Summer Wars

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Summer Wars

PG

Released Nov 20, 2010

1h 54m

Sci-Fi

Adventure

Anime

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

26 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Kenji is a shy, part-time moderator for OZ, the virtual reality world that powers everyday life, until pretty and popular Natsuki recruits him to be her fake boyfriend. While posing as an affluent suitor to Natsuki's family, Kenji finds that a rogue A.I. program has stolen his online identity, and Kenji is accused of hacking OZ and causing real-world catastrophes. As the destruction in OZ throws Natsuki's family into disarray, Kenji must unite his newfound connections to overcome an impending cyber apocalypse.

Critics Consensus

Family drama mixes with virtual online action in the breezy and entertaining Summer Wars.

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Phil Hoad

Guardian

Battling an apparently motiveless AI, it feels increasingly consequenceless, as virtual action often does. But the narrative complexity and bravura imagery still impress.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 29, 2025

Full Review

Anton Bitel

Little White Lies

Far from resorting to easy, reactionary technophobia, Hosoda shows Japan's age-old traditions being upheld throughout different generations, with the beautifully realised digital community of OZ proving as much the solution as the problem.

Mar 28, 2011

Full Review

Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

The filmmakers can't keep the strands of their clumsy plot straight, but they create brilliant images and manipulate them with blithe abandon.

Jan 20, 2011

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Douglas Davidson

Elements of Madness

... proclaiming the importance of helping one’s community before helping themselves because the act of protecting the community makes one stronger whereas focusing on self makes one weaker and more vulnerable.

Mar 30, 2025

Full Review

Carson Timar

ButteredPopcorn

Where it is far from perfect, Summer Wars feels perfectly in place in Mamoru Hosoda's filmography.

Rated: B-

Aug 28, 2022

Full Review

Ard Vijn

ScreenAnarchy

I cannot recommend this movie enough.

Jan 15, 2020

Full Review

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Alan B

A now classic and must watch for any anime fan!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/11/25

Full Review

Aidan

liked the romance part of it, and the community part with the family. just wished they would put more anime movies on 😭

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/31/25

Full Review

Raul

One of my top 10 of all time!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/30/25

Full Review

Paul

I love this movie! The visuals in the real world and in the virtual world of Oz were spectacular! And the characters were all very likable! The story was simply brilliant, and the dramatic and upsetting moments were genuinely effective, must-see! I’m glad I got to see it on the big screen!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/30/25

Full Review

Richard T

Anime meets Hallmark for two high school students at a family reunion, funeral, and birthday celebration.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/30/25

Full Review

Brandon G

I watch this every year in the summer, as close to August 1st as I can get. This was the first time I got to see it in theaters and it was beautiful. Summer Wars should be a staple in every household, especially those with a strong matriarchal presence.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/30/25

Full Review

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Mamoru Hosoda

Director

Ryûnosuke Kamiki

Kenji Koiso

Nanami Sakuraba

Natsuki Shinohara

Mitsuki Tanimura

Kazuma Ikezawa

Sumiko Fuji

Sakae Jinnouchi

Ayumu Saitô

Wabisuke Jinnouchi

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Synopsis

Kenji is a shy, part-time moderator for OZ, the virtual reality world that powers everyday life, until pretty and popular Natsuki recruits him to be her fake boyfriend. While posing as an affluent suitor to Natsuki's family, Kenji finds that a rogue A.I. program has stolen his online identity, and Kenji is accused of hacking OZ and causing real-world catastrophes. As the destruction in OZ throws Natsuki's family into disarray, Kenji must unite his newfound connections to overcome an impending cyber apocalypse.

Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Producer: Nozomu Takahashi, Takuya Itô, Takafumi Watanabe, Yuichiro Sato
Screenwriter: Satoko Okudera
Distributor: FUNimation Films
Production Co: Nippon Television Network
Rating: PG (Language|Incidental Smoking|Action/Violence|Mild Thematic Material|Some Suggestive Content)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Anime
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 20, 2010, Limited
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jul 27, 2025
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 22, 2016
Runtime: 1h 54m

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