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Trailer

Kids Return

1996Movie1 h 47 min

CrimeDrama
88
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb7.4Rotten Tomatoes100%89%

A profoundly sad, moving drama movie about growing up and everyday modern life, with standout direction and editing.

Good for friends night · teens · thought-provoking

Where to watch

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Not streaming in United States. Where it is:

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Not for warmth or scares.

Movies with

Story

We haven't even started.

Shinji and Masaru spend most of their school days harassing fellow classmates and playing pranks. They drop out and Shinji becomes a small-time boxer, while Masaru joins up with a local yakuza gang. However, the world is a tough place.

Feels like

  • Youth Disillusionment
  • Coming-of-Age Drama
  • Yakuza & Boxing
  • Bittersweet Realism
  • Takeshi Kitano
  • Iconic Hisaishi Score
  • Fatalistic Journey
  • Japanese Cinema

Cast

24 of 29

Crew

Directed by
Takeshi Kitano
Written by
Takeshi Kitano
Produced by
Masayuki Mori, Takio Yoshida, Yasushi Tsuge
Music by
Joe Hisaishi

Everyone

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

Facts

July 27, 1996 · 1 h 47 min · Violence, Strong Language

Released
July 27, 1996
Runtime
1 h 47 min
Content
Violence, Strong Language
Genres
Drama, Crime
Original language
Japanese
Made in
Japan
Budget
$125,000
Available in
5 countries

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream Kids Return?"

Questions about Kids Return

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Kids Return?

It streams in 3 other countries, but not in the United States.

Is Kids Return worth watching?

88
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 88 (IMDb 7.4 and Rotten Tomatoes 100%). Critics rate it higher (100 out of 100) than audiences (82).

Is there a sequel to Kids Return?

  1. Kids Return (1996)
  2. Kids Return: The Reunion (2013)

Yes: it's movie 1 of 2 in its series, followed by Kids Return: The Reunion (2013).

Is Kids Return plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (8 of 10) and pathos (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

Is Kids Return in English?

Japanese

No, it was made in Japanese.