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Trailer

Perfect Blue

1998Movie1 h 21 minNR

AnimationThriller
80
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb8.0Letterboxd4.4/5Metacritic678.4Rotten Tomatoes85%89%

A deeply unsettling, nerve-racking animated movie about the mind and show business, with standout direction and editing.

Good for friends night · thought-provoking · adults

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · you want fast pacing · you want to half-watch while scrolling · you scare easily

Where to watch

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Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Movies with

Story

"excuse me... who are you?"

Rising pop star Mima Kirigoe quits singing to pursue a career as an actress. After she takes up a role on a popular detective show, her handlers and collaborators begin turning up murdered. Harboring feelings of guilt and haunted by visions of her former self, Mima's reality and fantasy meld into a frenzied paranoia.

Feels like

  • Psychological Horror Thriller
  • Identity Dissolution
  • Showbiz Satire
  • Meta-Narrative Structure
  • Surreal Editing
  • Urban Paranoia
  • Cult Classic Anime
  • Mental Breakdown Depiction
  • Reality vs. Fiction Blur

Cast

24 of 24

Crew

Directed by
Satoshi Kon
Written by
Sadayuki Murai, Yoshikazu Takeuchi
Produced by
Masao Maruyama, Hitomi Nakagaki, Hiroaki Inoue
Music by
Masahiro Ikumi

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

February 28, 1998 · 1 h 21 min · NR

Released
February 28, 1998
Runtime
1 h 21 min
Age rating
NR
Content
Violence, Sexual Content, Disturbing Imagery, Strong Language
Genres
Animation, Thriller
Original language
Japanese
Made in
Japan
Budget
$830,442
Box office
$3 million
Available in
28 countries
Keywords
based on novel or book

Tropes

Dying Dream, Delusions of Beauty, Jerkass Has a Point +9

  • Dying Dream
  • Delusions of Beauty
  • Jerkass Has a Point
  • You Have Failed Me
  • Foreshadowing
  • Shower of Angst
  • The Dragon
  • Animated Adaptation
  • Yandere
  • Otaku
  • Author Appeal
  • Mukokuseki

12 of 162 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream Perfect Blue?"

Questions about Perfect Blue

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Perfect Blue?

HBO Max

In the United States, Perfect Blue streams on HBO Max. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 21 other countries.

Is Perfect Blue worth watching?

80
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 80 (IMDb 8, Letterboxd 4.4 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 85%, and Metacritic 67).

Can I half-watch Perfect Blue?

Easy watchDemanding

No, it needs your attention: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for non-linear narrative and 9 for ambiguity.

Will I feel good after watching Perfect Blue?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for bleakness and 6 for melancholy, against 1 for hopefulness.

Is Perfect Blue in English?

Japanese

No, it was made in Japanese.

What tropes does Perfect Blue use?

Dying DreamDelusions of BeautyJerkass Has a PointYou Have Failed MeForeshadowingShower of AngstThe DragonAnimated AdaptationYandereOtakuAuthor AppealMukokusekiand 150 more

TV Tropes lists 162 tropes for it, including Dying Dream, Delusions of Beauty, and Jerkass Has a Point.