20 Studio Ghibli Movies Ranked

Few animation studios are as beloved as Studio Ghibli, whose films blend hand-drawn beauty with deep emotion. This guide ranks 20 Studio Ghibli movies into tiers, from the all-time greats to the quieter gems, each with its Japanese title and a note on what makes it stand out. Ranking art is always personal, so treat this as one fan’s ordering rather than a final word, and check current listings to see where each film is streaming.

Ghibli was founded by directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata along with producer Toshio Suzuki, and its films range from grand fantasy to tender everyday drama. What unites them is a love of hand-drawn detail, strong and thoughtful heroines, a deep respect for nature, and a willingness to let quiet moments breathe. A few titles below, such as Nausicaa, are usually counted even though they predate the studio’s official founding, because they share the same creative team and spirit. Treat the tiers as a rough guide rather than a strict order, since a film that ranks low here may well become your personal favourite.

The Top Tier (Ranks 1 to 5)

These are the films most often named when people discover Ghibli, and they are a safe bet for a first watch or for introducing the studio to someone new.

1. Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し, Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi): a girl must work in a spirit bathhouse to save her parents; a dazzling, imaginative masterpiece
2. My Neighbor Totoro (となりのトトロ, Tonari no Totoro): two sisters befriend a forest spirit in a warm, gentle classic
3. Princess Mononoke (もののけ姫, Mononoke-hime): a sweeping epic about the clash between nature and human industry
4. Howl’s Moving Castle (ハウルの動く城, Hauru no Ugoku Shiro): a young woman cursed with old age joins a wizard and his walking castle
5. Kiki’s Delivery Service (魔女の宅急便, Majo no Takkyubin): a young witch starts a delivery business and learns independence

Essential Classics (Ranks 6 to 10)

Landmark films that helped define the studio’s reputation.

1. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (風の谷のナウシカ, Kaze no Tani no Nausicaa): a princess seeks harmony between people and a poisoned world
2. Castle in the Sky (天空の城ラピュタ, Tenku no Shiro Laputa): two children search for a legendary floating city
3. Grave of the Fireflies (火垂るの墓, Hotaru no Haka): a devastating story of two siblings struggling to survive wartime
4. Porco Rosso (紅の豚, Kurenai no Buta): a cursed pilot flies as a bounty hunter over the Adriatic Sea
5. Whisper of the Heart (耳をすませば, Mimi wo Sumaseba): a bookish girl chases her dream of becoming a writer

Mature and Modern Works (Ranks 11 to 15)

Later films that show the studio’s range and ambition.

1. The Wind Rises (風立ちぬ, Kaze Tachinu): a dreamy, bittersweet portrait of an aircraft designer
2. Ponyo (崖の上のポニョ, Gake no Ue no Ponyo): a goldfish princess longs to become human in a bright, playful tale
3. The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (かぐや姫の物語, Kaguya-hime no Monogatari): a hand-painted retelling of an ancient Japanese folk tale
4. Only Yesterday (おもひでぽろぽろ, Omoide Poroporo): an adult woman reflects on childhood during a trip to the countryside
5. The Boy and the Heron (君たちはどう生きるか, Kimitachi wa Dou Ikiru ka): a grieving boy enters a mysterious world guided by a talking heron

Quieter Gems (Ranks 16 to 20)

Lesser-known titles that reward a closer look.

1. Arrietty (借りぐらしのアリエッティ, Karigurashi no Arrietty): tiny people live secretly beneath a human house
2. From Up on Poppy Hill (コクリコ坂から, Kokuriko-zaka Kara): a nostalgic story of students saving their beloved clubhouse
3. The Cat Returns (猫の恩返し, Neko no Ongaeshi): a girl is whisked away to a kingdom of cats
4. Pom Poko (平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ, Heisei Tanuki Gassen Ponpoko): shape-shifting raccoon dogs fight to protect their forest home
5. When Marnie Was There (思い出のマーニー, Omoide no Marnie): a lonely girl befriends a mysterious companion by the sea

What Makes a Film Feel Like Ghibli

Across these twenty films, a few qualities recur so often that they have become the studio’s signature. There is a deep love of nature, from windswept valleys to quiet forests, and a sense that the natural world is alive and worthy of respect. Heroes are frequently young, curious, and kind, and conflicts are rarely settled by simple good-versus-evil battles; even antagonists are given reasons and depth.

The animation itself lingers on small, ordinary moments: a meal being cooked, rain on a window, a character catching their breath. These pauses, and the hand-drawn detail that fills them, give the films their unmistakable warmth. Music by composers such as Joe Hisaishi deepens the mood, turning gentle scenes into something unforgettable.

Knowing these shared traits can help you appreciate even the lesser-known titles on this list, since each one carries the same careful, humane spirit, whatever its story or setting.

Tips for a Ghibli Marathon

• Start gentle. Totoro or Kiki is an easy, heartwarming way in before heavier films.
• Save the sad ones for the right moment. Grave of the Fireflies is powerful but emotionally heavy.
• Watch for the small details. Ghibli films are famous for lovingly animated food, weather, and quiet pauses.

Final Thoughts

However you rank them, every Studio Ghibli film offers something to treasure, from grand adventures to tender slices of everyday life. Part of the fun of being a fan is arguing over the order, since each viewer connects with different films at different stages of life. A child may adore Totoro and Ponyo, while an adult may be moved most by The Wind Rises or Only Yesterday. Use this ordering as a guide, check where each film is streaming, and build the marathon that suits your own taste. Whichever you choose first, you are in for some of the most beautiful animation ever made.