Japanese Ghost Movies

Updated May 1, 2024

Dozens of creators have reported on Japanese Ghost Movies. We wrote about 17 of the top ones.

Perfect Blue (1997)

★★★★

3.2 out of 4 stars

From Satoshi Kon, starring Junko Iwao, Rica Matsumoto, Shinpachi Tsuji, Masaaki Ôkura
Rated R

Perfect Blue is a psychological thriller directed by Satoshi Kon in 1997. It tells the story of Mima Kirigoe, a former pop idol who has retired from the music industry to pursue an acting career. Her transition from idol to actress quickly thrusts her into a world of fear and paranoia as she begins to lose her grip on reality. After receiving threatening letters and experiencing a series of increasingly bizarre events, Mima suspects she may be the target of a stalker. As the line between fantasy and reality blurs, Mima discovers the shocking truth behind her tormentor. Perfect Blue is an intense and gripping exploration of fame and its effects on identity, as well as a commentary on the dangers of obsession.

Battle Royale (2000)

★★★★

3 out of 4 stars

From Kinji Fukasaku, starring Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Tarô Yamamoto, Chiaki Kuriyama
Rated Not Rated

Battle Royale is a provocative and violent Japanese film from 2000, directed by Kinji Fukasaku. The film follows a group of Japanese high school students who are forced to participate in a government-mandated game of survival on an isolated island. All of the students are fitted with explosive collars and are given weapons, and the only way to win is to be the last one standing. As the tension mounts, the students turn on each other, forming alliances and betraying each other. The film is a commentary on the state of Japanese society and the often oppressive nature of authority. The violence and brutality of the film is shocking, but it is also thought-provoking, and the message of the film is ultimately one of hope.

Godzilla (1954)

★★★★

3 out of 4 stars

From Ishirô Honda, starring Takashi Shimura, Akihiko Hirata, Akira Takarada, Momoko Kôchi
Rated Not Rated

Godzilla (1954), directed by Ishirô Honda, is an iconic Japanese monster movie set in post-WWII Tokyo. The film follows a giant prehistoric monster, awakened from the depths of the ocean by atomic testing, who proceeds to wreak havoc on the city. As the military struggle to contain the beast, a scientist discovers a way to vanquish the giant monster back to the depths of the ocean. The film is widely considered a classic of the genre, serving as an allegory for the harsh realities of nuclear warfare and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.