When Marnie Was There

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When Marnie Was There

PG

2015

1h 43m

Kids & Family

Drama

Fantasy

Mystery & Thriller

Anime

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Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

99 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

A tomboy (Hailee Steinfeld) explores a long-abandoned villa and meets a mysterious blonde girl only she can see.

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Critics Consensus

When Marnie Was There is still blessed with enough visual and narrative beauty to recommend, even if it isn't quite as magical as Studio Ghibli's greatest works.

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

The quasi-Sapphic intensity of Anna and Marnie's relationship - recalling Ghost World or a benign Heavenly Creatures - is poetically and sensitively handled.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 9, 2016

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Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

While Marnie lacks the densely mystical, immersive quality of Ghibli at its best, the film features characteristically exquisite hand-drawn animation and a sensitivity to the precarious, friable quality in an adolescent girl's self-worth.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 12, 2016

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Leslie Felperin

Radio Times

The painterly, old-school aesthetic brings an aptly nostalgic feel to this examination of how the past can haunt the present and the rapturous intensity of young friendship.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 9, 2016

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

... a gentle, touching story of confronting turbulent emotions that acknowledges that, however unfair, such feelings are real and cause real damage.

Apr 26, 2025

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Michael J. Casey

Michael J. Cinema

Does what Ghibli has always done, and done so well: Address the cruel twists and turns life can take.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 15, 2021

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Allen Almachar

The MacGuffin

It's amazing how [Studio Ghibli] can so easily tap into the wonder and awe of young people.

Rated: B

Jul 15, 2020

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Randy

Cried so hard at the ending, non-stop

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/22/24

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Munchie A

This movie made me cry and movies never make me cry.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/26/25

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Noe G

When Marnie was there it was an amazing fantastic, and my number one favorite studio, Ghibli film, along with Kiki’s delivery service And my rating for the movie is a 10/10

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/22/25

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Kenny A

Of all the amazing films that Studio Ghibli has made over the years, this is the one that resonates with me the most. My absolute favorite Ghibli movie, bar none. As an aspiring artist and a very introverted person with an overactive imagination, I relate to a character like Anna so much. A beautifully told story with a beautiful message. I loved this film the first time I saw it and I still love it to this very day. l've made it a personal tradition to watch this movie once a year (Usually, around the end of the summer). One of my favorite movies of all time. Easily in my top ten!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/13/25

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Lucas O

Rating: 87%. I didn't expect to enjoy this movie so much. The animation was gorgeous per usual with Studio Ghibli. The voice acting (English) and music were both great. At first, I will say it started a bit on the slower/boring side. Some of the actions of the main character seemed illogical and rash; however, one has to consider that she is still a child. This was also the case with a few other characters. I was a little confused about exactly what relationship the characters had, but the ending cleared things up. The ending was by far the best, most emotional part of the film and it really redeemed the movie.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/06/25

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Russell S

This movie sucks. Don't waste your time watching it. Overrated pie of garbage

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

05/20/25

Full Review

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Hiromasa Yonebayashi

Director

Hailee Steinfeld

Anna

Kathy Bates

Mrs. Kadoya

Mila Brener

Young Hisako

Ellen Burstyn

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Geena Davis

Yoriko Sasaki

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Synopsis

A tomboy (Hailee Steinfeld) explores a long-abandoned villa and meets a mysterious blonde girl only she can see.

Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Producer: Yoshiaki Nishimura, Koji Hoshino
Screenwriter: Hiromasa Yonebayashi, Keiko Niwa, Masashi Ando
Distributor: GKIDS
Production Co: Studio Ghibli
Rating: PG (Thematic Elements|Smoking)
Genre: Kids & Family, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery & Thriller, Anime
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): May 22, 2015, Limited
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jun 10, 2024
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 12, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $314.3K
Runtime: 1h 43m

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