SummaryDr. Atsuko Chiba is a genius scientist by day, and a kick-ass dream warrior named Paprika by night. In this psychedelic sci-fi adventure anime, it will take the skills of both women to save the world. (Sony Pictures Classics)
Directed By:Satoshi Kon
Written By:Yasutaka Tsutsui, Seishi Minakami, Satoshi Kon
Paprika
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
81
User score
Generally Favorable
8.0
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
81
100% Positive
26 Reviews
26 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
100
The intersections between sleep and waking, memory, cinema, and the Internet lead to a spectacular battle of titans who spring from the mind's darkest recesses.
90
Kon's best work yet.
User score
Generally Favorable
8.0
86% Positive
178 Ratings
178 Ratings
10% Mixed
21 Ratings
21 Ratings
4% Negative
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
Feb 18, 2026
10
This is the most unique movie I have seen in years, truly a fascinating spectacle of surrealism. This is *not* a movie for everybody. It's like an intense rollercoaster you just have to experience, and not worry about what is coming up behind the next turn. This is the first film I've seen from Satoshi Kon, and I may just have to watch his other films too. There are many themes throughout this movie which are very interesting, especially twenty years later. A big theme in the movie is obviously escapism, alter egos (e.g. Paprika and Dr. Chiba), but the idea of shared realities and a sort of collective consciousness is very interesting, especially in terms of how technology and media (like films or the internet) can shape reality by altering how large numbers of people view the world.
Jan 25, 2026
10
Paprika là anime siêu thực đầy sáng tạo, khám phá ranh giới mong manh giữa giấc mơ và hiện thực.
88
While I liked the film's aesthetics and its futurist imaginings, its most important attraction is how it engages. Some movies massage you; others tickle you. This one jacks you into cyberspace, involving you psychically and physically.
80
Satoshi Kon, whose previous film was the remarkable "Tokyo Godfathers," uses the complex plot as a pretext for joyous psychedelia.
75
We've gotten perhaps too used to the computerized wizardry of our own cartoon features; Kon, like Miyazaki shows us some older ways that can still transfix us.
70
It's best appreciated by assuming something of a dream state ourselves and enjoying the giddy flow.
70
With its brainy scientist heroine, and surreal, super-kitsch imagery, above-average Japanese anime sci-fi pic Paprika has a better chance than most Nipponese toons of breaking out of the specialty ghetto by appealing to femme auds as well as the genre's core constituency of fanboys.
May 24, 2014
10
Astonishing film, just truly amazing, the film looks, feels and captures the amazing raw energy of **** if that made No sense go watch the **** film, its inception before inception. 10/10
Jan 14, 2012
10
Satoshi Kon has been one of the most visionary plot and character designers in the history of animation: his premature death in 2010 meant much less chances to see another masterpiece with the same charm and thrill as Paprika, which is undoubtedly a modern classic. Ignoring its deep plot would mean ignoring the true roots of blockbuster bestsellers like Inception, and losing the film that will continue to inspire tons of science fiction plots in the future.
May 19, 2026
6
I get that the film’s main appeal is its unusual visual style, the way it bursts with color and imagery on screen, but personally I didn’t really like it that much, I just didn’t connect with it, Maybe it’s just me. If you prefer visual spectacle over narrative, this might be the film for you.
Jun 25, 2015
6
There is enjoyment to be had in PAPRIKA, I'm not going to deny that fact, though I still wish it's story and characters had been a little more inspired.
Aug 21, 2021
4
"Paprika" is not for the average joe and it never will be. Unfortunately, it is not really for the abstract artsy crowd either due to its surprisingly boring plot and resolution after one thinks about it for a while. There are not enough stimulating/creative visuals to warrant repeated viewings to fully understand what it wants to say regarding reality vs. dreams. It is a concept that has already been explored to death in films and done much better. You know there's trouble when the visuals are mostly repeated and that they are only repeated just because the plot demands for them to be interwoven. When the visuals are both boring to look at and repetitious, it becomes taxing on the brain to want to decipher the film's **** that ladies and gentlemen is not a fun time at the movies.
Production Company:
- Madhouse
- Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan)
Release Date:May 25, 2007
Duration:1 h 30 m
Rating:R
Tagline:This is your brain on anime.
Website:
Awards
Tokyo Anime Award
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Newport Beach Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Montréal Festival of New Cinema
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
