Shoplifters (2018)

Kernel Score: 86% · 2,251 ratings · Rated R

Genres: Drama, Crime, Thriller

Released: 2018-06-02

Runtime: 120 minutes

Is Shoplifters worth watching?

Must-watch. Shoplifters follows a poor, tight-knit family in Tokyo that gets by on petty theft, and slowly reveals what holds them together. It's quiet, humane and affecting, and it asks hard questions about what makes a family.

Watch it if you

  • like slow, character-focused family dramas
  • appreciate Japanese cinema
  • want a film that stays with you

Skip it if you

  • need fast pacing or a big plot
  • dislike sad stories about poverty

Best for: Quiet solo night in

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch Shoplifters

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

In the outskirts of Tokyo, a poor but close-knit group living on the fringes of society survives through shoplifting and odd jobs. When Osamu and his son take in a neglected young girl, their already fragile existence begins to unravel. As the family grows attached to her, buried secrets surface, forcing them to confront the true meaning of love, belonging, and what makes a family.

Shoplifters parents' guide: ages 15+

Parents need to know that Shoplifters is a Japanese drama about an impoverished family surviving through shoplifting and petty crime.

  • Violence & scariness: A little — Little physical violence; the film focuses instead on poverty and petty theft.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Movies like Shoplifters

If you liked Shoplifters, these are the movies we'd watch next.

  • Nobody Knows (2004) — 87%: Same director's heartbreaking story of children left to fend alone
  • Like Father, Like Son (2013) — 85%: Same director's study of what really makes a parent
  • Our Little Sister (2015) — 86%: Same director's gentle, quietly moving family drama
  • Still Walking (2008) — 86%: Same director's subtle family drama about unspoken tensions
  • Monster (2023) — 90%: Japanese drama of hidden truths and compassion, from the same director
  • An Elephant Sitting Still (2018) — 85%: Bleak, humane ensemble drama about people on the margins

Director

Hirokazu Kore-eda

Cast

Shoplifters FAQ

Is Shoplifters worth watching?

Must-watch. Shoplifters follows a poor, tight-knit family in Tokyo that gets by on petty theft, and slowly reveals what holds them together. It's quiet, humane and affecting, and it asks hard questions about what makes a family.

Where can I watch Shoplifters?

In the US you can stream Shoplifters on Netflix and Prime Video, watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, The Roku Channel, Plex and Tubi and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and Fandango At Home.

Is Shoplifters OK for kids?

Shoplifters is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Shoplifters is a Japanese drama about an impoverished family surviving through shoplifting and petty crime.

What movies are like Shoplifters?

If you liked Shoplifters, try Nobody Knows, Like Father, Like Son, Our Little Sister and Still Walking.