Kishida, is widely regarded. It was nominated for two Oscars and came in with the Special Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Roger Ebert’s 1998 review praised the film’Sand Photography, noting that it is unlike “Lawrence of Arabia” and that its story is grounded in actual physical reality. Rent the film on Apple TV and Amazon Prime.
22. Tampopo (1985)
At times, humor can be dispensable. Tampopo’s comedic style is not limited by language, but by his humanistic and empathetic approach. A ramen shop owner and a deliveryman are the ones who find the ideal noodle in the movie.
Tsutomu Yamazaki, Nobuko Miyamoto and Ken Watanabe star in the film directed by Juzo Itami. It’s pure, sexy fun that will make people crave something more exotic than a spaghetti western. Rotten Tomatoes has given the film a perfect score. The movie’s use of the name Tampopo, which means “Dandelion,” has resulted in many restaurants adopting it as a new name for their Ramen chef. It can be viewed online through Max.
21. Audition (1999)
Avoid viewing Audition if you have a weak stomach. Despite its notorious final torture sequence, Takashi Miike’s horror film is often overlooked for its depth and impact. The film tells the story of a widower who arranges fake film auditions to try and get back together, but his chances of finding love with Asami are diminished when he chooses her.
Many horror directors and the “torture porn” genre were impacted by the film. Audition differs from later films in the genre, such as Saw or Hostel, which had a more limited use of gore. Its use of tension is more notably effective in the film. The streaming service Tubi has started offering free content.
20. Akira (1988)
An iconic anime series is Akira. In the dystopian future of 2019, it follows the leader of a biker gang and his telepathic companion as they embark on an uprising in Neo-Tokyo.
Its beautiful, if not shockingly violent imagery has helped to popularize anime films internationally. The “Akira slide,” a motorcycle stop that slides and is used in action and animated films, was made popular by the film. The music and action in Akira hold immense power. According to Tom Usher’s writing in Vice, “Akira marked the first time that the West had interacted with Japanese culture, and its influence is still felt today.” Hulu allows streaming of the content.
19. Tokyo Drifter (1966)
The story of Seijun Suzuki’s Tokyo Drifter involves a former yakuza who now wants to become entrepreneur and outrun an old adversary. The film balances the 1960s charm with a contemporary edge. The film’s visuals and style make it a must-watch.
The film is a B-movie without any apparent disgrace. Like many of Suzuki’s films, Tokyo Drifter is a pure spectacle. At present, the film has 93% of Rotten Tomatoes vouchers. Available for rent on Amazon Prime and Apple TV.
18. Tokyo Godfathers (2003)
Satoshi Kon’s Tokyo Godfathers is a film that has varying levels of everything. It is a Christmas movie, an amine, shambles on the heart, and possibly reminiscent of Yazuka. The movie depicts the encounter of three homeless individuals with a baby in the trash.
The majority of the animes listed are recommended for a subtitled version, but the most recent English dub features Shakina Nayfack, formerly Vivienne, who is transgender and plays Hana, an actress. The U.S. has a cult following for the film. S. The current score on Rotten Tomatoes is 92%. Streaming of the show is free on The Roku Channel and Amazon Prime at present.
17. Kwaidan (1964)
This list may not include all the films directed by Masaki Kobayashi, but Kwaidan is one of his most captivating works. The horror anthology film contains four separate ghost stories.
The film is derived from the Japanese folklore stories that Lafcadio Hearn collected, particularly his 1904 work Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things. Although the film is a horror movie, its scarcity is not as significant.
16. The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)
Director Isao Takahata has reimagined the tale of the bamboo cutter from ancient legends in The Tale of Princess Kaguya, his last film. Despite its beautiful visuals, the film is animated and deviates from the typical maximal aesthetics of other Studio Ghibli films.
Takeo Chii’s final film, The Tale of Princess Kaguya features Yukiji Asaoke as a special guest star. Inside a glowing shoot, he locates ‘a palm-sized girl inside the bamboo cutter in the film. The highest-budget film in Japanese history was the debut of The Tale of Princess Kaguya, which cost approximately $49 million and lasted until 2023. The film was a hit and received an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. It also produced the documentary Isao Takahata and His Tale of Princess Kaguya. Watch The Tale of Princess Kaguya on Max’s streaming platform.
15. Shoplifters (2018)
Japan’s elder crime and shoplifting trend were seemingly the inspiration behind Hirokazu Kore-eda’s family drama, Shoplifters. In modern-day Tokyo, a family is subjected to shoplifting as part of the plot.
At the Cannes Film Festival, Shoplifters was screened and won with the Palme d’Or award. At the Oscars and Golden Globes, it was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. It was the recipient of eight Japan Academy Prizes. The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw gave the film a four-star rating, but then gave it ten stars after watching it again. The film Shoplifters was described by him as a complex and subtle mystery that culminates in an unexpected twist-off, which was reminiscent of psychological suspense noir. At the moment, Tubi and Peacock offer free streaming.
14. Godzilla Minus One (2023)
Although recent Godzilla movies like Shin Godzi are great, I think Godz Minus One is the best one ever made. It is a prequel to the 1954 Godzilla movie, directed by Takashi Yamazaki. In Minus One, a 1945 movie, an ex-kamikaze pilot is followed who survives an encounter with Godzilla but ends up on redeemed ground and fighting the monster in the open sea.
Despite having a smaller budget than the American Godzilla reboots and sequels, the film boasts equally impressive special effects. It was awarded the Best Visual Effects prize at the Academy Awards. Both Japan and America hailed the movie as a modern Godzilla masterpiece.
13. Rashomon (1950)
Rashomon, a significant movie, was written and directed by Akira Kurosawa. “The Rashomon Effect,” a narrative technique that employs multiple perspectives to explain the same incident, was inspired by the film. The Japanese period drama or Jidaigeki film, Rashomon, portrays the same story of rape, murder, and revenge against various characters.
While Kurosawa had a well-established reputation in Japan, Rashomon was one of the first Japanese films to receive international recognition. At the Venice Film Festival, it was honored with the Golden Lion and an Academy Honorary Award at the Oscars (as it came before the International Film Category of the Academy). The film has a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It is currently free to stream via Tubi, or paid with a subscription from Max.
12. Godzilla (1954)
Although the practical effects of the first Godzilla movie may seem outdated to modern viewers, Goddog is a must-watch. With a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this film is considered king of monsters for some reason.
Ishir Honda’s Godzilla movie is centered on the perils of nuclear bombs in post-WWII Japan. In the film, kaiju, who is now famous, is brought to Tokyo in chaos when an American hydrogen bomb destroys his house and family. It is the 33rd Japanese-made film in a franchise of 38. The Shwa era of Godzilla films, which extended to 1975, was initiated by this film. In many films of this era, Haruo Nakajima portrayed the titular monster in a physical costume. Godzilla can be viewed for free on Tubi and Pluto TV or with a subscription to Max.
11. Fireworks (1997)
Comedian/filmmaker Takeshi Kitano made the film Fireworks or Hana-Bi. After obtaining money from the mob, an ex-cop is led into a crime-stopping operation to pay them back.
Akira Kurosawa, the legendary director, added Fireworks to his list of favorite films. The Venice International Film Festival awarded the Golden Lion to the film. According to Roger Ebert’s 1998 review, the film is expertly crafted and devoid of excess. Renting the film is possible through YouTube and Google Play.
10. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
A lot of Studio Ghibli’s films, including those by director Hayao Miyazaki, could have been included in this list. Despite its small cast, My Neighbor Totoro is still one of Miyazaki’s best films, with all the necessary elements to ensure that viewers enjoy and respect the magical nature of the countryside.
Two sisters in rural Japan encounter the spirit of the forest in the movie. Although the 2004 English Dub is the most easily accessible, the original 1989 English Doubt is commonly preferred by fans of a certain age. Totoro, the forest’s incarnation, has become both a cultural icon and mascot for Studio Ghibli. Watch the film on Max.
9. Late Spring (1949)
Late Spring, a film from Yasujir Ozu, is the first in Yuri’s “Noriko trilogy” that also includes Early Summer and Tokyo Story. Despite having no specific plotline, the films each showcase actress Setsuko Hara as Noriko, an unmarried woman who portrays women in postwar Japan.
This film is an excellent example of a shomin-geki genre that explores the everyday existence. It depicts a woman and her late husband’s spouse as her aunt creates an intention to have mingled relationship. It has a quiet, mournful tone. Roger Ebert referred to the story of Late Spring as a source of sadness in 2005. In the film, Noriko’s smile and her emotions are intertwined. The film is now available for free streaming on Tubi.
8. Drive My Car (2021)
Although there may be some recency bias, Drive My Car by 2021 is a beautiful film that explores the themes of grief and love. A senior actor-director and his young driver encounter difficulties in overcoming the grief of their wife’s passing while directing a production of Uncle Vanya.
The movie is based on the Haruki Murakami short story and stars Hidetoshi Nishijima, Tko Miura, and Reika Kirishima. The Japanese movie Drive My Car was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards and received an Oscar nomination forBest International Feature Film. The film became the first non-Englishlanguage movie and was one of only seven to win Best Picture from all three major U.S. cinemas. S. Critics’ organizations (LAFCA, NYFCC, NSFC). Available for rent on Amazon Prime and Apple TV.
7. Ugetsu (1953)
Ugetsu is regarded as a masterpiece of Japan’s Golden Age of Cinema. In the movie, a hopeful young samurai is lured by resentful women who leave his wife. Despite being labeled as a ghost story, it is not truly spooky. The film Ugetsu, directed by Kenji Mizoguchi, is a reflection on the issues of sexual desire and malevolence.
Following its win of the Pasinetti Award and the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival, the film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Costume Design, Black and White. The film can be watched at no cost on Tubi and with a subscription to Max.
6. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
The story of two children surviving the war in Japan in 1940s is the subject of one of Studio Ghibli’s darkest and most iconic animated films, Grave of the Fireflies. Grave of the Fireflies, helm by Isao Takahata, was initially presented as a double feature with the much lighter My Neighbor Totoro.
From Up on Poppy Hill, a 2011 film, was the only Studio Ghibli movie that Disney never obtained the North American distribution rights for, possibly because of its dark tone. But it is still worth the watch. Roger Ebert has claimed that Grave of the Fireflies is an emotionally charged movie that requires a radical revision of animation. Unfortunately, we are unable to rent or stream Grave of the Fireflies in America.
5. Ikiru (1952)
Akira Kurosawa is the most renowned director on numerous “best Japanese film lists.” It’s a justification, but it becomes repetitive after watching 30 films over thirty years of work. However, Kurosawa’s High and Low, Drunken Angel, Throne of Blood, The Hidden Fortress, Igawabo, or Ran may have all been included in this list. Kurosawa is more famous for his samurai and noir films than Ikiru.
Ikiru, based on Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilyich, portrays a terminally ill bureaucrat on his final journey to find meaning. Takashi Shimura and Miki Odagiri co-star in the hilariously funny but deeply personal film. In Britain, Bill Nighy starred in the 2022 remade Ikiru, which means “To Live.” Living’s performance is exceptional, but Nighy’S is outstanding. Max offers Ikiru for viewing.
4. Tokyo Story (1953)
Yasujir Ozu’s Tokyo Story is a work that many people find difficult to comprehend, regardless of their viewing status. It’s a slow film, with little movement on the camera. At first, the film was deemed “too Japanese” for audiences outside Japan. The drama about generational connections is a subtle and beautiful piece, but it still deserves to be seen.
The movie follows two elderly parents, Chish Ry and Chieko Higashiyama, as they visit their grown children in Tokyo. Rotten Tomatoes has given the film a perfect score. Sight and Sound recognized Tokyo Story as the greatest film ever in 2012. Tky Kazoku, the film of 2013, was remade by Yji Yamada. But the original is better. A subscription to Tubi or Max provides free streaming.
3. Harakiri (1962)
Following the success of The Human Condition trilogy (1959-1961), Masaki Kobayashi produced another masterpiece in 1962, Harakiri. It is widely recognized as one of the greatest samurai films ever produced. In the Tokugawa shogunate, Harakiri is in charge of a ronin who requests to commit seppuku or harakir from lords at their manor.
It deals with themes of power and glory. Rotten Tomatoes has rated the film with 100% approval and Letterboxd is its top choice. It also won the Special Jury Award at the 1963 Cannes Film Festival. In 2011, Takashi Miike’s 3-D remake of Hara-Kiru: Death of a Samurai debuted at Cannes, but it is now considered better. Harakiri (1962) can be rented out on Apple TV.
2. Spirited Away (2001)
The writer and director of the Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away is Hayao Miyazaki. It was the highest-grossing film in Japan for 19 years and the first non-English-language animated film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. The Boy and the Heron, another Miyazaki film, was the only one that won in 2024.
One of the most visually stunning animated films ever produced. A ten-year-old girl is trapped in the spirit realm and must rescue her parents from an evil witch. This list of Studio Ghibli films is not surpassed by Spirited Away, which is considered the best film from the studio. It can be viewed online through Max.
1. Seven Samurai (1954)
The legendary Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai has been acclaimed as the greatest foreign-language film ever made. During the Sengoku period in Japan, a group of farmers is depicted who hire samurai to safeguard their crops.
It was a turning point for Japanese cinema, and it remains popular today. It has been a hit with directors like Martin Scorsese and Andrei Tarkovsky. Seven Samurai’s influence has been felt in later movies, spanning from The Magnificent 7, Star Wars 2, and A Bug’S Life. The heist genre was also shaped by the “assembling a team” trope in Seven Samurai. The film was re-enhashed by Toho in 2016 using second-generation fine grain positive and third-gen duplicate negatives. Sadly, the original negative of the film is no longer available. The 4K restoration in NYC and LA will reopen in July of the same year. Max’s streaming service is currently showing it.