10 Best Studio Ghibli Movies, Ranked

Ever wondered why Studio Ghibli movies feel like they’re made of pure magic? Or why grown adults still cry over fluffy forest spirits and cursed wizards? Let’s rank the best Studio Ghibli movies - the ones that’ll make you laugh, ugly-cry, and text your friends at 2 AM saying, “YOU NEED TO WATCH THIS.” Directed by legends like Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, these films aren’t just pretty cartoons; they’re art that’s won Oscars, broken box office records, and changed how we see animation.

Whether you’re hunting for a cozy movie for family night or a deep story that’ll haunt you, this Studio Ghibli movies ranked list has you covered. While it feels like a crime to select just 10 movies out of a big box of treasure, these gems deserve a permanent spot in your heart.

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10/10 The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

Studio Ghibli anime movie The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

One of Ghibli’s most visually unique films, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, is based on a classic Japanese folktale. A bamboo cutter finds a thumb-sized princess in a glowing stalk. She grows into a radiant woman torn between her earthly family and destiny as a moon princess. The animation? Think watercolor paintings that breathe.

This film took eight years to make and was Takahata’s final masterpiece. It won the Japan Academy Prize for Best Animation and broke hearts with its bittersweet ending. It’s a deeply emotional and beautifully crafted film that proves Ghibli’s storytelling is beyond any other animation studio.

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
November 2013	8.21	Studio Ghibli	Fantasy	Netflix

9/10 Whisper of the Heart

Unlike the magical worlds of most Ghibli films, Whisper of the Heart is a down-to-earth romance about a young girl named Shizuku who dreams of becoming a writer. She meets a boy named Seiji, who inspires her to follow her passion. Their romance is sweet, but the real star? The scene where Shizuku stays up all night writing, fueled by passion and city lights.

Kondō, Miyazaki’s protegé, died young after this film, making it his only directorial work. The film’s message - “Chase your dreams, even if you’re scared”- hits harder knowing that. It’s the best Studio Ghibli movie to watch when you need a creative kick.

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
July 1995	8.22	Studio Ghibli	Drama, Romance	Netflix

8/10 Kiki’s Delivery Service

Kiki'd Delivery Service follows the life of Kiki, a 13-year-old witch who moves to a seaside town to start her own delivery service on her magical broomstick. But adulting is hard - she loses her magic, doubts herself, and learns that growing up means accepting imperfections.

Miyazaki based Kiki’s burnout on his own struggles as a young animator. The film’s cozy European-inspired town (Koriko) is modeled after Stockholm and Lisbon. It’s the best Studio Ghibli movie for children, reminding them that it’s okay to take a break.

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
July 1989	8.23	Studio Ghibli	Adventure, Drama	Netflix

7/10 My Neighbor Totoro

What if your new neighbor was a giant, fluffy forest spirit who loves naps and acorns? Sounds different? Well, this movie is actually weird, but in a good sense. Totoro follows sisters Satsuki and Mei as they explore the countryside, meet magical creatures, and cope with their mom’s illness. No villains, no explosions, just pure childhood wonder.

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Interestingly, Totoro became Studio Ghibli’s mascot and even inspired the studio’s logo! The film flopped at first, but later became a global phenomenon. Parents will love it for family nights because it’s gentle yet imaginative.

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
April 1988	8.25	Studio Ghibli	Adventure, Supernatural	Netflix

6/10 Castle in the Sky

Castle in the Sky best Studio Ghibli movies

Ghibli’s first official film, Castle in the Sky, is a thrilling adventure about a boy and girl searching for a floating island hidden in the sky. With a beautiful and magical setting, this movie is Miyazaki’s love letter to adventure. Sheeta and Pazu chase the legendary floating city of Laputa while dodging spies and rogue robots.

The film’s steampunk style inspired Hollywood hits like Final Fantasy and Star Wars, and the iconic theme song, “Carrying You,” was written by Miyazaki himself! Fun fact: Disney almost cut the film’s darker scenes for US audiences, but Miyazaki sent them a samurai sword with a note: “No cuts."

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
August 1986	8.26	Studio Ghibli	Adventure, Fantasy	Netflix

5/10 Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Before Ghibli was officially founded, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind set the stage for what was to come. The film follows Nausicaä, a princess in a post-apocalyptic world, who tries to bring peace between humans and toxic mutant insects that dominate the Earth.

The film’s success led to Studio Ghibli’s creation! It won the Animage Anime Grand Prix award and even inspired iconic works like Avatar: The Last Airbender. Nausicaä is one of the most inspiring Ghibli protagonists, making this one of the top Studio Ghibli movies that every fan should see.

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
March 1984	8.35	Topcraft	Adventure, Fantasy	Netflix

4/10 Grave of the Fireflies

This isn’t a movie, it’s an emotional grenade. Based on a semi-autobiographical novel, Grave of the Fireflies follows siblings Seita and Setsuko as they starve and struggle in WWII Japan. Unlike other Ghibli movies, there’s no magic or fantasy. Director Isao Takahata has simply shown the pure horror of war.

Critics call it one of the greatest war films ever made, but Takahata refused to call it “anti-war.” He said, “It’s about ignorance. People forget war’s real cost.” The film flopped commercially (released alongside Totoro), but its reputation grew over time.

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
April 1988	8.53	Studio Ghibli	Drama	Netflix

3/10 Princess Mononoke

This isn’t your kid’s fairy tale. Princess Mononoke is a bloody, epic clash between humans chopping down forests and nature gods fighting back. The story follows Ashitaka, a cursed prince, as he tries to stop the war between Lady Eboshi and San, a girl raised by wolves. The moral? Nobody’s purely evil, we’re all just trying to survive.

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The film’s budget was around $23 million (huge for 1997!), and it still broke box office records in Japan. The Forest Spirit’s design - part deer, part god - is inspired by ancient Japanese folklore. Miyazaki hand-drew thousands of frames to make the forest feel alive. No wonder, it's one of the top Studio Ghibli movies for mature audiences.

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
July 1997	8.66	Studio Ghibli	Action, Adventure	Netflix

2/10 Howl’s Moving Castle

What if aging 50 years overnight was the best thing that ever happened to you? Sophie, a shy hat-maker, gets cursed into an old woman’s body and moves into Howl’s walking castle - a clanking, steampunk beast powered by a fire demon named Calcifer. Together, they dodge war, witches, and Howl’s drama.

Miyazaki made this as an anti-Iraq War statement. The film broke Japanese box office records and earned an Oscar nomination. Fun fact: Christian Bale voiced Howl in the English dub and called it his favorite role. It’s the best Studio Ghibli movie to watch if you love messy, magical romances.

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
November 2004	8.67	Studio Ghibli	Adventure, Romance	Netflix

1/10 Spirited Away

Imagine getting lost in a bathhouse where gods party, witches enslave workers, and your parents turn into pigs. That’s Spirited Away, a coming-of-age story about Chihiro, a girl who learns bravery isn’t about being fearless, but doing what’s right even when you’re scared. Miyazaki’s wild imagination fills every scene in the movie, from the soot sprites stealing coal to No-Face’s hunger for friendship.

Spirited Away is the only anime movie to win an Oscar, and has been Japan’s highest-grossing film for 19 years, until Demon Slayer: Mugen Train broke its record. Miyazaki almost quit filmmaking before making this beauty, but thank goodness he didn’t - else we wouldn't have got such an iconic film.