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Grave of the Fireflies

Play trailer Poster for Grave of the Fireflies 1988 1h 28m Drama War Anime Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 47 Reviews 95% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
A teenager (J. Robert Spencer) is charged with the care of his younger sister (Rhoda Chrosite) after an Allied firebombing during World War II destroys their home and kills their mother.
Grave of the Fireflies

What to Know

Critics Consensus

An achingly sad anti-war film, Grave of the Fireflies is one of Studio Ghibli's most profoundly beautiful, haunting works.

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Critics Reviews

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Adam Kempenaar Filmspotting It’s one thing to have a film really sadden you, but I also found it sublime in its beauty... [Setsuko and Seita's] happiness together is transcendent. Rated: 5/5 Dec 7, 2022 Full Review Glenn Kenny New York Times One of the most startling and moving animated films ever. Jan 3, 2019 Full Review Chris Cabin Slant Magazine Isao Takahata makes survival the thematic core of the story, but he never degrades his characters or fetishizes their suffering. Rated: 3.5/4 Dec 30, 2018 Full Review Sebastian Zavala Kahn Me gusta el cine “Grave of the Fireflies” is simply a work of art; a film that, more than thirty-five years ago, demonstrated that animation can be used to tell mature, bloody, emotional, tragic, believable and very human stories. [Full review in Spanish]. Rated: 5/5 Feb 5, 2025 Full Review Denise Pieniazek EscribiendoCine It is a moving piece in front of which the public cannot remain indifferent, the story enunciates with warmth and raw honesty, the consequences of war on childhood and its irreversible consequences and how the adults seem to be absent... Rated: 8.5/10 Feb 1, 2025 Full Review Carson Timar ClapperCast The film has so much to say not just about war and death but also about pride. This is an incredibly worthy film that is a unique piece of Studio Ghibli's filmography. Mar 26, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Intel M Hands down one of if not THE saddest films I’ve ever watched. It not only displays the reality of war’s impact on the adolescent mind; it captures the fight or flight response of a big brother trying his best to take care of his sister by any means. They also do well with showcasing how the older brother’s pride was ultimately their downfall. Truly worth watching and keep a box of tissues handy. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/22/25 Full Review Sergio A It’s true that it has artistic beauty, but the entire movie stays in the same tone. It doesn’t evolve; it’s like staring at a sad photograph for an hour and a half. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/25 Full Review Audience Member Bawled my eyes out thank you Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/10/25 Full Review Vanessa A A masterpiece of a film, sometimes wholesome, sometimes funny, sometimes angering, but always sad Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/03/25 Full Review Steve S It’s so heartbreaking; I was deeply moved by its story. I highly recommend watching it! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/27/25 Full Review R G One of the most raw and captivatingly depressing films I've seen. I have only been able to watch it in pieces and I've still got a pit in my stomach. I'm glad they ended it where they did, if we had to watch everything else that happened up until the opening scene I don't think I could have watched it all. I read up on the history of the fire bombings of Japan. A US strategist of the air raids said that if they had lost the war, they would have been tried as war criminals. I can imagine why he would have said that. Anyways, I learnt something new and felt something new as well. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/27/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Grave of the Fireflies

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Grave of the Fireflies

Grave of the Fireflies (1988) Grave of the Fireflies (1988) Grave of the Fireflies (1988) Grave of the Fireflies (1988) Grave of the Fireflies (1988) Grave of the Fireflies (1988) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A teenager (J. Robert Spencer) is charged with the care of his younger sister (Rhoda Chrosite) after an Allied firebombing during World War II destroys their home and kills their mother.
Director
Isao Takahata
Screenwriter
Isao Takahata
Genre
Drama, War, Anime
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 11, 2017
Runtime
1h 28m