Paprika

Play trailer

Paprika

R

2007

1h 29m

Sci-Fi

Action

Adventure

Anime

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

95 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Dr. Atsuko Chiba works as a scientist by day and, under the code name "Paprika," is a dream detective at night. Atsuko and her colleagues are working on a device called the DC Mini, which is intended to help psychiatric patients, but in the wrong hands it could destroy people's minds. When a prototype is stolen, Atsuko/Paprika springs into action to recover it before damage is done.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Following its own brand of logic, Paprika is an eye-opening mind trip that is difficult to follow but never fails to dazzle.

Read Critics Reviews

Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

07/20/2007

3.5/5

Paprika, while certainly not suitable for kids, manages to capture the childlike, helter-skelter chaos and curiosity of the human mind better than any other animated film.

Go to Full Review

Richard Nilsen

Arizona Republic

07/13/2007

2.5/5

You could sit through the film two or three times to nail down the details of the story, but the film isn't interesting enough to warrant a second look.

Go to Full Review

Bruce Westbrook

Houston Chronicle

06/22/2007

1.5/4

Is it sci-fi? Fantasy? Idiocy? Mostly it's a droning mess -- pretty to look at but confounding to the point where you just don't care any more.

Go to Full Review

Leandro Ariel Porcelli

Cinéfilo Serial

Mar 21

10/10

A must see masterpiece for every animation and cinema fan out there. The magnum opus of one of the greats that feels both intimately precise and impossibly ambitious. [Full review in Spanish]

Go to Full Review

Sebastian Zavala Kahn

Me gusta el cine

Jan 9

4.5/5

It is one of the most original anime films ever made, a movie that is not limited by its animation, developing adult and complex themes in an undeniably visually striking way. [Full review in Spanish].

Go to Full Review

Lindsay Costello

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

10/22/2024

The film's crazed parade of roaming toys is perhaps the most accurate visual depiction of a nightmare I've witnessed.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Sandra

01/13/2025

A visually stunning surreal psychological thriller. with a powerhouse soundtrack to match.

See more

Emanuel

01/13/2025

Woooooow. 5/5. Open your mind and let yourself be entertained

See more

Angelina

01/10/2025

Fiya, very colorful, beautifully written/ directed. deep psychology meaning. Would watch again!

See more

Kenneth

01/09/2025

The movie is fun, beautiful and carries many different meanings throughout. A must watch.

See more

Arthur G

02/13/2024

This is Satoshi Kon's masterpiece. A thrilling adventure with many twists and turns, blending reality and fiction to keep the audience on their toes constantly.

See more

jesse v

02/11/2024

if you like Requiem for a dream and perfect blue, imagine both of them combined to this. funny cause one came after this movie so maybe the director created the dream genre

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Satoshi Kon

Director

Cindy Robinson

Chiba

Yuri Lowenthal

Tokita

Michael Forest

Inui

David Lodge

Shima

Paul St. Peter

Detective Toshimi Konakawa

View more photos

Synopsis

Dr. Atsuko Chiba works as a scientist by day and, under the code name "Paprika," is a dream detective at night. Atsuko and her colleagues are working on a device called the DC Mini, which is intended to help psychiatric patients, but in the wrong hands it could destroy people's minds. When a prototype is stolen, Atsuko/Paprika springs into action to recover it before damage is done.

Director: Satoshi Kon
Producer: Jungo Maruta, Masao Takiyama
Screenwriter: Satoshi Kon, Seishi Minakami
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Madhouse Productions
Rating: R (Violent and Sexual Images)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure, Anime
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 1, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 23, 2018
Runtime: 1h 29m