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Princess Mononoke

Play trailer 1:28 Poster for Princess Mononoke PG-13 In Theaters Wed Mar 26 2h 13m Adventure Fantasy Anime Play Trailer Watchlist
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93% Tomatometer 118 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
A prince becomes involved in the struggle between a forest princess and the encroachment of mechanization.
Coming Soon In Theaters Wed Mar 26 Reserve Tickets
Princess Mononoke

What to Know

Critics Consensus

With its epic story and breathtaking visuals, Princess Mononoke is a landmark in the world of animation.

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Critics Reviews

View All (118) Critics Reviews
Jack Mathews New York Daily News Done mostly in the style of hand-painted classic animation, with occasional digital assists, "Princess Mononoke is indeed a thing of beauty and imagination. Rated: 2.5/4 Dec 7, 2014 Full Review David Denby The New Yorker This handsome, beautifully designed Japanese animated film has the size -- though not the clarity -- of a great Japanese film epic. Nov 27, 2013 Full Review Stephen Hunter Washington Post Miyazaki's hordes of animators haven't penetrated beyond the skin; the moving creatures feel inarticulate and jerky, almost weightless, particularly when played against painterly background mattes. Nov 27, 2013 Full Review Jack Walters Loud and Clear Reviews "Blending gorgeous visuals with a tender and topical narrative that speaks to the soul, Princess Mononoke is one of Ghibli’s most important films yet." Rated: 4/5 Jan 18, 2025 Full Review Ian Kane Epoch Times ...a refreshing take on the tired man versus nature genre, and it also sheds light on ancient Japanese folklore, religion, and history. Rated: 4/5 Dec 31, 2023 Full Review Jana Monji Age of the Geek When you watch this film, you need to think: "Where are the Japanese wolves?" If you don't, you'll miss the full impact of Hayao Miyazaki's environmental theme. Japan isn't the land of Bambi or the Big Bad Wolf. Rated: 5/5 Sep 25, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jan V Another Myazaki classic, now in glorious quality. Disney, are you watching and learning on how it's done? Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/24/25 Full Review Julius E Hayao Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke is a breathtaking masterpiece that blends myth, environmentalism, and thrilling action into an unforgettable cinematic experience. Released in 1997, this Studio Ghibli epic remains one of the most powerful animated films ever made. The film doesn’t rely on simplistic good-versus-evil narratives; instead, it presents complex characters with understandable motivations, making it a deeply thought-provoking tale. Visually, Princess Mononoke is stunning. The hand-drawn animation is rich with detail, from the lush forests to the hauntingly beautiful spirits that inhabit them. Joe Hisaishi’s score elevates the emotional depth, perfectly complementing the film’s grand scale and intimate moments. What sets Princess Mononoke apart is its mature themes. It tackles humanity’s relationship with nature in a way that feels both timeless and urgent, refusing to offer easy answers. The action sequences are intense, and the darker tone sets it apart from other Ghibli films. While the pacing slows at times, and some may find the themes heavy, Princess Mononoke is an absolute must-watch for any animation or fantasy lover. It’s a gripping, visually stunning tale that leaves a lasting impression. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/24/25 Full Review Audience Member This is a masterpiece. The only reason I didn't go for 5 stars is because the official English dub is sometimes actually better than the original Japanese track, at least in our opinion; we being my gf & me. This is one of our all-time favorites, the absolute proof that animation, even fantasy, can be dead serious. In my opinion this is a better Junglebook than the Disney animation (also because I actually read the actual book, and the movie skipped every real aspects of the story). It feels real, it doesn't try to pick sides between 'good' and 'evil' but instead shows you that bad things could actually have good intentions, something you'll only see if you take the effort to learn about what led up to all those. We also loved the ending, there is a bit of a love story but ... both protagonists can't just give up their ways for the sake of it. Something you'd also see happening in real life. This... is a must see. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/22/25 Full Review Jesse H Absolute damn perfection! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/22/25 Full Review Adán G Estamos ante una de las películas más hermosas de Ghibli. Su tono oscuro y su mensaje profundo sobre la relación del ser humano con la naturaleza —contado a través de una entrañable historia de fantasía y heorísmo—, la convierten en una película imprescindible para toda edad y para cualquier generación. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/19/25 Full Review Sam W An elegantly told story of how humans forget the old ways in the name of progress. It’s a bit slow at times but is inventive and inspiring with plenty of spiritual eastern folklore and fantasy characters, each of whom have their own personalities and growth arcs. The animation is beautiful, the soundtrack is stirring and there’s a good amount of action and a small bit of humour, but it seemed to meander through its plot and ending rather than know what it wanted to say. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/09/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Princess Mononoke

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Movie Info

Synopsis A prince becomes involved in the struggle between a forest princess and the encroachment of mechanization.
Director
Hayao Miyazaki
Producer
Toshio Suzuki
Screenwriter
Neil Gaiman, Hayao Miyazaki
Distributor
Miramax Films
Production Co
Dentsu, Nippon Herald Films, Studio Ghibli
Rating
PG-13 (Images of Violence and Gore)
Genre
Adventure, Fantasy, Anime
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 12, 1997, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Mar 26, 2025
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 16, 2019
Runtime
2h 13m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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