Perfect Blue

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Perfect Blue

R

1999

1h 20m

Mystery & Thriller

Anime

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Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

61 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

A mysterious figure stalks a pop star when she becomes an actor on a television show.

Critics Consensus

Perfect Blue is overstylized, but its core mystery is always compelling, as are the visual theatrics.

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Cody Corrall

Chicago Reader

Oct 8, 2021

Kon thoughtfully depicts a woman on the verge of madness as her squeaky-clean image devolves into the compromising and gruesome roles she plays in her acting career...

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Lisa Alspector

Chicago Reader

Oct 8, 2021

This engrossing animated thriller somehow displays realist gore, nudity, and sexual violence in a tone not too far from that of a children's adventure; its innocence stems in part from the convincing naivete of the heroine.

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Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

Sep 22, 2020

Strange, stylish and intelligent, this is a rare anime film that delivers on its Eastern promise.

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Calum Baker

Radio Times

Sep 24, 2026

4/5

A tale of psychosis tailored perfectly to its millennial setting, the bravura result sits comfortably next to art house crack-up classics Persona and Repulsion.

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Carson Timar

ClapperCast

Sep 12, 2026

Kon crafts a truly haunting film that is far ahead of its time. Looking at the price of fame and fandom, every rewatch reveals something new to chew on.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Jun 22, 2026

3/4

A brutal and haunting meditation on identity, femininity, and fame.

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GEORGE

Oct 4, 2025

Words can't describe the impression this film has left on me. Utterly amazing.

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Joseph P

Sep 10, 2023

An absolute masterpiece, RIP Satoshi Kon

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Steve O

Sep 7, 2023

Fun, creative, suspenseful! Satoshi Kon is a master animator that keeps you guessing what's happening. There's twists and turns. If you haven't seen his other works, I highly recommend Paprika and Millenium Actress TW: Sexual Assault is a big part in two scenes.

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Ben W

Sep 7, 2023

This was crazy! Totally more crazy than I thought it would be. Really good and intriguing, but confusing.

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Riccardo D

@RickDB Sep 28, 2026

Quite a superb anime. A unique example of thriller with a great narrative that leads the viewer where it wants to. Animation is absolutely noteworthy especially considering the year of release. The themes treated are complex and tackled in a very original way. At times it can get really tough to watch, as some scenes are pretty raw and shocking, but none of them is unwarranted. It all feels earned and there for a reason. Atmosphere is great and the plot is written and articulated masterfully. A must-watch

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 24, 2026

Perfect Blue = a 4.5 star Movie!

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Satoshi Kon

Director

Bridget Hoffman

Mima Kirigoe

Stephen Apostolina

Shibuya

Bob Buchholz

Powertron

Steve Bulen

Tejima

Dyanne DiRosario

Yukiko

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Synopsis

A mysterious figure stalks a pop star when she becomes an actor on a television show.

Director: Satoshi Kon
Producer: Hiroaki Inoue, Haruyo Kanesaku, Masao Maruyama, Yutaka Maseba, Takeshi Washitani
Screenwriter: Lia Sargent
Distributor: AVCO Embassy Pictures
Production Co: Rex Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Anime
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 20, 1999, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Oct 3, 2025
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 26, 2019
Runtime: 1h 20m
Sound Mix: Dolby
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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