When Marnie Was There

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When Marnie Was There

PG

Released May 22, 2015

1h 43m

Kids & Family

Drama

Fantasy

Mystery & Thriller

Anime

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Popcornmeter

92%

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100 Reviews

88%

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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

Full Review

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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Fiona Underhill

JumpCut Online

There is a pervading sense of melancholy in this film, but you cannot help but be swept up in its stunning beauty. It is a totally immersive experience, like dipping your head into a watercolour painting and swimming about in it for two hours.

Rated: 8.5/10

Jul 1, 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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Ross W

Amazing. It seems slow and weird like a Hitchcock movie or something, but the ending is so good that you have to watch again and there is so much meaning in every line. The characters are so rich and they capture the confusion of teenage years and joy of childhood so well. Top three studio Ghibli movie for sure. I can't believe studio Ghibli has made such great movies post Miyazaki. This and Kaguya.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/23/24

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Audience Member

The ending was phenomenal. Touched my heart in a way that i couldn’t stop crying even after the credits started rolling.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/11/24

Full Review

gingerbread b

This is actually the best movie ever

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/28/24

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Ayaan M

It's crazy how much I love this movie, I relate to Anna a lot and I just loved it in general. My fav Studio Ghibli movie for sure!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/20/24

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Audience Member

Brilliant movie and has been my favorite for some years now. The animation, storytelling and scenery are just breathtaking. The exploration of Anna’s personal emotional struggles and the way she slowly finds out more about Marnies life is just excellent. Bawled my eyes out when the truth was revealed about Marnie near the end, would have never expected an ending like this, but it was VERY welcome. When Marnie Was There is a wonderful story and deserves to be recommended to everyone.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/08/24

Full Review

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Hiromasa Yonebayashi

Director

Hailee Steinfeld

Anna

Kathy Bates

Mrs. Kadoya

Mila Brener

Young Hisako

Ellen Burstyn

Elderly Lady

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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