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SummaryA young boy and his little sister struggle to survive in Japan during World War II.

Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Metascore
must-see
94
User score
Universal Acclaim
9.0
My Score
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Metascore
100% Positive
16 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
100
Entertainment Weekly
The film is so deeply sorrowful that it’s sometimes hard to watch, yet so filled with painterly beauty that you cannot look away.
100
ReelViews
While a child might be affected by the film, it takes the weight of a certain number of years to fully absorb what director Isao Takahata has put up on the screen.
User score
Universal Acclaim
94% Positive
290 Ratings
4% Mixed
12 Ratings
2% Negative
5 Ratings
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
Oct 20, 2025
10
LROC
Absolutely devastating and equally beautiful. A masterpiece that will remind us of how many stories war erases, directly and indirectly, to this day. They're not just numbers, they're people.
Aug 31, 2025
10
Habibiehakim
Grave of the Fireflies is what i would call a timeless movie, even decades, or even a century from now, this piece of art will remain relevant, resonating deeply and touching hearts in ways few films can, it moves you like nothing else, because it tells its story with raw humanity, without exaggeration. It reveals the quiet, devastating reality of war through the lives of a brother and his little sister, even the subtle afterlife element feels like a delicate, perfect touch rather than a distraction. This isn't just a war story, it's a story of love, loss, and survival that represents millions of unheard voices, at its core, it is a simple story, just one among millions who lived through that tragic era, yet possibly the most touching one to be told, its simplicity is its power, the most perfect, heartbreaking, and unforgettable story to be translated into film, experiencing it is devastating, yet profoundly moving.
100
Chicago Sun-Times
An emotional experience so powerful that it forces a rethinking of animation.
91
The A.V. Club
Fireflies makes its doomed subjects seem utterly human, with the wealth of personal details and believable characterizations common to Studio Ghibli's peerless animated films.
90
Orlando Sentinel
It's a grim and depressing but powerful story, beautifully told through stunning animation. [25 Oct 2002, p.37]
80
Empire
A devastating heart-stab of a movie, this certainly isn't a family film. It is, however, a beautifully constructed, animated drama.
75
Miami Herald
Isao Takahata, Studio Ghibli's second best-known filmmaker and co-founder, adapts Akiyuki Nosaka's short story of the same name to great effect, using animation to create a film that emphasizes the horrors of war better than most live-action films. [21 Jun 2016]
See All 16 Critic Reviews
Jul 22, 2025
10
RavenclOwl
"Grave of the Fireflies" is a masterpiece... A very tragic story about the impacts of a war. Everyone should watch this movie at least one time.
Apr 15, 2025
10
Joker56895
Grave of the Fireflies là anime đầy ám ảnh về tình anh em và bi kịch chiến tranh, khiến người xem nghẹn ngào và day dứt.
Jun 20, 2025
10
Yurijen
just a one word. incredible!One of the best movies from Studio Ghibli and the concept is great. I won't say anything about the drawings. As I said before, it's incredible.
Jan 7, 2025
10
Dylandrennan
Perhaps the greatest anime studio Ghibli has created. This was a beautiful movie. I cried so hard in this one.
Sep 16, 2024
6
alanpotter17
Mesmo que seja um filme sobre a desumanização e a fome provocadas pela insanidade da guerra, a projeção insiste em um protagonista passivo diante de tudo isso, a começar por fugir da casa da tia por besteira, levando consigo a irmãzinha fofa, amuleto do filme para criar cenas fofas e uma conexão com o espectador. É o tipo de filme que perseguirá o lirismo e a catástrofe, com traços e cenas muito bonitas, claro. A metáfora do vagalume ao menos funciona, trazendo um pouco de luz a um cenário desolador. É triste, mas é forçoso.
See All 37 User Reviews
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  • Shinchosha
  • Studio Ghibli
Jul 26, 1989
1 h 29 m
TV-MA
Chicago International Children's Film Festival
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Blue Ribbon Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
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