The Wind Rises (2013)
Kernel Score: 87% · 3,298 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Drama, Animation, Romance, History
Released: 2013-07-20
Runtime: 126 minutes
Is The Wind Rises worth watching?
Worth watching. Hayao Miyazaki tells the story of the man who designed Japan's wartime fighter planes, set against love, earthquakes and war. It's a beautiful, melancholy film aimed at adults, and a quiet change of pace for Miyazaki fans.
Watch it if you
- love Studio Ghibli but want something adult
- like gentle, reflective biographical stories
- appreciate beautifully hand-drawn animation
Skip it if you
- want a lively fantasy adventure
- dislike slow, sombre pacing
Best for: Quiet evening watching
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Wind Rises
- 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 lifelong love of flight inspires Japanese aviation engineer Jiro Horikoshi, whose storied career includes the creation of the A-6M World War II fighter plane.
The Wind Rises parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that The Wind Rises is an animated biographical drama about a Japanese aviation engineer who designs WWII fighter planes, with wartime and disaster imagery but no graphic violence.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Includes wartime context, an earthquake, and depictions of fighter plane design, but violence is largely implied rather than graphic.
- Drinking, drugs & smoking: A little — Some characters are shown smoking, consistent with the 1920s-30s Japanese setting.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Wind Rises
If you liked The Wind Rises, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Tale of The Princess Kaguya (2013) — 89%: Another Ghibli film of great beauty and sadness
- Grave of the Fireflies (1988) — 96%: Heartbreaking Japanese wartime story that hits very hard
- In This Corner of the World (2016) — 86%: Gentle, moving story of ordinary life in wartime Japan
- The Boy and the Heron (2023) — 85%: Miyazaki's later, dreamlike film about grief and growing up
- Spirited Away (2001) — 96%: Miyazaki's most beloved fantasy, wondrous and strange
- From Up on Poppy Hill (2011) — 84%: Warm Ghibli drama set in post-war Japan
Director
Cast
- Hideaki Anno as Jiro Horikoshi (voice)
- Hidetoshi Nishijima as Honjô (voice)
- Miori Takimoto as Naoko Satomi (voice)
- Masahiko Nishimura as Kurokawa (voice)
- Stephen Alpert as Castorp (voice)
- Mansai Nomura as Giovanni Battista (voice)
- Jun Kunimura as Hattori (voice)
- Mirai Shida as Kayo Horikoshi (voice)
- Shinobu Otake as Mrs. Kurokawa (voice)
- Morio Kazama as Satomi (voice)
The Wind Rises FAQ
Is The Wind Rises worth watching?
Worth watching. Hayao Miyazaki tells the story of the man who designed Japan's wartime fighter planes, set against love, earthquakes and war. It's a beautiful, melancholy film aimed at adults, and a quiet change of pace for Miyazaki fans.
Where can I watch The Wind Rises?
In the US you can stream The Wind Rises on HBO Max and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Wind Rises OK for kids?
The Wind Rises is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that The Wind Rises is an animated biographical drama about a Japanese aviation engineer who designs WWII fighter planes, with wartime and disaster imagery but no graphic violence.
What movies are like The Wind Rises?
If you liked The Wind Rises, try The Tale of The Princess Kaguya, Grave of the Fireflies, In This Corner of the World and The Boy and the Heron.