Verdict:My Neighbor Totoro is a confirmed HIT based on our analysis of audience ratings and box office momentum.
With a rating of 8.1/10, it has delivered a compelling experience for fans of the Fantasy, Animation, Family genre.
Answer: Yes, My Neighbor Totoro is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Fantasy movies.
It features a runtime of 86 minutes and offers a solid storyline that appeals to general audiences. Bottom Line: Highly recommended!
Last updated: January 18, 2026
Released in the dynamic cinematic landscape of 1988, My Neighbor Totoro emerges as a significant entry in the Fantasy, Animation, Family domain. The narrative core of the film focuses on a sophisticated exploration of Two sisters move to the country with their father in order to be closer to their hospitalized mother, and discover the surrounding trees are inhabited by Totoros, magical spirits of the forest. Unlike standard genre fare, My Neighbor Totoro attempts to deconstruct traditional tropes, offering a refreshing take on its central themes.
The success of any Fantasy is often anchored by its ensemble, and My Neighbor Totoro features a noteworthy lineup led by Noriko Hidaka . Supported by the likes of Chika Sakamoto and Hitoshi Takagi , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: The lead actors exhibit a remarkable range, navigating the emotional peaks and valleys of their respective characters with a precision that makes every motivation feel earned.
In summary, our editorial assessment of My Neighbor Totoro (1988) is overwhelmingly positive. With an audience rating of 8.1/10, it stands as a mandatory watch for any serious cinema lover.
Quick Plot Summary: My Neighbor Totoro is a Fantasy, Animation, Family film that transports viewers to imaginative worlds filled with magic, wonder, and epic adventures. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
The film presents its narrative with careful attention to pacing and character development. Two sisters move to the country with their father in order to be closer to their hospitalized mother, and discover the surrounding trees are inhabited by Totoros, magical spirits of the forest. When the youngest runs away from home, the older sister seeks help from the spirits to find her. The story unfolds naturally, allowing viewers to become invested in the outcome while maintaining engagement throughout.
The film operates on multiple levels, using its genre framework to explore deeper themes about human nature, society, and the choices that define us.
Ending Breakdown: My Neighbor Totoro brings together its narrative threads in a way that feels both earned and emotionally resonant. The finale has been praised for its approach to fantasy resolution.
The conclusion addresses the core thematic questions, creating a memorable conclusion that audiences have responded to positively.
The final moments of My Neighbor Totoro demonstrate careful narrative planning, resulting in a conclusion that enhances the overall experience.
Highly Recommended For:
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $3.7M |
| Worldwide Gross | $41.0M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
The estimated production budget for My Neighbor Totoro is $3.7M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Netflix
Netflix KidsAnalyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 8.1/10, and global collection metrics, My Neighbor Totoro stands as a successful venture for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 1988 cinematic year.
My Neighbor Totoro is considered a hit based on audience response and box office performance. With a rating of 8.1/10, it's highly recommended for fans of Fantasy, Animation, Family movies.
Yes, My Neighbor Totoro is definitely worth watching! It's a must-watch hit for fans of Fantasy, Animation, Family cinema.
My Neighbor Totoro is currently available for streaming on Netflix. You can also check for it on platforms like Netflix, Netflix Kids depending on your region.
**"Childhood" in a movie.** This is just perfection - a perfect way to while away time and reconnect with your youth. Everything is outstanding in this film, but especially the way it can emote your sense of wonder and imagination. I wish I could have watched this as a child, I would have wanted to find Totoro and the Catbus, roar like Totoro, or sleep on his belly. Oh well...I will just have to imagine it. Its interesting to note this was released with Grave of the Fireflies, another Ghibli masterpiece, which I have summed up as being about innocence lost. **This movie is innocence maintained.**
(SPOILER ALERT) I was delighted to see this subtle/multi-layered tale unfold, which seemed to play well to both a childhood audience, keen on likable characters/compelling imagination, and adults with a deeper appreciation for the symbolic backstory. Like most of Miyazaki's films, there was an enormous focus on the power of the natural world. Whenever man perverts the natural world, the natural world seems to pushback. It appears as though the seldom seen Mother in the story is sick due to some mental/physical disconnect that she has likely had with the natural world. Through the unique power of children to tap into their imagination, especially children living outside the city and amongst nature, Miyazaki demonstrates the unique gift that children have to re-establish the lost bond between unhealthy adults and the healing power of the natural world. I was thoroughly impressed with how delicately Miyazaki established this bond between the two children, their imagination, and the natural world. Totoro, the lovable silent giant, is a great and unexpected metaphor for the healing power of the natural world and childhood imagination :)
Aggressively cute. 'My Neighbor Totoro' holds an extremely hearty story, one told via impeccably beautiful animation. Noriko Hidaka and Chika Sakamoto standout as Satsuki and Mei, the relationship between those two characters is so sweet. They do get a bit shouty in parts which ever so slightly irritates, but that's definitely one to file under 'nit-picking'. A simple movie, one which displays the imagination of children perfectly. Big fan of the Catbus. 🐱
cute & sweet. that's it
Though maybe the story here is a bit on the thin side, this is still glorious mix of family and fantasy from the hand-drawn animation of the gifted Hayao Miyazaki. It's all about two sisters - "Mei" and "Satsuki" who travel with their father to a new, rather rustic, home. It's all a grand adventure for the girls though and they are barely through the door before realising that the house has some extra special occupants. Things is - are they benign or not! Luckily, an old lady from the house nearby sets their mind at rest and soon "Granny" is looking after them from time to time in between school and visits to their ailing mother in a nearby hospital. As they explore the grounds, they discover that the place is alive with creatures both natural and supernatural - and it's the eponymous beast - a sort of hybrid between a cat and a panda - that soon becomes an integral part of their adventures as they eagerly anticipate their mother coming home. It's its simplicity that really worked well for me, here. A close-knit family with some bubbling trauma provides for a setting for their situation, but it doesn't dominate the children at play. They know sadness, sure, but they also know joy and love; there's a magical eight-legged moggy-bus (or maybe that's ten legs?) and they have their shy neighbour who's terrified of the very thought of the girls! It's a delightful combination of fantasy, community and family that you're bound to enjoy. Take a brolly, though!
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
