# Grave of the Fireflies (1988) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/grave-of-the-fireflies-1988/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-23

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 84% |
| Critic Score | 87% |
| Audience Score | 89% |
| Metascore | 81/100 |
| Letterboxd | 4/5 |
| IMDb | 8.5/10 |
| Director | Isao Takahata |
| Genres | Animation, Drama, War |
| Runtime | 89 min |

## Quick answer

Grave of the Fireflies (1988) earns a 84% Celluloid Score — Recommended. IMDb Top 250 #36 (8.5/10) — Grave of the Fireflies remains one of the most highly rated films of all time. Metascore 81/100. Directed by Isao Takahata.

## Critics consensus

IMDb Top 250 #36 (8.5/10) — Grave of the Fireflies remains one of the most highly rated films of all time.

## Synopsis

In the final months of World War II, 14-year-old Seita and his sister Setsuko are orphaned when their mother is killed during an air raid in Kobe, Japan. After a falling out with their aunt, they move into an abandoned bomb shelter. With no surviving relatives and their emergency rations depleted, Seita and Setsuko struggle to survive.

## Cast

Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Yoshiko Shinohara, Akemi Yamaguchi, Masayo Sakai, Kozo Hashida, Kazumi Nozaki, Yoshio Matsuoka, Masahiro Kanetake, Kiyoshi Yanagawa

## Critic reviews on Celluloid: 1

## Common questions

**Is Grave of the Fireflies worth watching?**
Grave of the Fireflies holds a 84% Celluloid Score. IMDb Top 250 #36 (8.5/10) — Grave of the Fireflies remains one of the most highly rated films of all time.

**What is Grave of the Fireflies about?**
In the final months of World War II, 14-year-old Seita and his sister Setsuko are orphaned when their mother is killed during an air raid in Kobe, Japan. After a falling out with their aunt, they move into an abandoned bomb shelter. With no surviving relatives and their emergency rations depleted, Seita and Setsuko struggle to survive.

**Who directed Grave of the Fireflies?**
Grave of the Fireflies (1988) was directed by Isao Takahata.

**What is the Celluloid Score of Grave of the Fireflies?**
84% — the average of five public sources: critics 87%, audience 89%, Metascore 81/100, Letterboxd 4/5, and IMDb 8.5/10.

**Where can I watch Grave of the Fireflies?**
Streaming availability varies by region — see the Grave of the Fireflies page for current options.

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Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

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