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Shall We Dance?

Play trailer Poster for Shall We Dance? PG Now Playing 2h 17m Romance Drama Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 52 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Shohei Sugiyama (Koji Yakusho) seems to have it all -- a high-paying job as an accountant, a beautiful home, a caring wife and a doting daughter he loves dearly. However, he feels something is missing in his life. One day while commuting on the train he spots a beautiful woman staring wistfully out a window and eventually decides to find her. His search leads him head-first into the world of competitive ballroom dancing.
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Shall We Dance?

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Critics Consensus

Elegantly told by director Masayuki Suo and warmly performed, Shall We Dance? is a delightful celebration of stepping out of one's comfort zone and cutting a rug.

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Critics Reviews

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Terry Lawson Detroit Free Press If Shall We Dance? is as simplified as one of those color-coded mats that show you exactly where to plant your feet in a proper fox trot, it is also sweetly entertaining and sincere. Rated: 3/4 Sep 10, 2024 Full Review Jami Bernard New York Daily News This charming comedy uses dance as a metaphor for individual expression, risk-taking and intellectual flight. Rated: 3/4 Sep 10, 2024 Full Review Jeff Strickler Minneapolis Star Tribune The movie works on several levels, so if viewers don't understand the social commentary, there's still an amusing story with intriguing characters. Rated: 4/5 Sep 10, 2024 Full Review Dennis King Tulsa World A treasure of humor and heartbreak that transcends cultural boundaries. While its sentimental rhythms sometimes move too close to the cloying, it still manages to lift our hearts and set our toes to tapping. Rated: 3.5/4 Sep 10, 2024 Full Review Joe Baltake Fresno Bee What's more rousing here is the notion of a life awakened -- the rewarding sight of a mediocre man blossoming and becoming confident. Rated: B Sep 10, 2024 Full Review Dan Webster Spokesman-Review (Washington) The lesson has to do with resolving the lure of a dream and coming to an acceptance of real life. Rated: 3.5/4 Sep 10, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C I love dancing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/14/25 Full Review Cleveland E Such an endearing, heartfelt story. I saw it in NYC when it first came out. Was with Midwest friends that never saw a subtitled film & were very reluctant, but they wound up loving it. What’s not to love. Great acting, fabulous & moving story, great dancing and choreography and a wonderful competition at the end! Don’t waste your time with the remake with Richard Gere. Hollywood is utterly incapable of doing simple, meaningful films with down-to-earth, realistic characters; they glam it up and ruin it. This should be on everyone’s must see list. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/11/25 Full Review coronavirus k demon blood rise and the usa falls in the tale Rated 1 out of 5 stars 06/17/25 Full Review Audience Member The most beautiful movie I've seen in a long time. Simply wonderful. Sightly hilarious that from Japan the mecca to which they aspire is Blackpool, but also it is true...or was. An absolute must see. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member One of the most charming and entertaining films I've seen in a long time... I cared a lot about the characters and they seemed real and not contrived....a classic Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a Japanese film classic. One of the best films I have ever seen. Koji Yakusho and Tamiyo Kusakari are amazing. it is a charming and funny film. Forget the Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez remake. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Shall We Dance?

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Cast & Crew

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Masayuko Suo

Director

Kôji Yakusho

Shohei Sugiyama

Tamiyo Kusakari

Mai Kishikawa

Naoto Takenaka

Tomio Aoki

Eriko Watanabe

Toyoko Takahashi

Yu Tokui

Tokichi Hattori
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Shall We Dance?

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Movie Info

Synopsis Shohei Sugiyama (Koji Yakusho) seems to have it all -- a high-paying job as an accountant, a beautiful home, a caring wife and a doting daughter he loves dearly. However, he feels something is missing in his life. One day while commuting on the train he spots a beautiful woman staring wistfully out a window and eventually decides to find her. His search leads him head-first into the world of competitive ballroom dancing.
Director
Masayuko Suo
Producer
Shoji Masui, Yûji Ogata
Screenwriter
Masayuko Suo
Distributor
Miramax Films
Production Co
Miramax
Rating
PG
Genre
Romance, Drama, Comedy
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 15, 1996, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
May 30, 2025
Release Date (Streaming)
May 22, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$58.7K
Runtime
2h 17m
Sound Mix
Surround