Since the early 1900s, Japanese anime has flourished into one of the most popular forms of media across the world. No matter where you grew up, you likely spent your youth (and still continue to spend your adulthood) watching some form of anime, whether it was Toonami late at night or renting it out from a local store.

With thousands of stellar examples, picking the best anime movies available is impossible. But if you're looking for a primer on some of the hundreds of movies you can find on Amazon Prime, we're happy to help. And don't worry, there are no spoilers for any of the movies we're recommending here.

  • Spirited Away

    Best Family Anime Movie See at Amazon

  • Belle

    Best Musical Anime Movie See at Amazon

  • Your Name

    Best Magical Realism Anime See at Amazon

  • Evangelion: 1.1 You Are (Not) Alone

    Best Anime Series Tie-In Movie See at Amazon

  • Initial D Legend 1: Awakening

    Best Action Anime Movie See at Amazon
  • See More

  • Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro

    Best Adventure Anime Movie See at Amazon

  • Weathering With You

    Best Romance Anime Movie See at Amazon

  • Ghost in the Shell

    Best Adult Anime Movie See at Amazon
Best Family Anime Movie

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Spirited Away

Ghibli never disappoints

PG Adventure Release Date July 20, 2001 Runtime 125 minutes Director Hayao Miyazaki Writers Hayao Miyazaki

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  • Daveigh Chase
  • Jason Marsden
  • Suzanne Pleshette
  • David Ogden Stiers

Spirited Away is one of the most iconic stories from Hayao Miyazaki. The movie follows a young girl trying to recover her parents from a treacherous spirit world.

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  • Family-friendly
  • Iconic anime classic

Any list of the best anime movies that doesn't include a Miyazaki movie is simply incorrect. Spirited Away tells the story of Chihiro, a young girl who finds herself transported into a realm of spirits. There, she joins forces with some locals to find a way to free her parents from a magic spell that's left them polymorphed into pigs.

Best Musical Anime Movie

Belle

Great songs, stunning animation, and a familiar story

PG Drama Release Date July 16, 2021 Runtime 121 minutes Director Mamoru Hosoda Writers Mamoru Hosoda

Cast

  • Kylie McNeill
  • Paul Castro
  • Manny Jacinto
  • Hunter Schafer

Based on Beauty and the Beast, Belle follows a traumatized young woman rediscovering her passion for singing. It's a retelling of a classic with a beautiful flair.

Powered by Expand Collapse Pros & Cons
  • Fantastic soundtrack
  • Twists on a familiar story

Released in 2021, Belle follows 17-year-old Suzu Naito, a traumatized girl who's lost her passion for singing. Through the freedom of anonymity on an online platform, she regains her voice and rises to stardom. Based somewhat on the famous story of The Beauty and the Beast, it's a familiar love story for music lovers and anime fans alike.

Best Magical Realism Anime

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Your Name

Timeline-shifting, reality-challenging romance

12A Drama Romance Release Date July 3, 2016 Runtime 106 minutes Director Makoto Shinkai Writers Makoto Shinkai

Cast

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  • Michael Sinterniklaas
  • Stephanie Sheh
  • Kyle Hebert
  • Ray Chase

Your Name follows a pair of youths through a romantic fantasy setting. It's a timeline-hopping, reality-shifting adventure that deserves its praise.

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  • Jaw-dropping animation
  • Fantastic soundtrack

What if Freaky Friday was a romance anime? Seems like a weird question to ask, but this incredibly successful anime film manages to do so perfectly. Your Name follows two stories as they swap bodies intermittently, seeing the world through each other's eyes. It's a timeline-hopping, body-swapping romance that can't be missed.

Best Anime Series Tie-In Movie

Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone

A perfect introduction to Evangelion

12 Drama Release Date September 1, 2007 Runtime 98 minutes Director Hideaki Anno, Kazuya Tsurumaki Writers Hideaki Anno

Cast

  • Mary Faber
  • Daman Mills
  • Michael Ross
  • Alejandro Saab

Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone is a retelling of the start of the famous anime with a few extra details. It's the perfect film to introduce someone to the franchise.

Powered by Expand Collapse Pros & Cons
  • Adds more detail to the existing content
  • Perfect introduction to the Evangelion series

Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone re-tells the first six episodes of the original Evangelion series, making it a great introduction to the franchise. There are a few minor differences and enhanced CG animation in some areas. This film is the extended version of the similarly named 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone.

Best Action Anime Movie

Initial D Legend 1: Awakening

Déjà vu!

12 Racing Release Date August 23, 2014 Runtime 62 minutes

Cast

  • Bill Wise
  • Brina Palencia
  • Eric Vale
  • J. Michael Tatum

New Initial D - Legend 1: Awakening is the first installment in a trilogy of movies. The story follows Takumi in his journey to racing stardom.

Powered by Expand Collapse Pros & Cons
  • Introduction to a trilogy
  • Action-packed

Based on the popular drift racing manga Initial D, New Initial D - Legend 1: Awakening (often shortened to "New Initial D" or "Awakening") is the first in a trilogy of movies in the franchise. This film follows Takumi in his first steps to becoming a drift racing legend.

Best Adventure Anime Movie

Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro

Spies, intrigue, action, and comedy

PG Comedy Release Date December 15, 1979 Runtime 100 minutes Director Hayao Miyazaki Writers Hayao Miyazaki

Cast

  • Bob Bergen
  • Barbara Goodson
  • Michael McConnohie
  • Steve Kramer

Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro is a Ghibli spy adventure that follows the titular Lupin. The story blends comedy, adventure, intrigue, and some hints of romance.

Powered by Expand Collapse Pros & Cons
  • Family-friendly
  • Comedic and adventurous

Lupin III is anime's own James Bond mixed with Robin Hood, a masterful thief with a heart of gold that manages incredible heists while dodging his longtime rival, Inspector Zenigata. In The Castle of Cagliostro, Lupin works to save a princess alongside his partners in crime in a humor-laden example of classic animation.

Best Romance Anime Movie

Weathering With You

Magic surrealism, romance, and fantasy

12A Drama Release Date July 19, 2019 Runtime 112 minutes Director Makoto Shinkai Writers Makoto Shinkai

Cast

  • Ashley Boettcher
  • Lee Pace
  • Alison Brie
  • Mike Pollock

Weathering With You follows a pair of struggling youths attempting to find their way through a crisis. It's mostly family-friendly, though there are themes of gun violence.

Powered by Expand Collapse Pros & Cons
  • Romantic fantasy setting
  • Plenty of twists in the plot

Weathering with You is among the most successful anime films in history, sitting as one of the highest-grossing anime films of all time. The movie follows a pair of young lovers struggling to make ends meet, while one can control the weather. With a loving story and some of the most gorgeous animation the genre has to offer, it's a beautiful dose of magic surrealism.

Best Adult Anime Movie

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Ghost in the Shell

Cyberpunk, crime-noir, and gritty cyborg fight scenes

15 Action Release Date November 18, 1995 Runtime 82 minutes Director Mamoru Oshii Writers Kazunori Itô Sequel(s) Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence

Ghost in the Shell is an adult anime movie that follows a cyborg officer tracking a deadly criminal. It's equal parts adventure, noir, and cyberpunk.

Powered by Expand Collapse Pros & Cons
  • Iconic and influential film
  • Gritty crime-noir setting

Many know this franchise through the spin-off series, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. Based on a 1989 manga of the same name, Ghost in the Shell is set in a cyberpunk 21st-century Tokyo. The story follows Major Motoko Kusanagi in a story that's a little Blade Runner, a little grim crime noir, and an all-around icon of animation.

FAQ

Are Anime Movies Family Friendly?

Some anime movies are family-friendly, but not all. You should always vet a movie before showing it to your family to avoid awkward situations.

Are Anime Movies Good For Kids?

There are plenty of great examples of anime movies for kids. We suggest looking into Ghibli films.

Are Anime Movies Better In Dubs Or Subs?

This isn't a debate anyone else can solve for you. Some people prefer dubs, others prefer subs, and many people have very strong opinions on which is superior.

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