Spirited Away (2001)
Kernel Score: 96% · 18,035 ratings · Rated PG
Genres: Animation, Family, Fantasy
Released: 2001-07-20
Runtime: 125 minutes
Is Spirited Away worth watching?
Must-watch. A ten-year-old girl is stranded in a spirit bathhouse and has to work to save her parents. Miyazaki's film is full of strange, beautiful creatures and feels like a dream, but it's grounded in a child's courage.
Watch it if you
- like imaginative animation made with care
- enjoy fantasy that doesn't explain everything
- want a film for children and adults
Skip it if you
- need a tidy, fast plot
- dislike subtitles if you pick the Japanese version
Best for: Family movie night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Spirited Away
- Stream: HBO Max
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A young girl, Chihiro, becomes trapped in a strange new world of spirits. When her parents undergo a mysterious transformation, she must call upon the courage she never knew she had to free her family.
Spirited Away parents' guide: ages 6+
Parents need to know that this acclaimed PG animated fantasy has some dark and scary spirit imagery but is deeply wholesome, celebrating courage, hard work, and family.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Fantasy elements include a witch, eerie spirit-world darkness, and unsettling transformations that may frighten younger children, but there is no graphic violence.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Spirited Away
If you liked Spirited Away, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Princess Mononoke (1997) — 92%: Miyazaki's more serious fantasy epic
- Howl's Moving Castle (2004) — 92%: Miyazaki's gentle, magical romance
- My Neighbor Totoro (1988) — 89%: Miyazaki's warm, easy fantasy for younger children
- Castle in the Sky (1986) — 93%: Miyazaki's classic adventure in the sky
- Coraline (2009) — 90%: Dark, strange, imaginative stop-motion fantasy
- Song of the Sea (2014) — 90%: Gentle, folklore-rich animated fantasy
Director
Cast
- Rumi Hiiragi as Chihiro (voice)
- Miyu Irino as Haku (voice)
- Mari Natsuki as Yubaba / Zeniba (voice)
- Takashi Naito as Father (voice)
- Yasuko Sawaguchi as Mother (voice)
- Tatsuya Gashûin as Aogaeru (voice)
- Ryunosuke Kamiki as Boh (voice)
- Yumi Tamai as Rin (voice)
- Yo Oizumi as Bandai Frog (voice)
- Koba Hayashi as River Spirit (voice)
Spirited Away FAQ
Is Spirited Away worth watching?
Must-watch. A ten-year-old girl is stranded in a spirit bathhouse and has to work to save her parents. Miyazaki's film is full of strange, beautiful creatures and feels like a dream, but it's grounded in a child's courage.
Where can I watch Spirited Away?
In the US you can stream Spirited Away on HBO Max and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Spirited Away OK for kids?
Spirited Away is rated PG. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 6+. Parents need to know that this acclaimed PG animated fantasy has some dark and scary spirit imagery but is deeply wholesome, celebrating courage, hard work, and family.
What movies are like Spirited Away?
If you liked Spirited Away, try Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle, My Neighbor Totoro and Castle in the Sky.