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Ponyo

2008·Movie
1h 40min·G
IMDb7.6Metacritic867.8Rotten Tomatoes91%84%

Where to watch

HBO Max

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

Ponyo fingerprint

Stunning style, high energy.

Energy

Epic

  • Spectacle9
  • Fast Pace6
  • Tension4

Heart

Awe-inspiring and heartwarming

Much of it is about family and growing up.

  • Wonder10
  • Wholesome9
  • Hopefulness9

Humor

Some slapstick and situational comedy

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Physical Comedy6
  • Situational Comedy5
  • Wit & Wordplay2

World

Fantasy, family, and growing up

Lived-in and easy to get lost in. Holds up on a rewatch.

  • World Immersion10
  • Rewatchability9
  • Novelty7

Craft

Standout direction

  • Direction9
  • Acting7
  • Narrative Structure7

Style

Standout visual style, cinematography, and score

A distinctive visual signature.

  • Visual Stylization10
  • Cinematography9
  • Music Composition9

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFamily Movie NightFriends NightParty VibeIntergenerationalKidsPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensBackground WatchBinge-FriendlyComfort WatchPure Escapism

Skip it if

You want dark or edgy material

Find more like it

Feel Good moviesWhimsical moviesVisually Stunning movies

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Welcome to a world where anything is possible.

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.
Whimsical Fantasy AdventureFamily-Friendly AnimationVisually StunningOceanic ThemesPure ImaginationChildhood WonderHeartwarming & CharmingMagical RealismEnvironmental Message

Crew

Directed by:
Hayao Miyazaki, Kenji Imura, Ryosuke Kiyokawa
Written by:
Hayao Miyazaki
Produced by:
Toshio Suzuki, Seiji Okuda, Shintarou Nakazawa
Composed by:
Joe Hisaishi, Mac Smith, Eriko Kimura

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

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Questions about Ponyo

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Ponyo legally?

HBO Max

Ponyo is included with a subscription to HBO Max in the United States. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Ponyo worth watching?

83
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 84/100 (IMDb 7.6, Rotten Tomatoes 91%, and Metacritic 86). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Ponyo rated?

G

It's rated G in the United States.

How long is Ponyo?

1 h 40 min

Ponyo runs 1 h 40 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Ponyo?

Critics89
Audiences79

Not quite. Critics rate Ponyo higher (89) than audiences (79). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

Was Ponyo a box office hit?

Budget$34 million
Box office$202 million

Yes, a big one. It cost about $34 million to make and earned $202 million worldwide, 6.0 times its budget.

What language is Ponyo in?

Japanese

It was made in Japanese. Produced in Japan.

In how many countries can I watch Ponyo?

131ADAEAGALAOARATAUAZBABBBEBGBH+117

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Ponyo in 131 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Ponyo use?

Parents as PeopleFirst-Name BasisWhen You Coming Home, Dad?Helicopter ParentsOnly Sane WomanKid-Appeal CharacterMeaningful RenameA Boy and His XVillain DecayInterspecies RomanceIris OutTears of Joyand 127 more

TV Tropes lists 139 storytelling tropes for Ponyo, including Parents as People, First-Name Basis, When You Coming Home, Dad?.