Ghost in the Shell

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Ghost in the Shell

1996

1h 23m

Sci-Fi

Action

Anime

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Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

60 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

In this Japanese animation, cyborg federal agent Maj. Motoko Kusanagi (Mimi Woods) trails "The Puppet Master" (Abe Lasser), who illegally hacks into the computerized minds of cyborg-human hybrids. Her pursuit of a man who can modify the identity of strangers leaves Motoko pondering her own makeup and what life might be like if she had more human traits. With her partner (Richard George), she corners the hacker, but her curiosity about her identity sends the case in an unforeseen direction.

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Critics Consensus

A stunning feat of modern animation, Ghost in the Shell offers a thoughtful, complex treat for anime fans, as well as a perfect introduction for viewers new to the medium.

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Wael Khairy

RogerEbert.com

Feb 26, 2025

As the world edges closer to the ideas that it once speculated, these images resurface in my thoughts like fragments of a future that was always meant to find us...“Ghost in the Shell” didn’t predict the future; it dissected it before it arrived...

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Willow Maclay

RogerEbert.com

Mar 8, 2019

5/5

Mamoru Oshii's Ghost in the Shell will always strike a chord with those directly affected by bodily displacement.

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

Aug 16, 2017

3/4

The drawing style is remarkable in a story that reveals a Japanese preoccupation with roboticized culture and hard-edged sexuality.

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Rachel Wagner

Rachel's Reviews (YouTube)

Jun 1, 2024

A sci-fi classic with stunning animation

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Apr 8, 2023

[Mamoru] Oshii’s dazzling science fiction work mixes adventure, mystery, and metaphysics in a future where humans are routinely augmented with bionics and electronic implants, and then follows it into the next evolutionary step.

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Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

Nov 26, 2022

2.5/4

It’s a film of unique and divergent opinions that remain heavily debated 25 years after its initial release.

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Patrick

Sep 29, 2026

The Cyberpunk future will be televised. A timely rerun on the ethics of human- AI relations.

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Persona of Will

Sep 28, 2026

Seeing this film always gives me chills and this Motoko is top 3 Motokos

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Bill Y

Sep 26, 2026

great animation adds depth to this somewhat prophetic AI story. If this is your genre, it's worth watching

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Darius J

Sep 24, 2026

I've never seen this movie before and I'm not an anime guy at all, so I went to the theatre knowing nothing about this. the movie is very trippy and quite confusing. the English dubs are abit jarring and dialog moves fast, so it was hard to follow what exactly was going on. I did enjoy the visual feast this anime is known for - lots of beautiful drawings of cyberpunk landscapes and dreamy city skylines. the gun effects were top notch, intricate reloading scenes combined with great battle visuals was the best part of this movie. overall I give it a solid 3.5 stars, it was a good theatrical experience even though I was lost a few times throughout the story.

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Nicholas

Sep 23, 2026

incredible remaster I loved it!!!!!!!

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P

Sep 23, 2026

It was my first time to see movie in a theater.

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Mamoru Oshii

Director

Richard Epcar

Bateau

Mimi Woods

Major Motoko Kusanagi

William Frederick Knight

Chief Aramaki

Tom Wyner

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Synopsis

In this Japanese animation, cyborg federal agent Maj. Motoko Kusanagi (Mimi Woods) trails "The Puppet Master" (Abe Lasser), who illegally hacks into the computerized minds of cyborg-human hybrids. Her pursuit of a man who can modify the identity of strangers leaves Motoko pondering her own makeup and what life might be like if she had more human traits. With her partner (Richard George), she corners the hacker, but her curiosity about her identity sends the case in an unforeseen direction.

Director: Mamoru Oshii
Producer: Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, Ken Iyadomi, Ken Matsumoto, Yoshimasa Mizuo
Screenwriter: Kazunori Itô
Distributor: Palm Pictures
Production Co: Production I.G., Bandai Visual Company, Kôdansha
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Anime
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 29, 1996, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Sep 18, 2026
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 15, 2010
Runtime: 1h 23m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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