The shows at Studio Ghibli all have a multitude of features that make them the best studio ghibli moviest they can be: imaginative stories, intricate animation, iconic characters, deeply personal themes, and wonderfully designed worlds. As a studio known for films by such artists as Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, Studio Ghibli is globally recognised. From fantasy adventure, coming-of-age tales, environmental drama, family films, historical films and introspective explorations of war and loss, its films cover a variety of genres. Currently both Rotten Tomatoes and Scene+Heard have guides to its feature filmography; the former by the studio, the latter by the viewer who stumbled on these best studio ghibli movies.
For What Are Studio Ghibli Movies Unique?
One trait of Studio Ghibli films is sometimes to be easily identifiable as stories of fantasy and reality coexisting. Although characters may have witches, spirits, magical creatures, flying vehicles, talking animals, and strange worlds (among many others) the themes of the stories are often focused on relationships, growth, family, work, nature and hard decisions.
Studio Ghibli’s tone, as it can be summarised, is a combination of the sympathetic view and adventure.If you have to put it into words, Studio Ghibli’s mode of working is empathy and adventure. The studio’s films also bear witness to the diversity of its narratives, including the films My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Grave of the Fireflies, the story of Princess Mononoke or The Wind Rises.
Spirited Away
Studio Ghibli’s 2001 movie is Spirited Away, one of the most widely-known films made by the company. It’s about Chihiro, a little girl, whose parents are turned into strange beings due to a bizarre transformation.
According to Rotten Tomatoes, Spirited Away has an 8% Tomatometer rating currently, and a 96% Tomatometer rating overall despite being just two days old, with an overall Popcornmeter rating of 96%. According to its critics consensus, the film is a “dazzling and enchanting fairy tale.
Chihiro’s growth, empathy, courage, complicated narrative and exceptional character like Haku were the points underlined by the filmmakers at Scene+Heard’ who found Spirited Away to be the number one film of the personal top ten list.
Spirited Away offers a chance to introduce many elements of the excellent Studio Ghibli films to the user: an imaginative day-defying fantasy, mystery, emotional growth, the presence of imagination, and a well-developed world.
Howl’s Moving Castle
Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) is about a young girl, Sophie, who meets an enigmatic wizard named Howl.
It’s a film about romance, fantasy, magic, war, identity and personal change. It has a 93/98 Tomatometer score at Rotten Tomatoes right now and 93/95 Popcornmeter.
Howl’s Moving Castle didn’t make the list #1 overall, but it was #2 on Scene+Heard’s list, especially for the composition of its score, romance, character development and the themes of war and the soul throughout the film’s fairy tale setting.
However, its cast of magical beings, moving castle, strange geography and emotional bonding is one of the most recognizable of Studio Ghibli’s fantasy adventures.
Princess Mononoke
The film, Princess Mononoke (1997), is darker and more grand in scope than other fantasy films. It tells the tale of Prince Ashitaka when he finds himself caught up in a battle between the forest spirits, people, industry and vying claims to it.
The movie has an 94% “T” on Rotten Tomatoes, and 99% “P” on the Tomatometer. It was the epic story and visual achievement that is highlighted by its critics consensus.
Prince of Peace, whose perspective on human beings and nature was highlighted in her position in its own top 10, took a fourth place finish in the standings.Humans are in a conflict with nature – and what is good versus evil – were topic enough for Princess Mononoke to rank fourth in the standings.
The film is notably poignant for those looking for Studio Ghibli films with environmental themes and serious conflicts as well as dark and complex characters and a large scale fantasy.
My Neighbor Totoro
One of Studio Ghibli’s most recognisable movies is the film ‘My Neighbor Totoro’ (1988). When the family of the sisters Satsuki and Mei relocates to an old country house while their mother is receiving treatment, the sisters journey to start a new and uncertain life there.
The film is currently at 94% fresh rating and 98% fresh rating on Tomatometer and Popcornmeter, respectively, according to Rotten Tomatoes. It’s sentimentalist portrayal of childhood is the point mentioned by the critics.
According to Scene+Heard, “a wonderful, happy and always joyful movie is one of the more iconic films from the studio and in any situation, would be a feel-good experience.
If you’re seeking gentle fantasy, the childish adventure, nature, family relationships and memorable creatures, then My Neighbor Totoro is an essential Studio Ghibli film to watch.
Kiki’s Delivery Service
Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989) chronicles an 11-year-old witch named Kiki, who sets out on her own to live for one year. With her flying skills, she creates a delivery service, discovering what it means to be responsible, confident, a friend and growing up.
The Rotten Tomatoes scores for the film are currently 89 per cent on the Tomatometer and 98 per cent on the fanbase-fuelled Tomatometer, the popular ‘Popcornmeter’. According to its critics consensus, it’s a tale so full of goodness that it’s a young witch’s story of finding herself in the world.
In its personal top 5 list, Scene+Heard puts Kiki’s Delivery Service in fifth place and mentions its topics of independence and personal growth.
Mistakes aside, children will find the film accessible thanks to some fantasy, day-to-day work, personal development and Kiki’s bond with Jiji, her talking cat.
Kaguya.
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013) has been helmed by Studio Ghibli veteran director Isao Takahata, and is technically unique from many of the studio’s other productions.
The story is about a mysterious girl who is found inside a bamboos stalk who quickly develops into a young girl. As of today, Rotten Tomatoes has the film at 100% fresh rating on its Tomatometer and 90% on its Popcornmeter. It’s getting the praise of the critics’ consensus for its story, authenticity and gorgeous appearance.
The Tale of Princess Kaguya, said Scene+Heard, was an adventure that was good, with a remarkable art style, emotional appeal, character-centric story and engaging sound design.
It’s especially intriguing for those who are seeking a film from Studio Ghibli that feels different, but stays in on the character and emotion.
Grave of the Fireflies
Isao Takahata’s film Grave of the Fireflies (1988) is one of the most painful movies made in the studio.
The novel is set in Japan around the end of World War II, when both Seita and his younger sister Setsuko are desperate to survive the devastation of war.
At present, RottenTomatoes is giving the film a 100% on the Tomatometer and 95% on the Popcornmeter and its critics consensus reads, “…Motion Picture #1396 is an anti-war movie about the human costs of warfare.”
According to scene+heard the movie is very sad and highlight its take of the hardships and choices of war, and the repercussions of such choices.
Grave of the Fireflies isn’t a whimsical Studio Ghibli film and possibly has the potential to be a darker genre of historical drama that some may find emotionally taxing to watch.
The Wind Rises
The Wind Rises(2013) is a historical drama based on the life of aircraft designer Jiro Horikoshi of Japan.
The film is about the passion Jiro felt for aviation, his career aspirations, relationships and the times that can be connected to the evolution of aircraft up to World War 2.
The film has been given an 88% Tomatometer rating and 85% Popcornmeter rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
It placed in the No. 9 spot on Scene+Heard’s personal top 10 list, concentrating on the film’s pursuit of ambition, romantic love, passion and the “messy, bizarre connection between technology and war.
Ponyo
This colourful fantasy tale by Ponyo (2008) is about a princess girl from Goldfish who meets a boy named Sosuke.
As of this blogpost, Rotten Tomatoes reports Ponyo to be at 91% on the Tomatometer and 84% on the Popcornmeter. In the critics consensus summary, viewers say that it is a child-friendly fairy tale with more appeal to them than other critics.
Scene+Heard ranked Ponyo #3 in their individual poll, and called it a lighthearted tale that is sure to be enjoyed by the whole family with its themes of love and childhood innocence.
Whereas the darker best studio ghibli movies would have been darker, Ponyo is a much more cheerful and colourful walk through a Ghibli Studio.
Castle in the Sky
Castle in the Sky (1986) marked Studio Ghibli’s first major picture, and introduced characters, plots, and story concepts that would come to be known as those of the studio’s adventure films.
Sheeta and Pazu embark on their journey in search for the mysterious magical floating castle Laputa. The movie has a 97% accuracy rating on Rotten Tomatoes’s Tomatometer and 91% on the Popcornmeter.
Castle in the Sky was named one of the top 10 movies by Scene+Heard over at the top of their list, calling it an “adventurous” film that was an “interesting change from enemies to allies” and had “likable character(s).”
For people keen on exploring Studio Ghibli’s inception into the realm of adventure and fantasy films, the movie becomes a great starting point.
The Boy and the Heron
One of Hayao Miyazaki’s later feature films, The Boy and the Heron (2023) features prominently and is one of the releases in an active list of films prominently featured in the Studio Ghibli list on Rotten Tomatoes.
It’s a tale about Mahito, an orphan boy who discovers a stranger heron who dangles before him, and the enigmatic world it reveals. The film currently has a 96% rating on the Tomatometer and 88% rating on the Tomatometer on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film is about fantasy, loss, family, imagination and surrealism. The themes and flow of the story makes it especially intriguing to those who have seen several Miyazaki movies.
The mystery of Arrietty
Secret World of Arrietty (2010) is the story of a little kid, Arrietty, who suspects her parents are hiding larger-than-average secrets in their house and lives in the shadows with them.
The film has an almost universally positive rating of 94% on the Rotten Tomatoes metacritics index and 86% on Popcornmeter. Its critics consensus is in reference to its “visual richness” and emotional depth.
The film is no Howl’s Moving Castle or Princess Mononke, being set in a not so large of an adventure. The theme of friendship, family, keeping things secret and a micro-world make it another special addition to Studio Ghibli’s filmography.
In addition to these films, be sure to check out more Studio Ghibli films in the future.
The films mentioned above are only the first thing that comes to mind for “Studio Ghibli”. Among the titles that are part of Rotten Tomatoes’ current guide are Only Yesterday, When Marnie Was There, The Wind Rises, From Up on Poppy Hill, Pom Poko, The Cat Returns, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Ocean Waves, Earwig and the Witch, and Tales from Earthsea, along with the movie, Porco Rosso, and My Neighbors the Yamadas.
These films are a veritable showcase of Studio Ghibli’s work. Some are about adolescence and relationships, others are about fantasy and adventure, and others are about family life, the environment, history and social change.
Check Out Best Studio Ghibli Movies By Mood
The versions of a fantasy adventure in Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke, and Castle in the Sky are all immersive.
If this isn’t quite as intense a tale, then see My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service and Ponyo, with childhood, friendship, independence and wonder all a Child’s thoughts.
On more serious themes check out Grave of the Fireflies, The Wind Rises and Princess Mononoke. The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is a very interesting story to read if you’re looking for something a little different in your story. If you prefer stories that tug at your heart strings, this is for you too.
The categories presented are not necessarily in order of preference but are rather found within the sources and determined by their themed documentation and/or descriptions.
This Is How You Can Get To Watch The Best Studio Ghibli Movies
Some people who are new to Studio Ghibli don’t necessarily have to go through the movies in the release order. A fan can watch one of the main movies (generally considered a fantasy) like Spirited Away, a family-friendly lighter film like My Neighbor Totoro, or a film themed to a coming of age experience like Kiki’s Delivery Service.
One way is to delve into the various directors. Some of his movies were Spirited Away, Totoro, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, and Howl’s Moving Castle, directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Isao Takahata was the director of The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, Only Yesterday and Grave of the Fireflies.
Not all films in the Studio Ghibli library tell the same story; viewing them by director is a great way to get a sense for the various ways to tell such a story.
Deviating from the norm doesn’t seem to affect sales.Hasn’t been a problem for best studio ghibli movies.
Studio Ghibli films have continued to draw crowds for being able to hit on a number of levels. For younger children there are magical characters and adventures, and for older children, issues that could be raised include elements of identity, work and family life, environmental change, grief, love and responsibility and personal growth.
The article provided by Scene+Heard is also important to note how the films can offer people exposure to emotional and thematic experiences, while Rotten Tomatoes’ latest Film Guide showcases the enduring critical appraisal and appreciation over the span of decades of Ghibli films.
For this reason, there are some nooks that one will have to dig into in order to get recommendations for the best Studio Ghibli movies that might be suitable when it comes to choosing movies of types according to the viewer’s preferences, such as fantasy, comedy, adventure, romance, childhood movies, historical dramas, or emotionally charged ones.
This is the list of best FAQ best studio ghibli movies topics frequently asked with answers.
What is the best studio ghibli movies to watch to start the Ghibli story?
My starting point would be the wonderful movies from Studio Ghibli like Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Princess Mononike as these represent various elements of fantasy, character, adventure, and imagery by the studio. Several of these movies are also prominently featured in the scene+heard list of Top 10s.
Which Studio Ghibli movie has the most positive Rotten Tomatoes reviews?
As of the date of this writing (10 August 2026), Rotten Tomatoes reveals that the three movies – The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, Only Yesterday, and Grave of the Fireflies – have scored 100 per cent on Tomatometer. It ranks them using its Tomatometers (TM), as the first, second, and third.
Which of the Studio Ghibli films are recommended for kids?
Some movies, like My Neighbor Totoro, Ponyo, Kiki’s Delivery Service and The Cat Returns provide fantasy and adventure that are relatively easy to experience and relate to. This still can depend on a child’s age and emotional or fear sensitivities.
Which movie(s) from Studio Ghibli are ‘’really for real”?
Grave of the Fireflies deals with the devastation war wrought on human life, Princess Mononoke discusses humankind’s impact on nature and industry, while The Wind Rises looks at individual aspirations and their impact on aviation history and wartime.
Does Hayao Miyazaki direct all of best studio ghibli movies?
No Studio Ghibli’s filmography is made up in a variety of films that are directed by Isao Takahata, Goro Miyazaki, Hiromasa Yonebayashi, Yoshifumi Kondo, Tomomi Mochizuki, Hiroyuki Morita and other directors. Rotten Tomatoes’ top guide is up and running with the directors as well as individual films.
Conclusion
There’s nothing like some fantasy and adventure, kid stuff and heartbreak, war and ecology or even Disney history when it comes to the best studio ghibli movies. Studio Ghibellini’s movies have different strengths: Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, the Japanese animated film based on the novel of the same name, which is also the setting of Kiki’s Delivery Service, are all particularly good; Ponyo, The Wind Rises and the later made Castle in the Sky are all excellent; and My Neighbor Totoro and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya are strong but not as great; but Grave of the Fireflies, with its first-person narration by a young girl, has never gained the popularity its potential merited. It’s obvious from what’s recommended in Rotten Tomatoes’ current guide, as well as their personal list on Scene+Heard that there is no one way to enjoy the catalog. When it comes to films, whether you’re new to Studio Ghibli or old, you can find various imaginative worlds and memorable characters and stories that can engage different ages and interests.
Alexander Carter is a veteran technology strategist, writer and systems architect, with more than a decade and a half of hands-on experience at the intersection of emerging software paradigms, cloud architecture and digital transformation. Alexander has always been fascinated by how technology affects human capability and evolved into a demystifier of complex technology environments and helper of organizations to create scalable, resilient systems for the modern era.
