1997 · 134 min · Animation, Fantasy, Action
Princess Mononoke is Hayao Miyazaki's epic environmental fantasy about a young warrior named Ashitaka who becomes embroiled in a war between the gods of an ancient forest and the humans who are destroying it. Darker and more morally complex than most Miyazaki films, the movie is a profound meditation on humanity's relationship with nature — told through breathtaking hand-drawn animation.
Princess Mononoke streams on Netflix and Max with any standard subscription.
Princess Mononoke is rated PG-13 for violence and is darker than most Ghibli films. It contains graphic violence including limbs being severed. Best for viewers 10 and older.
The original is in Japanese. The English dub features an acclaimed cast including Billy Crudup, Minnie Driver, Claire Danes, and Billy Bob Thornton. Both versions are available on streaming.
Yes — Princess Mononoke is explicitly about the conflict between industrialization and the natural world. Miyazaki refuses to offer a simple villain, showing both sides as sympathetic.
Princess Mononoke was released in Japan in 1997 and became the highest-grossing film in Japanese history at the time, before being surpassed by Spirited Away.