Up
2009USA★ 86 pt match
Like Suzume, this one is rooted in grief, longing, and loss of innocence. Both circle the same ground: family wounds passed down and family duty. Both move the same way too, melancholic, hopeful, escalating, and slow burn.
Suzume
すずめの戸締まり
2022JapanLanguage: jaDirected by Makoto Shinkai★ 7.9
Available in English: subtitled
Suzume, 17, lost her mother as a little girl. On her way to school, she meets a mysterious young man. But her curiosity unleashes a calamity that endangers the entire population of Japan, and so Suzume embarks on a journey to set things right.
Themes and style
Tone
melancholichopefulwhimsicalhaunting
Pacing
escalatingslow burn
Story
journeyescapesurvivalunraveling
Emotion
griefloss of innocencelongingsacrificefiguring out who you are
Themes
family wounds passed downfamily dutycaught between worlds
Feel
catharticquietly hauntingemotionally wreckingcrowd pleaser
Violence
mildWhere to watch
Hollywood films like Suzume
If Suzume hit you the right way, here are Hollywood films that share its DNA. Same emotional weight, same kind of stories, same kind of payoff.
The Lion King
1994USA★ 8.34.5 pt match
Like Suzume, this one is rooted in grief, figuring out who you are, and loss of innocence. The world both films live in revolves around family wounds passed down and family duty. Same energy: melancholic, hopeful, and escalating.
Finding Nemo
2003USA★ 7.84 pt match
What ties these together is grief and loss of innocence. Both circle the same ground: family duty and family wounds passed down. Both move the same way too, hopeful, whimsical, and escalating.
Moana
2016USA★ 7.64 pt match
What ties these together is figuring out who you are, sacrifice, and longing. The world both films live in revolves around family duty, family wounds passed down, and caught between worlds. Same energy: hopeful, whimsical, and escalating.
How to Train Your Dragon 2
2014USA★ 7.73.5 pt match
Like Suzume, this one is rooted in grief, figuring out who you are, and sacrifice. Both circle the same ground: family duty and family wounds passed down. Same energy: hopeful, melancholic, and escalating.
Frozen
2013USA★ 7.23 pt match
Both films sit with figuring out who you are, sacrifice, and longing. The world both films live in revolves around family duty and family wounds passed down. Both move the same way too, hopeful, whimsical, and escalating.