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Summer Wars

Play trailer Poster for Summer Wars PG 2010 1h 54m Sci-Fi Adventure Anime Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
81% Tomatometer 26 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Kenji is a shy, part-time moderator for OZ, the virtual reality world that powers everyday life, until pretty and popular Natsuki recruits him to be her fake boyfriend. While posing as an affluent suitor to Natsuki's family, Kenji finds that a rogue A.I. program has stolen his online identity, and Kenji is accused of hacking OZ and causing real-world catastrophes. As the destruction in OZ throws Natsuki's family into disarray, Kenji must unite his newfound connections to overcome an impending cyber apocalypse.

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Summer Wars

Summer Wars

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Family drama mixes with virtual online action in the breezy and entertaining Summer Wars.

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Critics Reviews

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Phil Hoad Guardian Jul 29, 2025
3/5
Battling an apparently motiveless AI, it feels increasingly consequenceless, as virtual action often does. But the narrative complexity and bravura imagery still impress. Go to Full Review Anton Bitel Little White Lies Mar 28, 2011
Far from resorting to easy, reactionary technophobia, Hosoda shows Japan's age-old traditions being upheld throughout different generations, with the beautifully realised digital community of OZ proving as much the solution as the problem. Go to Full Review Joe Morgenstern Wall Street Journal Jan 20, 2011
The filmmakers can't keep the strands of their clumsy plot straight, but they create brilliant images and manipulate them with blithe abandon. Go to Full Review Douglas Davidson Elements of Madness Mar 30, 2025
... proclaiming the importance of helping one’s community before helping themselves because the act of protecting the community makes one stronger whereas focusing on self makes one weaker and more vulnerable. Go to Full Review Carson Timar ButteredPopcorn Aug 28, 2022
B-
Where it is far from perfect, Summer Wars feels perfectly in place in Mamoru Hosoda's filmography. Go to Full Review Ard Vijn ScreenAnarchy Jan 15, 2020
I cannot recommend this movie enough. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Alan B Aug 11, 2025 A now classic and must watch for any anime fan! See more Aidan Jul 31, 2025 liked the romance part of it, and the community part with the family. just wished they would put more anime movies on 😭 See more Raul Jul 30, 2025 One of my top 10 of all time! See more Paul Jul 30, 2025 I love this movie! The visuals in the real world and in the virtual world of Oz were spectacular! And the characters were all very likable! The story was simply brilliant, and the dramatic and upsetting moments were genuinely effective, must-see! I’m glad I got to see it on the big screen! See more Richard T Jul 30, 2025 Anime meets Hallmark for two high school students at a family reunion, funeral, and birthday celebration. See more Brandon G Jul 30, 2025 I watch this every year in the summer, as close to August 1st as I can get. This was the first time I got to see it in theaters and it was beautiful. Summer Wars should be a staple in every household, especially those with a strong matriarchal presence. See more Read all reviews
Summer Wars

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Cast & Crew

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Mamoru Hosoda

Director

Ryûnosuke Kamiki

Kenji Koiso

Hitomi Miyauchi

Natsuki Shinohara

Mitsuki Tanimura

Kazuma Ikezawa

Sumiko Fuji

Sakae Jinnouchi

Ayumu Saitô

Wabisuke Jinnouchi
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Summer Wars

Summer Wars (2009) Summer Wars (2009) Summer Wars (2009) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Kenji is a shy, part-time moderator for OZ, the virtual reality world that powers everyday life, until pretty and popular Natsuki recruits him to be her fake boyfriend. While posing as an affluent suitor to Natsuki's family, Kenji finds that a rogue A.I. program has stolen his online identity, and Kenji is accused of hacking OZ and causing real-world catastrophes. As the destruction in OZ throws Natsuki's family into disarray, Kenji must unite his newfound connections to overcome an impending cyber apocalypse.
Director
Mamoru Hosoda
Producer
Nozomu Takahashi, Takuya Itô, Takafumi Watanabe, Yuichiro Sato
Screenwriter
Satoko Okudera
Distributor
FUNimation Films
Production Co
Nippon Television Network
Rating
PG (Language|Incidental Smoking|Action/Violence|Mild Thematic Material|Some Suggestive Content)
Genre
Sci-Fi, Adventure, Anime
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 20, 2010, Limited
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Jul 27, 2025
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 22, 2016
Runtime
1h 54m
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