Our Top 10 Studio Ghibli Films Ranked From #10 to #1: The Ultimate Guide

For more than four decades, Studio Ghibli has shaped the world of animation with timeless stories, unforgettable characters, and breathtaking worlds. Created by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki, the studio’s masterpieces have become global cultural icons, beloved not only by anime fans but by general audiences of all ages.

But with such a rich filmography full of iconic titles, one question always returns: Which Ghibli movies truly stand above the rest?

This ranking explores the Top 10 Studio Ghibli films, starting from #10 and climbing all the way to the #1 masterpiece. The list is based on artistic impact, storytelling depth, popularity, critical acclaim, and cultural influence.

Let’s dive into the magical world of Studio Ghibli.

10. The Secret World of Arrietty (2010)

Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Based on: The Borrowers by Mary Norton

The Secret World of Arrietty is one of the studio’s most visually delicate films. It tells the story of tiny “Borrowers” who live hidden under the floorboards of a human home. Arrietty, the adventurous 14-year-old Borrower, forms an unexpected friendship with a sickly human boy named Sho.

Why it ranks in the Top 10:

• Stunning micro-scale world design
• Emotional themes about fragility, friendship, and survival
• One of Ghibli’s best coming-of-age stories outside Miyazaki
• A gentle, introspective tone that many fans adore

While not as epic as other Ghibli classics, Arrietty captures the heart with its atmosphere, sensitivity, and timeless message about courage.
 

9. Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Kiki’s Delivery Service is one of the most uplifting films in the Ghibli catalogue. It follows Kiki, a young witch who must leave home and live on her own for a year to complete her training. She settles in a seaside city and starts a delivery business using her broomstick.

Why it deserves a high ranking:

• An inspiring story about independence, self-doubt, and resilience
• The cozy European-inspired city is one of Ghibli’s most iconic settings
• Universal themes that resonate with teens and adults
• A beautiful portrayal of burnout and rediscovering purpose

Kiki’s journey feels incredibly real, an emotional portrait of growing up that remains timeless.

8. Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Based on: The novel by Diana Wynne Jones

A fantastical anti-war fable, Howl’s Moving Castle follows Sophie, a young woman cursed into becoming an old lady, and Howl, a flamboyant wizard who lives in a walking mechanical castle. Together, their destinies intertwine amid conflict, magic, and transformations.

Highlights of this masterpiece:

• One of Ghibli’s most visually ambitious films
• A unique love story about accepting oneself
• Themes of war, pacifism, and freedom
• Iconic characters like Calcifer and Turnip Head

While structurally chaotic at times, its emotional depth and artistic grandeur earn it a place among Ghibli’s finest creations.

7. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Although technically released before Studio Ghibli was officially founded, Nausicaä is considered the film that created the studio. It introduces a post-apocalyptic world dominated by toxic jungles and giant insects. Nausicaä, its compassionate heroine, seeks peace between humans and nature.

Why it’s essential Ghibli viewing:

• One of the greatest environmental stories in animation
• Nausicaä is one of Miyazaki’s strongest protagonists
• Deep world-building and visionary sci-fi elements
• Legendary flying sequences

This movie laid the ideological foundation for Ghibli’s future philosophy and remains astonishingly modern.

6. Castle in the Sky (1986)

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Ghibli’s first official film is a brilliant adventure inspired by treasure-hunting stories and Jules Verne–style science fiction. It follows Sheeta and Pazu as they uncover the truth about a floating island called Laputa, while being chased by pirates, soldiers, and deadly robots.

Reasons it ranks so high:

• Perfect balance of action, comedy, and emotion
• One of the studio’s most memorable villains
• Beautifully imagined industrial and aerial settings
• A soundtrack by Joe Hisaishi that fans still play today

Many fans consider Castle in the Sky the “purest” expression of what makes Miyazaki magical.

5. Princess Mononoke (1997)

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

A dark, mythic epic set in medieval Japan, Princess Mononoke explores the violent conflict between humans and nature spirits. Ashitaka, a cursed prince, tries to find harmony between two sides locked in a brutal war.

Why it belongs in the top 5:

• Powerful environmental and moral themes
• Some of the most spectacular animation ever created
• Complex characters with no clear heroes or villains
• Mature storytelling that pushes beyond “children’s animation”

This film marked Ghibli’s global rise and remains a cornerstone of environmental cinema.

4. The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013)

Director: Isao Takahata

A breathtaking reinterpretation of the Japanese folktale The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, this film is a watercolor dream, delicate, melancholic, and emotionally overwhelming.

Why it’s so highly ranked:

• A unique artistic style inspired by hand-drawn ink paintings
• Deep emotional exploration of joy, identity, and societal pressure
• Takahata’s final masterpiece before his passing
• A heartbreaking ending that many consider Ghibli’s most powerful

It’s a film that transcends animation itself, turning every frame into poetry.

3. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Perhaps the most iconic Ghibli film, My Neighbor Totoro tells a simple, tender story about two sisters who move to the countryside and encounter magical forest spirits, including the beloved Totoro.

Why it ranks at #3:

• Totoro is an international symbol of joy and imagination
• A perfect portrait of childhood, wonder, and innocence
• Environmental and spiritual themes subtly woven into the plot
• A comforting film, watched and rewatched by generations

It’s not the most complex Ghibli film, but certainly one of the most universally adored.

2. Spirited Away (2001)

Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Awards: Academy Award for Best Animated Feature (2003)

Spirited Away is widely recognized as one of the greatest animated films of all time. It follows Chihiro, a young girl trapped in a supernatural bathhouse for spirits, where she must work to save her parents and find her own identity.

Why it's almost #1:

• Masterful world-building, characters, and atmosphere
• A coming-of-age story full of symbolism
• A cultural phenomenon in Japan and worldwide
• Deep themes about greed, consumerism, and transformation

It’s an unforgettable adventure, but one film manages to edge it out for the #1 spot.

1. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Director: Isao Takahata

Often cited as one of the greatest war films ever made, Grave of the Fireflies tells the devastating story of Seita and Setsuko, two siblings struggling to survive during World War II. It is not just an animated film, it is a historical, moral, and emotional masterpiece.

Why it is ranked #1:

• One of the most powerful anti-war films in cinema history
• Heartbreaking, realistic, and unforgettable
• A raw depiction of innocence lost
• Takahata’s direction at its absolute peak

Few films, animated or not, leave such a deep, lasting impact. Its emotional weight and artistic quality place it at the top of Studio Ghibli’s achievements.
 

The Timeless Magic of Studio Ghibli

Ranking Studio Ghibli films is nearly impossible, each one offers its own universe of beauty, emotion, and creativity. Yet these ten films stand out for their impact, storytelling excellence, and cultural legacy.

Whether you’re a lifelong Ghibli fan or a newcomer discovering these masterpieces, this top-10 list provides a roadmap to experiencing the best the studio has to offer.

Each film is a journey, and every journey begins with pressing play.