9 Best Studio Ghibli Movies of All Time

By Vlad Zakh · February 5, 2026

Studio Ghibli’s handcrafted animation and humane storytelling have made it one of the most beloved studios anywhere. The Tale of the Princess Kaguya has a bamboo-born girl torn between two worlds, Howl’s Moving Castle has a young woman cursed with old age, and Ponyo has a goldfish princess longing to be human. The Wind Rises, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Grave of the Fireflies and My Neighbor Totoro round out the nine.

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013)

TMDB ★ 8.0

A mysterious girl discovered inside a bamboo stalk grows into a woman torn between two worlds.

Directed by Isao Takahata · 2h 17m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Wind Rises (2013)

TMDB ★ 7.8

A dramatisation of the visionary aircraft designer behind Japan's Second World War fighter planes.

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki · 2h 06m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Ponyo (2008)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A curious young fish creature befriends a boy and longs to become human.

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki · 1h 40m · Rated G

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 88% Metacritic 82

A young woman cursed with old age seeks refuge in the walking castle of a mysterious wizard.

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki · 1h 59m · Rated PG

Nominated for 1 Oscar14 wins & 20 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Spirited Away (2001)

IMDb ★ 8.6 RT 96% Metacritic 96

A young girl trapped in a spirit world must work in a bathhouse to save her transformed parents.

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki · 2h 05m · Rated PG

Won 1 Oscar58 wins & 31 nominations

Where to watch

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Princess Mononoke (1997)

IMDb ★ 8.3 RT 93% Metacritic 78

A young warrior becomes entangled in a war between forest spirits and an industrious mining settlement.

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki · 2h 14m · Rated PG-13

14 wins & 6 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)

TMDB ★ 7.8

A young witch moves to a new town and starts a flying delivery service to gain independence.

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki · 1h 43m · Rated G

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

IMDb ★ 8.5 RT 100% Metacritic 94

Two siblings struggle to survive in Japan during the final devastating months of the Second World War.

Directed by Isao Takahata · 1h 29m · Rated NR

3 wins

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 94% Metacritic 87

Two young sisters befriend gentle forest spirits after moving to the countryside near their ailing mother.

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki · 1h 26m · Rated G

6 wins & 2 nominations

Where to watch

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

9 Best Studio Ghibli Movies of All Time

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013)

The Wind Rises (2013)

Ponyo (2008)

Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

Spirited Away (2001)

Princess Mononoke (1997)

Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)

Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

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