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Akira
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Akira

1988
Sci-fi
Suspense/Thriller
2h 4m
Kaneda is a bike gang leader whose close friend Tetsuo gets involved in a government secret project known as Akira. On his way to save Tetsuo, Kaneda runs into a group of anti-government activists, greedy politicians, irresponsible scientists and a powerful military leader. The confrontation sparks off Tetsuo's supernatural power leading to bloody death, a coup attempt and the final battle in Tokyo Olympiad where Akira's secrets were buried 30 years ago. (imdb)
Directed by:
Katsuhiro Ôtomo Katsuhiro Ôtomo
Written by:
Katsuhiro Ôtomo Katsuhiro Ôtomo Izô Hashimoto
+1 more
Starring:
Mitsuo Iwata Mitsuo Iwata Nozomu Sasaki Mami Koyama Mami Koyama Tesshô Genda Tesshô Genda Yuriko Fuchizaki Yuriko Fuchizaki Michihiro Ikemizu Masaaki Ôkura Kôichi Kitamura Takeshi Kusao Hiroshi Ôtake Tarô Arakawa Kazumi Tanaka
More
Genres:
Sci-fi, Suspense/Thriller, Action, Animation
Country:
Japan
Language:
Japanese
imdb More information at IMDb
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Akira

1988
Sci-fi
Suspense/Thriller
2h 4m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 66.27% from 6841 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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moviesinhellmoviesinhell
Rated 22 Mar 2009
75
54th
The film most responsible for popularizing the anime genre in the West. The animation is so complexly cinematic, incorporating more than 2,000 individual shots, that it's easy at times for you to forget you're not watching a live-action movie. Like many Japanese films, ranging from _Godzilla_ to _Akira Kurosawa's Dreams_, this is another attempt -- albeit in a high-tech, rocknroll, comic-book format -- to grapple with the atomic destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Rated 22 Mar 2009
matguy3matGuy3
Rated 21 Sep 2014
6
51st
Some of the sickest animation I've ever seen. Truly a landmark for the medium.
Rated 21 Sep 2014
watchdogwatchdog
Rated 24 Nov 2008
83
15th
awsome then
Rated 24 Nov 2008
chicofiremanchicofireman
Rated 29 Apr 2008
100
90th
Masterpiece of animation.
Rated 29 Apr 2008
kittonnikittonni
Rated 14 Mar 2010
98
99th
Truly an Anime masterpiece. The ultra-violence and the critique to extremist groups throughout the movie make it a good movie to be watched by not only Anime fans but good story fans alike.
Rated 14 Mar 2010
faggelsFaggels
Rated 14 Aug 2014
100
77th
I could type anything here and it would not do this film any justice.
Rated 14 Aug 2014
eyemoeyemo
Rated 11 May 2009
86
64th
Classic
Rated 11 May 2009
ericalyeaericalyea
Rated 12 Oct 2011
94
93rd
Depends on the translation. Sub>Pioneer>Sreamline
Rated 12 Oct 2011
ragnarokinRagnarokin
Rated 04 Jan 2009
81
27th
Classic anime.
Rated 04 Jan 2009
lolocaustLolocaust
Rated 28 Apr 2009
91
88th
After reading the 2000 pages of the manga, I started to understand the story...
Rated 28 Apr 2009
readysteadyReadySteady
Rated 27 Sep 2011
50
12th
Set the pop cultural significance aside, and you've got an animation showcase. In that respect, it still retains its power to amaze even a quarter of a century later. But the plot, adapted from a long-running graphic novel series that wasn't even halfway over at the time, is a mess full of more holes than Blackburn, Lancanshire, and doesn't "end" so much as it just gets up and leaves. A must-see for anyone with an interest in the art form; everyone else, just move along.
Rated 27 Sep 2011
pigwicklePigwickle
Rated 14 Jun 2014
100
97th
Visually Stunning. Amazingly creative. I am blown away by everything about this movie! Instant classic!
Rated 14 Jun 2014
calactusCalactus
Rated 25 Sep 2012
100
85th
Let me start by saying that the animation is absolutely wonderful. A Glorious 27 hand-painted frames per second. While the material can get rather gruesome at times, it's nothing that bothers me. The music adds a lot of weight to the scenes, and is full of all the crazed chanting and gamelan-banging you could ever want. Overall, I love it.
Rated 25 Sep 2012
jaybrooksjaybrooks
Rated 27 Feb 2012
100
62nd
Loved the film. Akira was my first anime film, and opened my eyes to an incredible genre of film.
Rated 27 Feb 2012
magnumtmagnumt
Rated 20 May 2007
70
30th
Beautifully animated, even if it's like a 30 minute adaptation of Lord of the Rings - ultimately the manga has much more.
Rated 20 May 2007
xiskaxiska
Rated 19 Sep 2008
100
92nd
Must-watch animation.
Rated 19 Sep 2008
jay_macJay Mac
Rated 06 Dec 2007
90
52nd
One of Mangas classic films... this movie broke the mold and pushes the cartoon genre to its limits... for its day and age it is a master piece
Rated 06 Dec 2007
andyviewsAndyviews
Rated 09 Apr 2012
85
75th
A visual handjob. It gets kinda weird at the end but give the guy a break the movie was only like the first two chapters of the manga IIRC and the manga is freakin' huge. My only real problems are that some characters act stupid (hey tetsuo, just use your mind powers to smash his bike bro) and the motivation for Tetsuo gets shown to be total shit at the end (hey dude we are totally equals lets start a gang) oh and Kei looks to much like a man to me but yeah a good movie in my opinion.
Rated 09 Apr 2012
arcticricardarcticricard
Rated 21 Apr 2017
85
92nd
nearly 30 years later and still a masterpiece of Japanese Animation.
Rated 21 Apr 2017
prisonerPrisoner
Rated 18 Aug 2007
69
48th
Pretty good anime. Visually it is very exciting. The dubbed version I have is kind of hard to follow sometimes.
Rated 18 Aug 2007
orangeamelOrangeAmel
Rated 05 Dec 2013
77
66th
As a 10 year old watching Akira I understood almost nothing but considered it to be very complicated and gross. Turns out it isn't, but it touches important aspects of humanity and government's operations. I especially like psychedelic & memorable scenes with the kids and "toys".This prototype of "Fast & Furious" has motorcycles of the future (very "Tron" - like). It's also easy to forget lightpainting was already explored in the photography these days.The ending wasn't exactly what I expected.
Rated 05 Dec 2013
stvesaStVeSa
Rated 14 Aug 2007
95
91st
Classic anime.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
rp2dasearp2dasea
Rated 27 Oct 2007
87
72nd
This is one of my favorite manga films - the artwork is exceptional, and the story isn't half bad. I especially love the scenes where the characters are riding their motorcycles, and of course the scenes where Tetsuo uses his newfound powers to wreak havoc.
Rated 27 Oct 2007
blakoutblakout
Rated 14 Dec 2008
90
81st
Great animation awesome characters and story
Rated 14 Dec 2008
fartfart
Rated 29 Aug 2007
100
99th
YES! This movie is perfect. Great story, great sound, amazing animation, and great music.
Rated 29 Aug 2007
fuchuFuchu
Rated 25 Mar 2015
97
82nd
their friendship is as compelling as the incredible world they live in
Rated 25 Mar 2015
calexicoCalexico
Rated 23 Apr 2011
75
51st
Pretty cool stuff. Didn't really explore it's religious undertones that much, for better or for worse. It has aged better than I would expect.
Rated 23 Apr 2011
bowerbirdbowerbird
Rated 13 Dec 2007
90
96th
possibly the greatest anime ever (though i prefer unico and spirited away) massively composed visuals hiding a tender and difficult metaphor for personal and societal adolescence
Rated 13 Dec 2007
mrmofomrmofo
Rated 14 Aug 2007
92
60th
One of the best anime's I've seen. Good plot that will require repeated viewing to fully digest.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
kelly909kelly909
Rated 22 Jul 2010
98
85th
one of the best anime's ever made. the plot is amazing. very surreal. highly recommend it
Rated 22 Jul 2010
blakeengelBlakeEngel
Rated 27 Nov 2016
9
71st
The third act devolves into less story-driven but still fun chaos, but the first two acts are so fascinating and fun. It's cool that an apocalyptic telekinesis story is told through the eyes of a biker gang. Such a cool set of protagonists. The horror and violence of this are equally fascinating. A fun movie to rewatch in the dark, like a midnight movie.
Rated 27 Nov 2016
kewlitokewlito
Rated 09 Sep 2007
70
56th
I'm not into anime, but the animation here is a must see.
Rated 09 Sep 2007
bellafilmbellafilm
Rated 04 Mar 2013
85
63rd
really really loved this film
Rated 04 Mar 2013
yerameyahuYerameyahu
Rated 15 Jan 2008
60
24th
A classic, but really not a terribly good one. Lots of loose threads and plot holes leave you unsatisfied.
Rated 15 Jan 2008
cpreviewcpreview
Rated 12 Aug 2012
8
73rd
Many consider Akira to be the start of modern Japanese anime. In comparing Akira with Appleseed (also from 1988), I tend to agree. Appleseed represents high quality earlier anime, whereas Akira is truly something different both in tone and style. Akira definitely strays to the "punk" side of cyberpunk, but has full clashes with the corporate control element and technology run amok.
Rated 12 Aug 2012
judicaretjudicaret
Rated 07 May 2015
69
63rd
While I'm not into dystopias, with enchanting music like this and oldschool anime art which looks rather warm from today's point of view, mysteriousness of the plot and not holding back with characters' fates, how could I not enjoy it a tad?
Rated 07 May 2015
balmungbalmung
Rated 19 May 2009
100
85th
a timeless anime classic
Rated 19 May 2009
hashiHashi
Rated 07 Jun 2010
90
82nd
Very good.
Rated 07 Jun 2010
fungifungi
Rated 14 Aug 2007
100
99th
Amazing animation and complex plot. Constant action and intrigue to keep the most cynical anime critics interested. If you're going to see any Japanese animation in your lifetime, see this one.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
zephonithZephonith
Rated 08 Jun 2007
70
57th
An anime classic. A bit too angry teen boy for me, but visually and aurally spectacular, and a very imaginative and immersive SF setting.
Rated 08 Jun 2007
hatecr0whatecr0w
Rated 20 Jul 2009
90
72nd
One of my first experiences with anime films. Still one of my top suggestions for people wanting to know about anime.
Rated 20 Jul 2009
bobmatnycbobmatnyc
Rated 16 May 2007
90
92nd
Love that motorcycle
Rated 16 May 2007
wccarrollwccarroll
Rated 15 Dec 2008
80
79th
Landmark anime. One of the few you could show someone who's not a fan of the genre. Maybe.
Rated 15 Dec 2008
yamabushiyamabushi
Rated 11 Feb 2010
83
90th
One of legendary anime produtions and many times used as an influence these days. As the animation is simple and low in frames frequency it is a still top class anime, an icon that no one should miss. Beside the GITS it's my favourite vip-anime I use to recommend to any fan of Japanese drawn animation.
Rated 11 Feb 2010
gizmoguygizmoguy
Rated 12 Feb 2012
82
67th
For many in the west, this is the film that introduced them to anime and to the possibility that a foreign animation could possibly be more intelligent than almost all of the sci-fi that Hollywood offers up. Now more than 20 years later, this still remains true and this film is still the perfect trial for those who are just testing a possible interest in anime.
Rated 12 Feb 2012
bjoerntsbjoernts
Rated 23 Dec 2016
100
99th
There is nothing wrong with this movie at all. Nothing.
Rated 23 Dec 2016
scribScrib
Rated 08 Jun 2022
89
92nd
As much as I wish this had been a series, or a series of films, so as to give justice to the full story of the source manga, for what it is it's an admirable attempt at adapting a long, complex, unfinished narrative into a single feature film. Don't get me wrong... The result IS an utterly nutty and overblown sensory overload; the pacing and dynamics are poor, and there is far more emphasis put on setpieces than there is on character; but it also makes for one hell of a fun ride.
Rated 08 Jun 2022
arudapArudap
Rated 09 Aug 2015
61
10th
71
Rated 09 Aug 2015
countdownCountdown
Rated 26 Mar 2021
65
20th
Interesting movie, kinda lost me in the second half.
Rated 26 Mar 2021
leonard0cleonard0c
Rated 10 Nov 2023
68
30th
destruction porn - movie made for people who wanna see the world burn
Rated 10 Nov 2023
rapinchierapinchie
Rated 10 Dec 2020
75
77th
Stunning in scope and beauty.
Rated 10 Dec 2020
kruz01Kruz01
Rated 19 Aug 2009
10
5th
I don't get you and I don't like you.
Rated 19 Aug 2009
saltcureshamSALTCURESHAM
Rated 27 Dec 2014
90
51st
The plot falls apart in the end, but honestly, that's the only flaw Akira has.
Rated 27 Dec 2014
raffomaniaraffomania
Rated 26 Sep 2020
68
55th
awesome visuals, but the story is a bit confusing and has major holes
Rated 26 Sep 2020
ferpnanpdusferpnanpdus
Rated 02 Dec 2011
80
62nd
tremenda pelicula, tiene cosas teclas, cosas de la mente y esa música rarita ponja te vuela la peluca. Muchas analogías con la realidad actual.
Rated 02 Dec 2011
deathbeedeathbee
Rated 20 Jul 2010
7
1st
head trip
Rated 20 Jul 2010
baseballsbaseballs
Rated 10 May 2018
80
70th
Really cool animation showcase tied to a pretty nonsensical story.
Rated 10 May 2018
greenerGreener
Rated 05 Sep 2017
53
18th
It's cool. I get the hype. But not my cup of tea.
Rated 05 Sep 2017
misteremannmisteremann
Rated 04 Jul 2020
96
43rd
A perfect animated film. Exhilarating set pieces, beautifully done animation, and a gripping story. It's impact reaches not just anime, cartoons, and comics but also on big budget Hollywood movies.
Rated 04 Jul 2020
havingfunHavingFun!
Rated 28 Aug 2009
0
1st
My first encounter with Anime, proving that it is a shallow art style and an a dumb sense of storytelling. Japan has done better. Like Super Mario.
Rated 28 Aug 2009
bluhrsbluhrs
Rated 03 Oct 2022
82
25th
the colors in the film were fantastic. the story was developed and drew me in, but a couple pieces I was unsure how they were fitting in. to summarize the story, I'd say be nice to the bullied kid ? the soundtrack is what rly sold me in on the movie though, soooo good
Rated 03 Oct 2022
fart_masterFart Master
Rated 23 Nov 2010
70
50th
The animation and all is incredible, but once you have read the manga it becomes hard to appreciate the movie.
Rated 23 Nov 2010
quackquack
Rated 13 Aug 2023
76
40th
I really thought I was gonna like this a lot more. I thought this was gonna be a motor gang movie, but nah. Up until like half of the movie I was enjoying it quite much then shit hit the fan. It wasn't bad, but just wasn't what I would've hoped for. Also it's pretty confusing after that. If I known what it was about I would've rated it higher probably.
Rated 13 Aug 2023
pianosamaPianoSama
Rated 11 Jan 2019
65
45th
The animation still largely holds up, but the story was way too confusing for me to follow & the characters felt underdeveloped. I can appreciate the impact it's had over the years, but can't really say I'd see it twice.
Rated 11 Jan 2019
burstbubbleBurstBubble
Rated 13 Jun 2010
30
20th
Okay, very disturbing, disgusting, violent, and depressing... Not good for people with weak stomachs, like me. Great animation though.
Rated 13 Jun 2010
glifosfatoglifosfato
Rated 09 Jul 2023
89
94th
expansive, yet concise; grungy, yet sublime, this is a positively seminal animated piece. the story does justice to the masterful animation and superb aesthetics, moving quickly and in unexpected directions, with little exposition, which some may find confusing, but resolves in a tense, satisfying climax. Tatsuo's character is very relatable, being consumed by resentment and anger, making us wonder if, in his shoes, we'd have the same fate or could have the wherewithal to rise above like Kei.
Rated 09 Jul 2023
batmantisBatmantis
Rated 12 Aug 2022
100
99th
I'd love to see this in a movie theater if it gets screened again. I'm not sure I got all of what was going on, but even watching this on TV via Roku, it's very captivating.
Rated 12 Aug 2022
ks1422ks1422
Rated 06 Nov 2008
65
15th
I'm sure that this movie was great great back in 1988, but I, personally, didn't care for it. It wasn't bad, but I've seen much better anime movies.
Rated 06 Nov 2008
crybyteCrybyte
Rated 24 Dec 2018
100
57th
God damn. Legendary saviour of anime films in the west.
Rated 24 Dec 2018
wasnotwhynotwasnotwhynot
Rated 23 Oct 2020
90
84th
impossibly, harrowingly good animation sequences, very much still contemporary, complicated, mystifying. feels just slightly too neat with just a bit too much omitted for the adaption
Rated 23 Oct 2020
undermindmUndermind_M
Rated 19 Aug 2009
78
72nd
Epic, terrifying (nauseating in places)... but I didn't really understand it.
Rated 19 Aug 2009
kevin_ruffoKevin Ruffo
Rated 21 Jan 2024
80
78th
this dragon ball episode got really dark really fast
Rated 21 Jan 2024
shinysingershinySinger
Rated 17 Oct 2019
83
57th
maybe akira was the friends we made along the way
Rated 17 Oct 2019
mixmaxtermixmaxter
Rated 21 Aug 2023
90
89th
"what if everything happened at once." a very dense, beautifully animated sci-fi dystopia that ambiguously captures the folly of an imperialist regime, amongst its large cast of characters and action. really uneven sound mixing, but with some crunchy sound effects
Rated 21 Aug 2023
wickediconWickedIcon
Rated 20 Dec 2012
85
65th
One of my favorite animated films. The script is frankly weak, but looking at it as purely a sort of visual tone poem, it is a masterpiece.
Rated 20 Dec 2012

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