My Ultimate Studio Ghibli Film List: Ranking from Best to Worst

I debated on making this ranking. All of the Studio Ghibli films are unique works of art which makes it hard to rank. With 20+ movies released from 1985–2024, different genres, and out-of-this-world stories it makes it impossible not to enjoy at least one Studio Ghibli Film.

This is going to be a long list and I won’t be breaking it into parts, so to keep it brief I will just be ranking the movies from my favorite to least favorite and a few thoughts on the film.

If you’d like a more in-depth list check out all the movies in chronological order.

I would love to hear your favorite Studio Ghibli movie in the comments below!

Whisper of the Heart

My thoughts: How can I put this movie into words? What an emotional rollercoaster. If you do not know what true love looks like, watch this film. The relationship goes from a secret admirer to being annoyed with each other, to being inspired by each other’s life goals and dreams, chasing their dreams for each other, and then working together. I love this movie more every time I watch it. With such an inspiring story it’s hard to not want to chase your dreams once the credits roll. I deeply relate to Shizuku Tsukishima and her desire to be a writer, despite what others think. The beauty in their romance is the foundation. They both went after large goals, used time apart to accomplish them, and supported each other in their dreams. My favorite character has to be the grandfather. He supports and encourages them both, and brings so much wisdom to us all. This scene inspires me whenever I feel down or when I give it my all but I feel as if I failed. I hope it inspires you too, never give to give up, and remember there is always progress to be made, not perfection to be chased. This is the most underrated Studio Ghibli film and my personal favorite. I am currently watching it as I write this list.

Spirited Away

My thoughts: This was my first Studio Ghibli movie and it introduced me to the beauty and wonder created by Hayao Miyazaki. The depth of this story has taken me years to fully understand. The first time you watch this film your mind is so overfilled with everything going on, that you miss a lot of depth. You could call this a very intense coming-of-age movie. The amount of research, consideration, and work that went into this movie is mind-blowing, it is no wonder this is an award-winning film. I would challenge everyone to watch it once and then watch it again looking for all of the hidden messages.

Howl’s Moving Castle

My thoughts: This incredibly beautiful movie portrays the insecurities we struggle with when we look in the mirror, and how the people in our lives only look at us with love. A movie with many layers and a large cast of characters who develop throughout the movie. The more times you watch this movie the more you find all the little messages hidden within. I love the romance between Howl and Sophie, they both had to learn to love themselves first before they could love each other. One of the most beautifully romantic scenes is when Howl takes Sophie to his favorite place to escape when he growing up. Howl giving her a glimpse of his childhood gave me the chills. This is a movie you need to put your phone on silent and pay attention to so you can fully appreciate the characters, the art, and the romance in this film.

From Up on Poppy Hill

My thoughts: THIS MOVIE WILL PLAY WITH YOUR EMOTIONS!!! This is the most underrated Studio Ghibli movie of all time. I gasped so many times watching this movie. The brilliant writers knew exactly how to pull at your heartstrings and mess with your emotions. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will have goosebumps throughout.

Castle in the Sky

My thoughts: This might be one of the best stories Studio Ghibli ever created. The characters are tested throughout the movie and it is endearing to see their growth, and the collaboration between the characters to accomplish the same goal is perfectly written. I know the genre is an adventure but I would also add mystery, there are so many layers and depth to the story it will keep you on the edge of your seat. I have to give props to Mark Hamill for an incredible performance as Muska in the dubbed version, His ability to bring a villain to life gives me the chills. Even though this is an action-packed adventure, there is an adorable romance, stunning artwork, and a world you want to jump into. The fact that this masterpiece came out only a year after Nausicaä adds to how much I admire the time and effort that went into this movie.

Porco Rosso

My thoughts: Honestly this might be my favorite Studio Ghibli. The storyline is amazing, fun, and inspiring. This movie is based in the 1930s which creates a vintage vibe throughout the whole movie. I love Fio, She is strong, bold, and stops at nothing to accomplish her dreams. For a movie to have strong female leads is very important to me. The character development of Porco Rosso throughout the movie makes me believe anyone can change and be the person they want to be. There is also a slight romance story interwoven which creates a perfect ending to this magical movie.

Princess Mononoke

My thoughts: I am going to try not to write a novel about this movie. This is one of Studio Ghibli’s more adult films because of gore and violence. This is a story with a lot of layers. The forest and humans fighting for their space in the world. One of the deeper meanings of the main character Ashitaka is he is neither man nor creature. He starts his story as a human warrior for his village but in that fight gets cursed by a demon. The elders reluctantly force him to leave, and he is now journeying on his own with no place to call home. On his journey, he met both a kind-hearted village and a forest filled with wonder. He is the middle ground for both worlds. It is such a fascinating story about humankind and our naturally greedy nature, but also how terrifying nature can be. The forest scenes will give you chills, and with an incredible soundtrack, it will feel so in-depth as if you were just teleported into that world. This is a timeless film that shows the devastation when our two worlds collide and the peace that comes when we work together to find peace and balance with the nature surrounding us.

The Boy and the Herron

My thoughts: I was lost the whole movie! I didn’t follow a thing, and even though I was entertained I could not tell you a single thing about it after it finished. So of course I had to figure out what it was about after I watched it. I watched YouTube videos explaining the creation and story. Once I learned the depth of the storyline my mind was blown. I rewatched it once it was released to stream and it has become one of my favorite Studio Ghibli films.

The Wind Rises

My thoughts: Do not watch this movie without a box of tissues next to you. I always have my eyes locked on the screen and my heart pounding throughout this film. I learned a lot more about the creation of this film from visiting the Studio Ghibli museum. The fascination Hayao Miyazaki has with planes and flight is evident from the subject matter in The Wind Rises, his first-ever film inspired by real people.

The Secret World of Arrietty

My thoughts: The world seen from the borrower’s point of view is mindblowing. They were so creative with what they used for everyday items. Arrietty is courageous and her ability to move in the face of fear inspires Shawn to keep fighting for his life. The scene where Shawn is reading in the flowers with a cat on his chest makes me want to teleport to that world. This is a wonderfully creative adventure.

Kiki’s Delivery Service

My thoughts: This is one of my comfort movies. Kiki navigating her new hometown and the people in it is inspiring and enduring. She is a strong female lead who starts a business at 13 and doesn’t let anything get in her way. Just as life doesn’t go as planned, she faces challenges and depression. She works hard to overcome every obstacle and discover her purpose in the process.

Nausicaä and the Valley of the Wind

My thoughts: For this to be the first Studio Ghibli film it set the bar pretty high. Not only is this a thrilling adventure, but It also gives us a glimpse into our reality if we don’t take care of our planet. The fight between the enemy, the dying planet, and Nausicaä was a thrilling storyline.

Ponyo

My thoughts: I love the colorful and creative underwater world in Ponyo. The color and art will have your eyes glued to the screen. The pure love story is heartwarming and refreshing.

The Cat Returns

My thoughts: This is a very fun film. Not a super deep story, but extremely creative. I love the connection between this film and my favorite Whispers of the Heart.

Grave of the Fireflies

My thoughts: This movie traumatized me. Then I found out it was based on a true story and I was more traumatized. I believe it is the best war story out there and everyone needs to watch it once to appreciate its story. This movie will make you grateful for your life and have empathy for others in ways you didn’t even know was possible. Just have tissues on hand.

Tales from Earthsea

My thoughts: The first half of this movie is extremely slow and magical. If you enjoy movies like the Lord of the Rings where they build up the world and the story you will enjoy this movie. It has such a deep and impactful meaning. As humans, we naturally fear death and try everything we can to stop it. But in reality, I think a lot more of us fear living. But think about it there is no value to life without death. The first half is slow and the second half is incredible which is why I put Tales from Earthsea in the middle of this list.

My Neighbors the Yamadas

My thoughts: This is a fun movie filled with short stories from an ordinary family. It is a good one to put on when you need a laugh.

Only Yesterday

My thoughts: I love this movie, but you have to be in the right mood to watch it. It isn’t the most exciting film, and the story is simple. It is the perfect movie to watch if you just want to relax and unwind your mind for a bit.

When Marnie Was There

My thoughts: When Marnie Was There is a story about plenty of things like regret, loss, and neglect. But at the heart of the film is a story about friendship, and an unlikely one at that. There are plenty of things about the plot that you can’t reveal without spoiling anything, but Anna and Marnie’s bond throughout is truly something special. However, once you know the plot twist at the end it is hard to rewatch. To me, it was a one-and-done experience.

My Neighbor Totoro

My thoughts: I already know I am going to get some hate for putting Totoro so low on this list but I promise I have a good reason. This is the only Studio Ghibli film that felt as if it was made for kids. My 4 year old niece adores this movie and we have watched it countless times. It is very cute and entertaining, but from Studio Ghibli as a whole it is hard to compare with stories like Spirited Away or Princess Mononoke. If I ever have kids this will be their childhood film.

The Tale of The Princess Kaguya

My thoughts: I wasn’t a fan of this movie. It is a very artistic story and animation. I have heard this art style is very classic and so many people loved it. I just wasn’t a fan. The story is very beautiful, I just felt it was too slow. If you enjoy artistic and old-school Japanese culture you’d enjoy this movie.

Ocean Waves

My thoughts: I only watched this film once. It is the only Studio Ghibli film that never got an English dubbing and my dyslexic brain really struggles with subtitles. This is an entertaining film, however it is slow. I feel I would have enjoyed this movie more if I were in high school, as an adult watching it the characters were being dramatic teenagers for no real reason and I wanted to smack them through the whole movie. I loved the 90s vibes and art, but this isn’t one I feel drawn to rewatch.

Pompoko

My thoughts: How did this end up on the bottom of the list? Well, I have only seen this movie once and I didn’t care for it. The message behind this film is impactful and eye-opening, but other than that I thought it was long and couldn’t keep my attention.

What is your favorite and least favorite Studio Ghibli movie? I’d love to hear in the comments

Thanks for reading!!

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