Akira

1988, Anime/Sci-fi, 2h 4m

51 Reviews 100,000+ Ratings

What to know

critics consensus

Akira is strikingly bloody and violent, but its phenomenal animation and sheer kinetic energy helped set the standard for modern anime. Read critic reviews

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Movie Info

In 1988 the Japanese government drops an atomic bomb on Tokyo after ESP experiments on children go awry. In 2019, 31 years after nuking the city, Kaneda, a bike gang leader, tries to save his friend Tetsuo from a secret government project. He battles against anti-government activists, greedy politicians, irresponsible scientists and a powerful military leader until Tetsuo's supernatural power suddenly manifest. A final battle is fought in Tokyo Olympiad exposing the experiment's secrets.
  • Rating:
    R (Graphic Violence|Brief Nudity)
  • Genre:
    Anime, Sci-fi
  • Original Language:
    Japanese
  • Director:
    Katsuhiro Ohtomo
  • Producer:
    Shunzo Kato, Ryôhei Suzuki
  • Writer:
    Izou Hashimoto, Katsuhiro Ohtomo
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     wide
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $390.0K
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    Streamline Pictures
  • Sound Mix:
    Dolby Stereo, Surround
  • Aspect Ratio:
    Flat (1.85:1)

Cast & Crew

Mitsuo Iwata
Shôtarô Kaneda
Voice
Nozomu Sasaki
Tetsuo Shima
Voice
Mami Koyama
Kei
Voice
Tessho Genda
Ryûsaku
Voice
Hiroshi Otake
Nezu
Voice
Kôichi Kitamura
Priestess Miyako, Council A
Voice
Yuriko Fuchizaki
Kaori
Voice
Masaaki Ôkura
Yamagata
Voice
Katsuhiro Ohtomo
Director
Izou Hashimoto
Writer
Katsuhiro Ohtomo
Writer
Shunzo Kato
Producer
Ryôhei Suzuki
Producer
Sawako Noma
Executive Producer
Katsuji Misawa
Cinematography
Takeshi Seyama
Film Editing
Shoji Yamashiro
Original Music
Kuzuo Ebisawa
Production Design
Yuji Ikehata
Production Design
Koji Ono
Production Design
Toshiharu Mizutani
Art Director
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Critic Reviews for Akira

All Critics (51) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (46) | Rotten (5)
Full Review… Chris Stuckmann ChrisStuckmann.com Full Review… Peter Bradshaw Guardian Full Review… David Jenkins Little White Lies Full Review… Dave Kehr Chicago Tribune Full Review… Robbie Collin News of the World Full Review… Derek Malcolm London Evening Standard Full Review… Jimmy Cage Jimmy Cage Movie Reviews (YouTube) Full Review… Matt Patches Polygon Full Review… Rachel Wagner Rotoscopers Full Review… Julio Vélez Cine Premiere Full Review… Tim Brayton Antagony & Ecstasy Full Review… Stephen Hunter Baltimore Sun
View All Critic Reviews (51)

Audience Reviews for Akira

  • Jul 02, 2019
    Original and dark film that will sit with you long after it concludes. Visually stunning film that leaves most films for dead. Cerebral filmmaking that is still one of the most interesting films ever created. I'm happy I found this and sad it took so long. This deserves all the recognition it garnered. I'm hoping an upcoming remake can recapture the ambition here, but I'm a little sceptical it can be done. 17/06/2019
    Brendan N Super Reviewer
  • Aug 19, 2016
    Dazzling, frenetic, audacious and insane. This movie gave me at least half a dozen things I had never seen in my life. You feel kind of dazed and blinded when it's over. My partner tells me that the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion is even better and darker than Akira though... to which I replied "How the heck can it be darker than this?!"
    Letitia L Super Reviewer
  • Jun 25, 2016
    I loved and enjoyed the manga. Looks iconic and inpressing.
    Film C Super Reviewer
  • Mar 05, 2015
    "Akira" is a lot of fun, thanks to dazzling animation and some seriously entertaining attitude.
    Joshua H Super Reviewer
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