Best Movies like Spirited Away (2001)

My Neighbor Totoro also features a young girl exploring a fantastical world inhabited by spirits, capturing the wonder and gentle unease of discovering a place where the boundaries between the human and supernatural realms blur.

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. My Neighbor Totoro is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 26m runtime, released in 1988 with an average rating of 8.1 by 8,950 people. The movie made an estimated total of $41,000,000 in the box office.

Wolf Children explores a family navigating mysterious transformations, echoing the themes of personal growth and adaptation present in Spirited Away’s story of a child confronting unfamiliar worlds and changes within her own family.

After her werewolf lover unexpectedly dies in an accident, a woman must find a way to raise the son and daughter that she had with him. However, their inheritance of their father's traits prove to be a challenge for her. Wolf Children is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 57m runtime, released in 2012 with an average rating of 8.2 by 2,510 people. The movie made an estimated total of $55,262,158 in the box office.

Children Who Chase Lost Voices follows a protagonist venturing into a strange, otherworldly realm, sharing the motif of a young character encountering spirits and embarking on an emotional journey through a magical setting.

The film centers on Asuna, a young girl who spends her solitary days listening to the mysterious music emanating from the crystal radio she received from her late father as a memento. One day while walking home she is attacked by a fearsome monster and saved by a mysterious boy named Shun. However, Shun disappears and Asuna embarks on a journey of adventure to the land of Agartha with her teacher Mr. Morisaki to meet a Shun again. Through her journey she comes to know the cruelty and beauty of the world, as well as loss. Children Who Chase Lost Voices is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 56m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 7.3 by 801 people.

Kiki's Delivery Service centers on a young girl finding her way in an unfamiliar town, paralleling the coming-of-age journey, courage, and self-discovery Chihiro undergoes when trapped in a mysterious world.

A young witch, on her mandatory year of independent life, finds fitting into a new community difficult while she supports herself by running an air courier service. Kiki's Delivery Service is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 43m runtime, released in 1989 with an average rating of 7.8 by 4,654 people. The movie made an estimated total of $4,493,017 in the box office.

The Tale of The Princess Kaguya weaves together Japanese folklore and a young female protagonist confronting extraordinary circumstances, resonating with the mythic themes and emotional growth found in Spirited Away.

Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo by an old bamboo cutter and his wife, a tiny girl grows rapidly into an exquisite young lady. The mysterious young princess enthrals all who encounter her. But, ultimately, she must confront her fate. The Tale of The Princess Kaguya is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 2h 17m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 8.1 by 2,020 people. The movie made an estimated total of $24,366,656 in the box office.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time also tells the story of a young woman whose adventure upends her reality, exploring how supernatural events can spur self-discovery and a reevaluation of her place in the world.

When 17-year-old Makoto Konno gains the ability to 'leap' backwards through time, she immediately sets about improving her grades and preventing personal mishaps. However, she soon realises that changing the past isn't as simple as it seems, and eventually, will have to rely on her new powers to shape the future of herself and her friends. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 38m runtime, released in 2006 with an average rating of 7.8 by 2,281 people. The movie made an estimated total of $3,478,290 in the box office.

Mary and The Witch's Flower features a young heroine discovering hidden realms beyond the ordinary, mirroring Chihiro’s journey into a magical place where she must rely on newfound strength.

Mary Smith, a young girl who lives with her great-aunt in the countryside, follows a mysterious cat into the nearby forest where she finds a strange flower and an old broom, none of which is as ordinary as it seems. Mary and The Witch's Flower is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 43m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 7.2 by 928 people. The movie made an estimated total of $42,170,089 in the box office.

The Secret of Kells brings viewers into a mythic world through the eyes of a child, highlighting themes of courage and magical discovery shared with Spirited Away’s exploration of realms beyond everyday reality.

Adventure awaits 12 year old Brendan who must fight Vikings and a serpent god to find a crystal and complete the legendary Book of Kells. In order to finish Brother Aiden's book, Brendan must overcome his deepest fears on a secret quest that will take him beyond the abbey walls and into the enchanted forest where dangerous mythical creatures hide. Will Brendan succeed in his quest? The Secret of Kells is a movie from Ireland in English, with a total 1h 19m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 7.4 by 800 people. The movie made an estimated total of $1,803,412 in the box office.

Song of the Sea follows children entering a mystical domain steeped in folklore, presenting a poetic blend of coming-of-age and fantastical adventure reminiscent of Spirited Away’s narrative structure.

The story of the last Seal Child’s journey home. After their mother’s disappearance, Ben and Saoirse are sent to live with Granny in the city. When they resolve to return to their home by the sea, their journey becomes a race against time as they are drawn into a world Ben knows only from his mother’s folktales. But this is no bedtime story; these fairy folk have been in our world far too long. It soon becomes clear to Ben that Saoirse is the key to their survival. Song of the Sea is a movie from Ireland in English, with a total 1h 34m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 8.0 by 1,604 people. The movie made an estimated total of $857,522 in the box office.

Ponyo blends family dynamics, magical transformations, and a child's quest in a fantastical environment, echoing the blend of innocence and surreal wonder experienced by Chihiro in the spirit world.

When Sosuke, a young boy who lives on a clifftop overlooking the sea, rescues a stranded goldfish named Ponyo, he discovers more than he bargained for. Ponyo is a curious, energetic young creature who yearns to be human, but even as she causes chaos around the house, her father, a powerful sorcerer, schemes to return Ponyo to the sea. Ponyo is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 40m runtime, released in 2008 with an average rating of 7.8 by 4,894 people. The movie made an estimated total of $202,404,009 in the box office.

Paprika involves the crossing between realities and features visually inventive storytelling, much like Spirited Away’s dreamlike and creative depiction of an alternate spirit world that challenges the main character’s perceptions.

Dr. Atsuko Chiba is a research psychologist who uses a device called the DC Mini to enter her patients' dreams, wherein she adopts the alter-ego "Paprika". When the device is stolen, she must stop rogue elements from merging the dream and waking worlds. Paprika is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 30m runtime, released in 2006 with an average rating of 7.8 by 2,936 people. The movie made an estimated total of $946,590 in the box office.

The Cat Returns offers another look at a protagonist drawn into a hidden, magical society populated by extraordinary creatures, paralleling the estrangement and adventure at the heart of Spirited Away.

Young Haru rescues a cat from being run over, but soon learns it's no ordinary feline; it happens to be the Prince of the Cats. The Cat Returns is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 15m runtime, released in 2002 with an average rating of 7.1 by 2,494 people. The movie made an estimated total of $54,016,370 in the box office.

Ernest & Celestine presents the tale of an unlikely relationship in an animated world, connecting through its gentle tone and the exploration of courage and belonging, which are central to Chihiro’s journey.

Celestine is a little mouse trying to avoid a dental career while Ernest is a big bear craving an artistic outlet. When Celestine meets Ernest, they overcome their natural enmity by forging a life of crime together. Ernest & Celestine is a movie from France in French, with a total 1h 20m runtime, released in 2012 with an average rating of 7.8 by 701 people. The movie made an estimated total of $8,170,333 in the box office.

Warriors of the Wind introduces viewers to a richly realized animated universe where a young protagonist faces new and mysterious challenges, sharing the theme of navigating unknown worlds that define Spirited Away.

After a global war, the seaside kingdom known as the Valley of the Wind remains one of the last strongholds on Earth untouched by a poisonous jungle and the powerful insects that guard it. Led by the courageous Princess Nausicaä, the people of the Valley engage in an epic struggle to restore the bond between humanity and Earth. Warriors of the Wind is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 35m runtime, released in 1984 with an average rating of 7.9 by 4,138 people. The movie made an estimated total of $9,016,411 in the box office.

Coraline centers on a young girl who discovers a secret realm parallel to her own, filled with transformative dangers and wonders, offering narrative parallels to Chihiro’s confrontation with a supernatural world.

Wandering her rambling old house in her boring new town, 11-year-old Coraline discovers a hidden door to a strangely idealized version of her life. In order to stay in the fantasy, she must make a frighteningly real sacrifice. Coraline is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 40m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 7.9 by 9,223 people. The movie made an estimated total of $185,860,104 in the box office.

Persepolis tells the coming-of-age story of a young girl in a visually distinct animated style, focusing on themes of adaptation, resilience, and identity that Chihiro also confronts during her odyssey.

In 1970s Iran, Marjane 'Marji' Satrapi watches events through her young eyes and her idealistic family of a long dream being fulfilled of the hated Shah's defeat in the Iranian Revolution of 1979. However as Marji grows up, she witnesses first hand how the new Iran, now ruled by Islamic fundamentalists, has become a repressive tyranny on its own. Persepolis is a movie from France in French, with a total 1h 35m runtime, released in 2007 with an average rating of 7.9 by 2,209 people. The movie made an estimated total of $22,783,990 in the box office.

Okko's Inn explores a child's adjustment to a new environment filled with spirits, mirroring the interplay between the living and supernatural, and emphasizing personal growth during a time of upheaval.

12-year-old Oriko Seki, who lost her parents in a car accident, ended up living in her grandmother's Onsen Ryokan "Haru no Ya." With the ghost "Uribou" cohabitating with her and all the other odds, she ended up training to be a young female innkeeper. At first, she didn't like the training, but gradually felt her admiration for her title and began to train seriously. Thus, the growth of the young warrior Oriko begins. Okko's Inn is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 34m runtime, released in 2018 with an average rating of 7.2 by 125 people. The movie made an estimated total of $293,385 in the box office.

Mirai follows a young protagonist on a journey sparked by family changes, weaving in fantastical elements and emphasizing personal transformation, akin to the themes that structure Chihiro's adventure.

Four-year-old Kun struggles with jealousy after his newborn sister, Mirai, begins receiving most of his family’s attention. Retreating to the garden, he encounters Mirai as a teenager from the future and embarks on extraordinary journeys across his family’s past, gradually discovering new perspectives on love, belonging and what it means to become an older brother. Mirai is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 38m runtime, released in 2018 with an average rating of 7.2 by 876 people. The movie made an estimated total of $29,863,754 in the box office.

Lu Over the Wall introduces a young character to a magical seaside world populated by mysterious entities, echoing the motif of a child navigating extraordinary settings and forging new connections.

In a small fishing village, a gloomy middle school student named Kai meets a mermaid named Lu. Lu Over the Wall is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 52m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 7.0 by 147 people.

Whisper of the Heart centers around a young protagonist’s emotional growth and discovery of self in beautifully rendered animated settings, resonating with the introspective journey and atmosphere of Spirited Away.

Shizuku lives a simple life, dominated by her love for stories and writing. One day she notices that all the library books she has have been previously checked out by the same person: "Seiji Amasawa." Whisper of the Heart is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 51m runtime, released in 1995 with an average rating of 7.9 by 2,323 people.

The Little Prince interprets a child’s adventure through magical worlds and allegorical encounters, drawing on themes of innocence, transformation, and exploring realms beyond the surface reality.

Based on the best-seller book 'The Little Prince', the movie tells the story of a little girl that lives with resignation in a world where efficiency and work are the only dogmas. Everything will change when accidentally she discovers her neighbor that will tell her about the story of the Little Prince that he once met. The Little Prince is a movie from France in English, with a total 1h 46m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 7.6 by 3,007 people. The movie made an estimated total of $101,281,211 in the box office.

When Marnie Was There uses atmospheric animation and a mysterious new environment to dive into a young girl’s emotional journey, paralleling Chihiro’s experience of confronting change and the unknown.

Upon being sent to live with relatives in the countryside due to an illness, an emotionally distant adolescent girl becomes obsessed with an abandoned mansion and infatuated with a girl who lives there - a girl who may or may not be real. When Marnie Was There is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 43m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 7.9 by 1,997 people. The movie made an estimated total of $34,949,567 in the box office.

The Book of Life features fantastical realms linked to cultural lore and a young protagonist’s quest to rescue loved ones, connecting with Spirited Away’s blend of mythic storytelling and personal stakes.

The journey of Manolo, a young man who is torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart. Before choosing which path to follow, he embarks on an incredible adventure that spans fantastical worlds where he must face his greatest fears. The Book of Life is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 35m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 7.5 by 2,978 people. The movie made an estimated total of $97,437,106 in the box office.

Fantastic Planet thrusts its characters into vividly surreal surroundings and examines the challenges of adapting to strange new circumstances, similar to the immersion into unfamiliar realms that Chihiro faces.

On the planet Ygam, the Draags, extremely technologically and spiritually advanced blue humanoids, consider the tiny Oms, human beings descendants of Terra's inhabitants, as ignorant animals. Those who live in slavery are treated as simple pets and used to entertain Draag children; those who live hidden in the hostile wilderness of the planet are periodically hunted and ruthlessly slaughtered as if they were vermin. Fantastic Planet is a movie from France in French, with a total 1h 12m runtime, released in 1973 with an average rating of 7.6 by 1,118 people.

Big Fish & Begonia depicts a protagonist traversing mystical domains and grappling with themes of transformation and sacrifice, echoing Spirited Away’s narrative of a young person navigating enchanted spaces.

Beyond the human realm, there is a magical race of beings who control the tides and the changing of the seasons. One of these beings, a young girl named Chun, seeks something more—she wants to experience the human world! At sixteen, she finally gets her chance and transforms into a dolphin in order to explore the world that has her fascinated. But she soon discovers that it's a dangerous place and nearly gets killed in a vortex. Luckily, her life is spared when a young boy sacrifices himself to save her. Moved by his kindness and courage, she uses magic to bring him back to life only to learn that this power comes at a serious price. On a new adventure, she’ll have to make her own sacrifices in order to protect his soul until it is ready to return to the human world. Big Fish & Begonia is a movie from China in Mandarin, with a total 1h 41m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 7.3 by 495 people. The movie made an estimated total of $84,552,250 in the box office.

The Garden of Words offers intricately crafted animation and intimate emotional exploration, focusing on characters finding solace and growth in extraordinary circumstances, which recalls the deeper undertones of Chihiro’s journey.

Takao, who is training to become a shoemaker, skipped school and is sketching shoes in a Japanese-style garden. He meets a mysterious woman, Yukino, who is older than him. Then, without arranging the times, the two start to see each other again and again, but only on rainy days. They deepen their relationship and open up to each other. But the end of the rainy season soon approaches. The Garden of Words is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 46m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 7.6 by 2,265 people. The movie made an estimated total of $820,165 in the box office.

The Boy and the Beast presents a story where a young protagonist is taken into an alternate world, providing an opportunity for personal development and challenges reminiscent of Chihiro’s own initiation into the spirit world.

Kyuta, a boy living in Shibuya, and Kumatetsu, a lonesome beast from Jutengai, an imaginary world. One day, Kyuta forays into the imaginary world and, as he's looking for his way back, meets Kumatetsu who becomes his spirit guide. That encounter leads them to many adventures. The Boy and the Beast is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 59m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 7.9 by 1,627 people. The movie made an estimated total of $49,714,378 in the box office.

The Breadwinner centers around a young protagonist thrust into a new environment due to unexpected family changes, emphasizing resilience and self-discovery central to the narrative structure of Spirited Away.

A headstrong young girl in Afghanistan, ruled by the Taliban, disguises herself as a boy in order to provide for her family. The Breadwinner is a movie from Ireland in English, with a total 1h 34m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 7.9 by 938 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,790,214 in the box office.

A Letter to Momo follows a girl encountering supernatural events after moving to a new place, threading together themes of adaptation, coming-of-age, and reconciling with the mysterious, as seen in Chihiro’s quest.

A shy 11-year-old's life takes a strange turn when she discovers three hungry goblins living in the attic of her new house. She misses her old life. She misses her father so very much. Until she makes some new ghoulish friends. A Letter to Momo is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 2h 0m runtime, released in 2012 with an average rating of 7.3 by 409 people. The movie made an estimated total of $6,748,888 in the box office.

April and the Extraordinary World explores a young character’s navigation through a strange, alternate reality, delving into themes of family, discovery, and adaptation to the unknown, aligning with the spirit of Spirited Away.

It's 1941, but France is trapped in the 19th Century, governed by steam and Napoleon V. Avril, a teenage girl, goes in search of her missing scientist parents. April and the Extraordinary World is a movie from France in French, with a total 1h 46m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 7.1 by 362 people.

A Monster Calls involves a young protagonist who faces profound family changes and is drawn into interactions with supernatural beings, reflecting the mix of emotional depth and fantastical elements central to Spirited Away.

12-year-old Conor encounters an ancient tree monster who proceeds to help him cope with his mother's terminal illness and being bullied in school. A Monster Calls is a movie from Spain in English, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 7.3 by 3,604 people. The movie made an estimated total of $47,309,313 in the box office.

The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane features a youthful protagonist confronting unfamiliar and unsettling circumstances, exploring themes of self-reliance in the face of mystery, comparable to Chihiro’s development when challenged by the spirit world.

13-year-old Rynn Jacobs lives in a New England beach town. Whenever the landlady inquires after Rynn's father, she claims that he's not available. But when the landlady's son, Frank, won't leave Rynn alone, she teams up with a neighbor Mario to maintain the dark family secret that she's been keeping to herself. The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane is a movie from Canada in English, with a total 1h 31m runtime, released in 1976 with an average rating of 7.0 by 358 people.

Balto tells of a young protagonist’s perseverance in harsh new surroundings, highlighting courage and ingenuity during moments of crisis, which aligns with the way Chihiro must adapt and overcome obstacles in a supernatural setting.

An outcast half-wolf risks his life to prevent a deadly epidemic from ravaging Nome, Alaska. Balto is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 18m runtime, released in 1995 with an average rating of 7.3 by 2,240 people. The movie made an estimated total of $11,348,324 in the box office.

The Illusionist highlights the emotional journeys of characters navigating adulthood and the intersection of reality and illusion, echoing the bittersweet themes of growth and confronting change found in Spirited Away.

A French illusionist travels to Scotland to work. He meets a young woman in a small village. Their ensuing adventure in Edinburgh changes both their lives forever. The Illusionist is a movie from France in French, with a total 1h 20m runtime, released in 2010 with an average rating of 7.3 by 686 people. The movie made an estimated total of $6,007,194 in the box office.

Wolfwalkers immerses viewers in a folkloric world where children cross into realms of magic, drawing clear parallels to Spirited Away’s interplay between legend, adventure, and personal transformation.

In a time of superstition and magic, when wolves are seen as demonic and nature an evil to be tamed, a young apprentice hunter comes to Ireland with her father to wipe out the last pack. But when she saves a wild native girl, their friendship leads her to discover the world of the Wolfwalkers and transform her into the very thing her father is tasked to destroy. Wolfwalkers is a movie from Ireland in English, with a total 1h 42m runtime, released in 2020 with an average rating of 8.2 by 1,424 people. The movie made an estimated total of $1,310,720 in the box office.

Pan's Labyrinth depicts a young girl’s escape into a mythic world filled with spirits and trials, exploring dark yet magical dimensions that share strong thematic resonance with Chihiro’s passage through the spirit realm.

In post–civil war Spain, 10-year-old Ofelia moves with her pregnant mother to live under the control of her cruel stepfather. Drawn into a mysterious labyrinth, she meets a faun who reveals that she may be a lost princess from an underground kingdom. To return to her true father, she must complete a series of surreal and perilous tasks that blur the line between reality and fantasy. Pan's Labyrinth is a movie from Mexico in Spanish, with a total 1h 58m runtime, released in 2006 with an average rating of 7.8 by 11,608 people. The movie made an estimated total of $83,258,226 in the box office.