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Is Grave of the Fireflies (1988) worth watching?
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Last updated October 26, 2026
How long is Grave of the Fireflies? 89 min. Grave of the Fireflies (1988) has a TMDB audience score of 8.5/10 from 6,914 votes, which reads as strongly positive. It is a animation and drama film rated NR, 89 min. In the US it is on Netflix with a subscription as of October 26, 2026.
In the final months of World War II, 14-year-old Seita and his sister Setsuko are orphaned when their mother is killed during an air raid in Kobe, Japan.
Tagline: Why do fireflies have to die so soon?
Synopsis from TMDB.
| TMDB audience score | 8.5/10 (6,914 votes) |
|---|---|
| Genres | Animation, Drama, War |
| Rated | NR |
| Length | 89 min |
| Release | 1988-04-16 |
| Themes TMDB tags | sibling relationship, hunger, world war ii, wartime, shelter, struggle for survival |
| Original language | Japanese |
| People | Directed by Isao Takahata. Starring Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Yoshiko Shinohara, Akemi Yamaguchi |
| Streaming (US, subscription) | Netflix |
| Free with ads | No |
| Rent | Amazon Video |
| Buy | Amazon Video |
Watch it if
- You want something audiences agree on: 6,914 voters landed at 8.5/10
- You have a short evening: it runs 89 min
- You want it included in a subscription you may already have (Netflix)
If you like it, try
- Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms (2018), TMDB 8.1/10
- The Boy and the Beast (2015), TMDB 7.9/10
- Empire of the Sun (1987), TMDB 7.5/10
- Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (2009), TMDB 7.8/10
Questions
Is Grave of the Fireflies worth watching?
TMDB viewers rate it 8.5/10 across 6,914 votes, a strongly positive reception. That is an audience average, not a critic review, so read the synopsis and the cast to decide if it is your kind of film.
Where can I watch Grave of the Fireflies?
In the US on October 26, 2026: on Netflix with a subscription. Rent: Amazon Video. Catalogs change often, so check the service first.
How long is Grave of the Fireflies?
89 min.
What is Grave of the Fireflies rated?
It carries a NR rating in the US.
Who is in Grave of the Fireflies?
Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Yoshiko Shinohara, Akemi Yamaguchi, Masayo Sakai.
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Sources: TMDB for titles, ratings, runtimes and synopses. JustWatch (via TMDB) supplies streaming availability. Streaming lists change often. Check the service before you plan your night.