GKIDS and Fathom Entertainment have teamed up for the upcoming 40th anniversary celebration of Studio Ghibli‘s creation by bringing back eight of its acclaimed animated movies to U.S. theaters for its annual Studio Ghibli Fest 2025. The limited theatrical event will be starting from May until November.
“Fathom has enjoyed many years of great success collaborating with GKIDS for Studio Ghibli Fest 2025, and we applaud Studio Ghibli’s 40th anniversary. Loyal fans join us in celebrating its curation of iconic Japanese animation content and bringing it to the big screen,” Fathom Entertainment CEO Ray Nutt said in a statement. “Fathom has become synonymous with the cinematic theatrical experience for specialized content – both feature films and alternative, non-traditional programming. Studio Ghibli Fest is a shining example of the power of celebrating great content in theatres and we are thrilled to partner once again in 2025.”
What movies are included in the Studio Ghibli Fest 2025 lineup?
The Studio Ghibli Fest 2025 lineup will include eight animated features. Each will be shown in both original Japanese and English dubbed versions and will include surprise special extra content as well. Tickets can now be purchased on FathomEntertainment.com, GhibliFest.com or at participating theatre box offices.
“GKIDS is thrilled to return once again with an annual event celebrating one of the most iconic and celebrated animation studios in the world,” GKIDS president David Jesteadt said. “We look forward to continued partnership with Fathom Entertainment on another great year of films from Studio Ghibli, including the first-ever national re-release of Hayao Miyazaki’s latest masterpiece, The Boy and the Heron.”
Listed below are the movies included in the Studio Ghibli Fest 2025 lineup, as well as its schedule:
Kiki’s Delivery Service – The 1989 movie was written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, based on Eiko Kadono’s novel of the same name. It follows the story of a young witch who starts a flying courier service.
- Saturday, May 17 (DUB)
- Sunday, May 18 (DUB)
- Monday, May 19 (SUB)
- Tuesday, May 20 (SUB)
- Wednesday, May 21 (DUB)
The Secret World of Arrietty (15th Anniversary) – The 2010 movie was directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, which served as his feature directorial debut. It was co-written by Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa, based on Mary Norton’s 1952 novel The Borrowers.
- Sunday, June 22 (DUB)
- Monday, June 23 (SUB)
- Tuesday, June 24 (DUB)
My Neighbor Totoro – The 1988 movie was written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. The story follows two sisters who befriend the wood spirirts after moving to an old house.
- Saturday, July 19 (DUB)
- Sunday, July 20 (DUB)
- Monday, July 21 (SUB)
- Tuesday, July 22 (SUB)
- Wednesday, July 23 (DUB)
Grave of the Fireflies – The 1988 movie is a historial war drama written and directed by Isao Takahata. It follows the story of siblings Seita and Setsuka, as they try to survive during the final months of the Pacific War.
- Sunday, August 10 (SUB)
- Monday, August 11 (SUB)
- Tuesday, August 12 (SUB)
Ponyo – The 2008 movie hails from writer-director Hayao Miyazaki. It follows the story of a gold fish who desires to become a human girl after becoming friends with a five-year-old human boy.
- Saturday, August 23 (DUB)
- Sunday, August 24 (DUB)
- Monday, August 25 (SUB)
- Tuesday, August 26 (SUB)
- Wednesday, August 27 (DUB)
Howl’s Moving Castle – The 2004 movie was written and directed by Miyazaki, inspired by the Diana Wynne’s 1986 novel of the same name. The story takes place in a fictional kingdom following a young hat-maker who turns into an elderly woman after suddenly getting cursed by a witch.
- Saturday, September 20 (DUB)
- Sunday, September 21 (DUB)
- Monday, September 22 (SUB)
- Tuesday, September 23 (SUB)
- Wednesday, September 24 (DUB)
Spirited Away – The 2001 movie is written and directed by Miyazaki. The Oscar-winning animated feature follows a young girl named Sen, who accidentally gets trapped in the spirit world where her parents were transformed into a pigs. In order to save her parents, she must work for a witch at a bathhouse catering to all kinds of spirits.
- Saturday, October 18 (DUB)
- Sunday, October 19 (DUB)
- Monday, October 20 (SUB)
- Tuesday, October 21 (SUB)
- Wednesday, October 22 (DUB)
The Boy and the Heron – The 2023 movie was written and directed by Miyazaki. The story centers around a young boy who enters a fantasy world with a taking grey heron.
- Saturday, November 15 (DUB)
- Sunday, November 16 (DUB)
- Monday, November 17 (SUB)
- Tuesday, November 18 (SUB)
- Wednesday, November 19 (DUB)
