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Shall We Dance?

Play trailer Poster for Shall We Dance? PG 1996 2h 17m Romance Drama Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 51 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?

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 09/10/2024
3/4
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. Go to Full Review Jami Bernard New York Daily News 09/10/2024
3/4
This charming comedy uses dance as a metaphor for individual expression, risk-taking and intellectual flight. Go to Full Review Jeff Strickler Minneapolis Star Tribune 09/10/2024
4/5
The movie works on several levels, so if viewers don't understand the social commentary, there's still an amusing story with intriguing characters. Go to Full Review Dennis King Tulsa World 09/10/2024
3.5/4
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. Go to Full Review Joe Baltake Fresno Bee 09/10/2024
B
What's more rousing here is the notion of a life awakened -- the rewarding sight of a mediocre man blossoming and becoming confident. Go to Full Review Dan Webster Spokesman-Review (Washington) 09/10/2024
3.5/4
The lesson has to do with resolving the lure of a dream and coming to an acceptance of real life. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Tom F @RT55173143 Mar 29 Solid entertainment, if not particularly compelling. See more Stephen C @bob25009 05/14/2025 I love dancing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In Japanese and American English audio versions with American English subtitles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $102,500.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Cleveland E @bdeneris 01/11/2025 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. See more coronavirus k @RT12363755 09/13/2024 demon blood rise and the usa falls in the tale See more Julia R @RT97578853 12/02/2022 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. See more 12/20/2021 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 See more 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)
$102.5K
Runtime
2h 17m
Sound Mix
Surround