Perfect Blue

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Perfect Blue

R

1999

1h 20m

Mystery & Thriller

Anime

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Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

56 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

A mysterious figure stalks a pop star when she becomes an actor on a television show.

Critics Consensus

Perfect Blue is overstylized, but its core mystery is always compelling, as are the visual theatrics.

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Cody Corrall

Chicago Reader

Kon thoughtfully depicts a woman on the verge of madness as her squeaky-clean image devolves into the compromising and gruesome roles she plays in her acting career...

Oct 8, 2021

Full Review

Lisa Alspector

Chicago Reader

This engrossing animated thriller somehow displays realist gore, nudity, and sexual violence in a tone not too far from that of a children's adventure; its innocence stems in part from the convincing naivete of the heroine.

Oct 8, 2021

Full Review

Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

Strange, stylish and intelligent, this is a rare anime film that delivers on its Eastern promise.

Sep 22, 2020

Full Review

Marcelo Paredes

Cinencuentro

...Perfect Blue still resonates today because it exposes the evolution of the gaze and the manipulation of the image. Kon shows how a protagonist can be molded by those around her and also by the audience that consumes her. [Full review in Spanish]

Nov 18, 2025

Full Review

Calum Cooper

In Their Own League

A phenomenal horror film that has aged, maybe not like a fine wine, but more like a haunted fable that just gets scarier the further time passes.

Rated: 5/5

Jul 15, 2024

Full Review

Paul Lê

Bloody Disgusting

The timeless story and the complex characters, not to mention the fascinating visual language from start to finish, are only some of the reasons why fans keep coming back to Kon’s unparalleled debut.

Rated: 5/5

Jul 20, 2023

Full Review

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GEORGE

Words can't describe the impression this film has left on me. Utterly amazing.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/31/25

Full Review

Joseph P

An absolute masterpiece, RIP Satoshi Kon

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/10/23

Full Review

Steve O

Fun, creative, suspenseful! Satoshi Kon is a master animator that keeps you guessing what's happening. There's twists and turns. If you haven't seen his other works, I highly recommend Paprika and Millenium Actress TW: Sexual Assault is a big part in two scenes.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/07/23

Full Review

Ben W

This was crazy! Totally more crazy than I thought it would be. Really good and intriguing, but confusing.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/07/23

Full Review

Ashutosh M

Ben ka sot madarchod

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/16/25

Full Review

Benjamin H

A stylish and multifaceted masterpiece that uses its fantastic visual palette, rich storytelling and profound emotional depth to captivate the viewer all the way throughout.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/11/25

Full Review

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Satoshi Kon

Director

Bridget Hoffman

Mima Kirigoe

Stephen Apostolina

Shibuya

Bob Buchholz

Powertron

Steve Bulen

Tejima

Dyanne DiRosario

Yukiko

Perfect Blue: Fathom Events Trailer

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Perfect Blue: Fathom Events Teaser Trailer

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Synopsis

A mysterious figure stalks a pop star when she becomes an actor on a television show.

Director: Satoshi Kon
Producer: Hiroaki Inoue, Haruyo Kanesaku, Masao Maruyama, Yutaka Maseba, Takeshi Washitani
Screenwriter: Lia Sargent
Distributor: AVCO Embassy Pictures
Production Co: Rex Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Anime
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 20, 1999, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Oct 3, 2025
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 26, 2019
Runtime: 1h 20m
Sound Mix: Dolby
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)