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Ranking All Studio Ghibli Films From Worst To Best

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TV Shows & Movies - July 24th 2024, 10:00 GMT+2
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Remember that tastes are subjective, especially when it comes to the movies of this studio. Some of the most iconic films might not be as high as you think, but it's because the kingdom of dreams and madness produces so many great works that I feel bad for some masterpieces that are just in the middle. But we do our best not to let our emotions cloud our judgment! | © Studio Ghibli

Earwig

25. Earwig and the Witch

If there's any movie whose ranking all fans can agree on, lower our weapons, and take each other's hands in harmony, it's Earwig and the Witch. While I appreciate them experimenting with some things, the reality is that 2D illustrations are a hallmark of Studio Ghibli, so the jump to 3D is a failed attempt at best and nightmare fuel at worst. The story had potential and could have been a classic if they had developed it a bit more, instead of leaving us expecting more... although, on second thought, it's just as well that it ended early. | © Studio Ghibli

Ocean Waves

24. Ocean Waves

Ocean Waves was the studio's film that did not premiere in theaters and instead went directly to TV. I believe the reason it has been forgotten is due to its pacing. It is a slow movie that offers little reward with its revelations, and the relationships between the two protagonists feel very adult, bordering on uncomfortable, and not how high school kids would act. | © Studio Ghibli

Only Yesterday

23. Only Yesterday

I don't like to be harsh with Only Yesterday, because the ending has a very emotionally impactful scene, but it suffers from the same problems as Ocean Waves. However, I think it's a better attempt at taking a more adult and introspective plot about the past and family traumas. | © Studio Ghibli

Earthsea

22. Tales from Earthsea

Oh, poor Goro. I don't want to be as hard on you as your father Hayao is, but the reality is that your movies lie at the bottom of the list. Despite that, and the unfinished plot of Tales from Earthsea, based on the novels by Ursula K. Le Guin, there are some redeeming qualities, particularly the secondary villain who is very entertaining. However, the whole story is terribly confusing if you haven't read the novels... | © Studio Ghibli

Poppy Hill

21. From Up on Poppy Hill

And the best of Goro Miyazaki's movies has to be From Up on Poppy Hill, maybe because it most closely resembles a Studio Ghibli film. While the plot and its characters are quite forgettable, seeing how the unity of an entire school can work wonders, along with some great shots that are a classic of the studio, makes it stand out. | © Studio Ghibli

The Wind Rises

20. The Wind Rises

This was the first of Miyazaki's "retirement" movies, and although the following ones were not bad, The Wind Rises would have been a good closing to his filmography. While it is far from being the director's best, I'm glad he was able to create something personal, like his love for aeronautics, and convey a historical film using his studio. But of course, Hayao can't stop working... | © Studio Ghibli

The boy and the heron

19. The Boy and the Heron

The studio's most recent film, unfortunately, is far from being the best. The Boy and the Heron feels like a love letter to classic fantasy Ghibli, with its little white creatures jumping everywhere and archers fighting monstrous beasts. However, the way the plot is presented is very confusing and somewhat metaphysical, making something that shouldn't be complicated, complicated. But hey, at least we have little white dudes! | © Studio Ghibli

Marnie

18. When Marnie Was There

I am a fierce defender of When Marnie Was There, even though it is no one's favorite and in many ways a forgettable film. But it is the studio's attempt to create a rural gothic mystery plot while maintaining Ghibli's standard of quality, and it has some of my favorite backgrounds, like the mansion's private harbor. | © Studio Ghibli

Pom Poko

17. Pom Poko

I am also a fierce defender of Pom Poko. It's absurd, it's ridiculous, it's very uncomfortable because we are constantly seeing the "downstairs" of the raccoons. But it's also very entertaining, and despite being two hours long, if you can vibe with the satirical tone of the nature vs. humans plot that the movie brings us, then you'll have a first-rate experience. | © Studio Ghibli

Whispers of the heart

16. Whisper of the Heart

Country Roaaaaaad! Take me homeeeee! I know many will detest me for placing Whisper of the Heart so far from the top spots, even though it has a very well-structured and solid plot, but it suffers from the same pacing problem that many of the studio's films have. However, I am the first to admit that this movie tugs at my heartstrings without needing to show me tragedies, but with raw and pure emotions. | © Studio Ghibli

Ponyo

15. Ponyo

I think it's undeniable that Ponyo is one of the studio's most colorful movies, and I think it's excellent in everything it does... at least, in the first half, where we have a plot presented in a short time, an underwater spectacle with all kinds of creatures, and an adorable relationship between two kids. But unfortunately, the second half feels unnecessarily long and might turn away some viewers for being the most childlike in the studio's repertoire. | © Studio Ghibli

Arrietty

14. Arrietty

Arrietty is proof of the extent of the studio's imagination, taking a simple concept of a family of tiny people who must survive by making dangerous journeys in an ordinary Japanese house. Watching them walk on loose nails and hide from predators like cats and birds makes the story feel exciting, even though they are creatures and objects we encounter in our everyday lives. | © Studio Ghibli

The Cat Returns

13. The Cat Returns

Maybe I'm wrong to place The Cat Returns so high on the list, but you know what? It's so much fun! It presents its plot in less than 5 minutes, and with only 74 minutes, it's able to bring us a story full of action and adventure in a magical world. While it might lack some development in its main character, it remains an entertaining experience that I could watch anytime instead of the studio's slower and heavier productions. Replay value is still value! | © Studio Ghibli

Kaguya

12. The Tale Of Princess Kaguya

I think one of the most controversial films, at least in terms of its ranking on any list of the studio, is The Tale of Princess Kaguya. For some, it's among the top spots due to its unique animation style that references classic Japanese visual designs, with the charcoal allowing certain scenes to feel alive and full of ecstasy. But for others, it's among the last, maybe due to a lack of knowledge about Asian mythology or because of its long duration. Either way, it's a great work, but I do think it's not very representative of the studio and not one that comes to mind when we think of "Ghibli." | © Studio Ghibli

Totoro

11. My Neighbor Totoro

Seriously? The flagship movie of Studio Ghibli isn't even in the top 10? Well, before you throw your shoes at me, think of it as a testament to the quality of the studio's production. And honestly, My Neighbor Totoro is great, with such iconic moments that have been referenced in dozens of movies, and with a plot that, although somewhat simple, is concise, clear, and straight to the point. But what else does the studio have to offer? | © Studio Ghibli

The Red Turtle

10. The Red Turtle

The only dubious entry from the studio, as it's not from its main directors, the visual style is very different, and it is actually a co-production with several French studios. There are enough asterisks not to include it in the list, but if you've seen it, then you understand why we couldn't ignore it. It's a fantastic story about a man trapped on an island who meets a giant red turtle... or is it? Because as the movie progresses, you'll understand that it's nothing more than an allegory of our lives. | © Studio Ghibli

Castle in the Sky

9. Castle in the Sky

Ah, Laputa, how I love you. Castle in the Sky has everything I look for from the studio, with high fantasy concepts, sky pirates who go from threatening to amusing, and a subtle environmental and anti-war nod from the studio. The reason it's not as beloved as other Ghibli movies, despite having all the hallmarks of a classic, is that its protagonists feel more like motives to advance the plot, without really deep development. At least, I promise you, this movie will provide tons of wallpaper ideas. | © Studio Ghibli

Nausicaä

8. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Did you know that Hayao Miyazaki also wrote a manga? Maybe that's why the world of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is so detailed and created with so much love. Finally, we have an excellent protagonist with Nausicaä herself, but what stands out the most in the movie are its visual designs, from the clothing, ships, and weapons to the wild nature. Everything seems to be part of a larger, living, and more complex world than what is presented to us. Although it shows its age, and in fact, when it was created Ghibli was called Topcraft, Nausicaä remains an unforgettable experience and the inspiration for many kids who are artists today. | © Studio Ghibli

Yamada

7. My Neighbors the Yamadas

I think My Neighbors the Yamadas is a movie everyone has to see. It's not that it has a powerful plot, and in fact, you could argue that it doesn't follow a plot. Its visual style is simple, nothing to write home about. So, why is it ranked so high? Because the different situations experienced by the Yamada family members are, in essence, what we have all lived through, from any part of the world and from any culture. In the end, "neighbors" refers to any family we know, including our own, and no other film does such a great job of uniting us in our similarities as this one. | © Studio Ghibli

Kiki

6. Kiki's Delivery Service

It's a shame that I can't place Kiki's Delivery Service closer to the top spot, but I'm trying to be objective. And although on the surface it's a story about a little witch in the big city, Kiki tells us a story about how hard independence can be and feeling lonely in a city where no one knows you, even when you have powers and can fly everywhere on your broom. There are scenes that, without the need for any dialogue or exposition, break our hearts, particularly when the magic starts to fade. Is that also a metaphor about growing up? | © Studio Ghibli

Porco Rosso

5. Porco Rosso

I know I've said that many movies on this list embody everything that makes a classic Ghibli, but in none is it as true as in Porco Rosso. Not only do you have adventure, adrenaline, and maybe even fantasy if we consider that our protagonist is an anthropomorphic pig, but it also features Miyazaki's passion for both aeronautics and the landscapes and houses of the Italian coasts. Porco Rosso is the kind of movie you can watch over and over without getting tired, because visually it has so much to offer, and I think it does a better job than The Wind Rises in understanding the director's true love for airplanes. | © Studio Ghibli

Princess Mononoke

4. Princess Mononoke

It's rare to see so much violence and blood in a Ghibli movie, and from its first fight scene, Princess Mononoke makes it clear that it's not a film for children. Its main characters, Ashitaka and Mononoke herself, are some of the best the studio has created. The designs of its fantastical forest creatures, like the giant wolf, the multi-antlered stag, and even the princess's outfit and mask, are as iconic as they are wonderful. And as the cherry on top, it has a marvelous soundtrack. How can you not appreciate this classic pro-environmental Ghibli story? | © Studio Ghibli

Grave of the Fireflies

3. Grave of the Fireflies

If you've already seen the movie, then you know why it's so high on the list. Many detractors might think it doesn't deserve such a high spot and that it's only here because of its "ending," but the reality is that Grave of the Fireflies is a movie created with a lot of love and pain. There are hundreds of animated films that depict the post-war tragedy of Japan, but none have been able to capture even the hearts of Western audiences like the best movie from the great director Takahata. It takes the innocence of the studio, of its child protagonists, and of your own expectations, and throws the harshness of the real world and its tragedies in your face. Not suitable for the faint-hearted. | © Studio Ghibli

Howls Moving Castle

2. Howl's Moving Castle

One of the few movies nominated for an Oscar, one of the few based on a novel, and whose production was headed for failure until Miyazaki took the reins. Howl's Moving Castle is, in its purest essence, what we seek when we watch a studio film. From the world that is more extensive and mysterious than what is presented to us, to the impossible structures inside and outside the castle itself, and characters that will bring us to tears in their most tragic moments, and whom we will want to support in the most dangerous situations. It has a memorable soundtrack, colorful and easily recognizable creature and costume designs, and a love story where what matters most is not physical appearance, but what we carry inside our hearts. | © Studio Ghibli

Spirited Away

1. Spirited Away

You knew which one would be in first place. I knew it. We all knew it, really. And how could we not, when Spirited Away was the first studio film to win an Oscar (even though Miyazaki didn't want to receive it, as usual)? Give me my little, strange, jumping creatures that so much represent the studio, give me a child protagonist who manages to fight against the world's adversities, give me the iconic faceless god and his transformation from villain to companion, without the need for dialogue or exposition. It has perfect pacing, a fantastic soundtrack, and an easy, direct plot that gives us a glimpse into the mythological world of Japanese spirits. | © Studio Ghibli

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There is something special about Studio Ghibli movies. The great works of Miyazaki, Takahata, and their various directors have a particular quality that makes them function both as comfort movies and as thrilling experiences full of adventure. They also serve as mood vibes that lead us to introspection with their beautifully hand-painted environments and incredible soundtracks. For all these reasons, we decided to make a list of all Studio Ghibli movies, ranking them from worst to best!

There is something special about Studio Ghibli movies. The great works of Miyazaki, Takahata, and their various directors have a particular quality that makes them function both as comfort movies and as thrilling experiences full of adventure. They also serve as mood vibes that lead us to introspection with their beautifully hand-painted environments and incredible soundtracks. For all these reasons, we decided to make a list of all Studio Ghibli movies, ranking them from worst to best!

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