My Neighbor Totoro (1988) Review
★★★★☆ 4/5
Strongly recommended — holds up for new and returning viewers.
Is My Neighbor Totoro worth watching?
Yes — My Neighbor Totoro is worth watching, with a 85% Critic Score and 84% Audience Score on Celluloid. It earns a 80% Celluloid Score across critic reviews, audience polls, Metascore (73), Letterboxd (3.8/5), and IMDb (8.1/10).
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, My Neighbor Totoro runs 86 minutes in Japanese. On Celluloid we index it for “My Neighbor Totoro review”, “is My Neighbor Totoro worth watching”, and related discovery queries from Japan.
What is My Neighbor Totoro about?
Two sisters move to the country with their father in order to be closer to their hospitalized mother, and discover the surrounding trees are inhabited by Totoros, magical spirits of the forest. When the youngest runs away from home, the older sister seeks help from the spirits to find her.
Critics consensus: Miyazaki’s gentle masterpiece of childhood wonder remains Studio Ghibli’s most beloved English-search entry point. The film stars Noriko Hidaka, Chika Sakamoto, Hitoshi Takagi, Shigesato Itoi, Sumi Shimamoto, and others.
Should you watch My Neighbor Totoro tonight?
Yes — prioritize My Neighbor Totoro tonight if you want a proven fantasy with lasting rewatch value. At 86 minutes, it fits a single sitting — and the five-source score breakdown on the movie page shows where critics and audiences agree.
Where can I watch My Neighbor Totoro?
Streaming availability varies by region — check Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and local OTT platforms, or theatrical revivals. My Neighbor Totoro (1988) is indexed on CelluloidScore.com with cast, scores, and IMDb tt0096283. Explore more from Japan on our country hub or browse fantasy films.