Studio Ghibli Movies Ranked: Find Out Where to Watch Them All

When discussing the greatest movie studios in the history of the industry, Studio Ghibli easily ranks among the best of the best. Use our guide to see where each Studio Ghibli movie is ranked and where you can stream them right now.

Founded by directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata with producer Toshio Suzuki in 1985, the titles found within the Studio Ghibli archive explore an incredible array of diverse ideas and rich allegories packaged in a breathtaking animated style suitable for any generation of viewer. From its initial conception and beyond, Studio Ghibli films transport viewers into the film’s respective universe with works crafted by the great Isao Takahata, Yoshifumi Kondō, Hiroyuki Morita, Gorō Miyazaki, Hiromasa Yonebayashi and the undeniable creative force whose titles have influenced storytellers for decades – Hayao Miyazaki.

Throughout the 1980s and ‘90s, the films by Miyazaki and Takahata dominated both the box office and immense acclaim from moviegoers alike. The pairing of the two as director and producer ushered in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (although made before the founding of Studio Ghibli, it has since been adopted into the Ghibli filmography) and Castle in the Sky. Takahata’s directed works include three immensely acclaimed films: Grave of the Fireflies, Only Yesterday and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya which all have a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Miyazaki is responsible for crafting films that transcend language barriers and art form. He allows his characters to be deeply flawed and his masterful utilization of metaphorical language is why he is considered a legend in his craft. Beginning with My Neighbor Totoro released in 1988 to Kiki's Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Ponyo, The Wind Rises and The Boy and the Heron in 2023, the seminal works helmed by Miyazaki cannot be overstated. The themes found in Studio Ghibli films – the implementation of grief, environmental sustainability and the innocence of adolescence as a means to explore what these characters experience – are universal concepts needed to be examined.

Among the ten highest-grossing Japanese films at the worldwide box office, three of them are Studio Ghibli titles with Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle and Ponyo. Four of the studio’s films have been nominated for Academy Awards - Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, The Wind Rises and The Boy and The Heron - with the latter winning the prestigious Best Animated Feature in 2024. Within the Japanese film industry, Studio Ghibli has won numerous awards including the Animage Grand Prix and the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year.

Here is every Studio Ghibli movie ranked and where you can watch them.