Tier List

Studio Ghibli Movies Ranked: The Complete Tier List (2026)

All 23 Studio Ghibli feature films, from Castle in the Sky to The Boy and the Heron, ranked from S-tier to D-tier. Then build your own Ghibli tier list with head-to-head comparisons.

The Complete Studio Ghibli Tier List

Ranking Studio Ghibli films is a special kind of agony: there are no bad ones at the top, and even the "weakest" entries have devoted fans. Founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, Ghibli has produced 23 feature films, and choosing between Spirited Away, Totoro, and Princess Mononoke can break friendships. Here's the complete ranking, split into classic S/A/B/C/D tiers. Disagree? You should, and you can settle it yourself in minutes with Shortlist.

Spirited Away

(2001)

Miyazaki's masterpiece and the studio's crowning achievement. Won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.

My Neighbor Totoro

(1988)

Pure, gentle wonder. The film that became Ghibli's identity and its logo.

Princess Mononoke

(1997)

Ghibli at its most epic and morally complex, an environmental fable with no easy villains.

Grave of the Fireflies

(1988)

Isao Takahata's devastating wartime tragedy. One of the most affecting animated films ever made.

Howl's Moving Castle

(2004)

A dreamlike anti-war romance with the studio's most beloved score.

Kiki's Delivery Service

(1989)

A warm coming-of-age story about a young witch finding her place in the world.

Castle in the Sky

(1986)

The first official Ghibli film, a soaring adventure that set the studio's template.

The Boy and the Heron

(2023)

Miyazaki's late-career return won the Oscar, a strange, personal, beautiful film.

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

(2013)

Takahata's final film, hand-drawn in a watercolor style unlike anything else in animation.

The Wind Rises

(2013)

Miyazaki's ambitious, melancholy biopic of an aircraft designer.

Ponyo

(2008)

A joyful, kid-friendly riff on The Little Mermaid with gorgeous hand-drawn waves.

Whisper of the Heart

(1995)

A quiet, lovely teen romance about creativity and ambition.

Porco Rosso

(1992)

A stylish, melancholy adventure about a fighter pilot cursed to look like a pig.

Only Yesterday

(1991)

Takahata's tender, grown-up story of a woman reflecting on her childhood.

Arrietty

(2010)

A delicate adaptation of The Borrowers, gorgeously detailed at miniature scale.

From Up on Poppy Hill

(2011)

Goro Miyazaki's gentle period romance, pleasant if slight.

When Marnie Was There

(2014)

A wistful mystery and the last film of Ghibli's original era.

The Cat Returns

(2002)

A light, fun spinoff from Whisper of the Heart. Charming but minor.

Pom Poko

(1994)

Takahata's eccentric eco-fable about shape-shifting raccoon dogs.

Ocean Waves

(1993)

A modest made-for-TV teen drama, notable as an early non-Miyazaki effort.

My Neighbors the Yamadas

(1999)

A comic-strip-style family comedy, a bold experiment that won't be for everyone.

Tales from Earthsea

(2006)

Goro Miyazaki's troubled directorial debut, widely seen as the studio's weakest fantasy.

Earwig and the Witch

(2020)

Ghibli's first full CG film, a rare misstep that abandoned its hand-drawn magic.

Build your own Ghibli tier list

Compare every Studio Ghibli film head-to-head and let the algorithm rank them for you. Free on iOS.

How to Build Your Own Studio Ghibli Tier List

The hardest rankings are the ones where you love everything. Trying to place Howl's Moving Castle against Kiki's Delivery Service in the abstract is paralyzing, but head-to-head, your gut answers instantly. Here's how:

Open Shortlist and search for each Ghibli film to add it to your library.
Create a custom "Studio Ghibli" list so your ranking only contains these films.
Compare head-to-head: the app shows you two films at a time. Pick the one you love more. That's it.
Watch your tier list form: your complete Ghibli ranking builds itself in a couple of minutes.
Share it: every ranking gets a shareable link. Post it, argue about it, send it to the group chat.

Read more about the comparison-based approach in our movie tier list guide.

Miyazaki vs. Takahata

Studio Ghibli is really two filmmakers. Hayao Miyazaki directed the studio's most famous films: Spirited Away, Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle, defined by flight, fantasy, and wonder. Isao Takahata directed quieter, more experimental, often heartbreaking films: Grave of the Fireflies, Only Yesterday, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. A complete tier list has to weigh two very different kinds of greatness against each other.

Where Should You Start with Studio Ghibli?

For newcomers, the best entry points are My Neighbor Totoro (gentle and short), Spirited Away (the universally acclaimed masterpiece), and Kiki's Delivery Service (warm and accessible). Save Grave of the Fireflies for when you're emotionally prepared: it's extraordinary, but it is not a comfort watch.

Studio Ghibli Tier List FAQ

What is the best Studio Ghibli movie?

Spirited Away (2001) is the consensus pick: it won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and is frequently named one of the greatest films ever made. But Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro, and Grave of the Fireflies all have a serious claim.

How many Studio Ghibli movies are there?

There are 23 Studio Ghibli feature films as of 2026, beginning with Castle in the Sky (1986) and most recently The Boy and the Heron (2023).

Is Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind a Ghibli movie?

Technically no: Nausicaä (1984) was made before Studio Ghibli was founded in 1985. But it was directed by Miyazaki, its success led directly to the studio's creation, and Ghibli has distributed it ever since, so most fans consider it an honorary Ghibli film.

Which Studio Ghibli movie won an Oscar?

Two have: Spirited Away won Best Animated Feature in 2003, and The Boy and the Heron won the same award in 2024. Several others, including Howl's Moving Castle and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, were nominated.

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