

The Motive
2004, Japanese. Directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi.
Four people are discovered brutally murdered in an up-scale high-rise apartment. All the victims appear to be family, but as the investigation deepens it is discovered that one of the victims isn't related to the family.
- Runtime
- 2h 40m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- Japanese
- Rated
- Check local
Start now and it ends at ….
Too new to call
Not enough people have rated it yet for a verdict.
Seen it? Give your verdict.
Saved privately on this device.
Where to watch The Motive
The Motive isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 18 December 2004.
No streaming listings yet. Search JustWatch.
Cast & crew
- Nobuhiko ObayashiDirector
- Takehiro MurataIshikawa, Police
- Ryo KaseYuji Yashiro
- Toshie NegishiSatoko Sunagawa
- Saki TerashimaNobuko Katakura
- Takuro AtsukiTakahiro Koito
- Wakaba IrieCast
- Ittoku KishibeCaretaker
- Tokie HidariToshiko Takarai
- Kyusaku ShimadaCast
- Shin'ya OhwadaYoshio Sato
- Takahito HosoyamadaYasutaka Takarai
- Toru MinegishiKatsuyuki Akiyoshi
Details
- Released
- 18 December 2004
- Original title
- 理由
- Country
- Japan
- Written by
- Fumio Ishimori, Nobuhiko Obayashi
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
What The Motive is based on
The Motive is adapted from a novel.
Source details from Wikidata and TMDB.
If you liked The Motive

Dead Man's Folly
1986 · 6.4/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers

Miss Marple: The Murder at the Vicarage
1986 · 6.7/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers

Miss Marple: They Do It with Mirrors
1992 · 6.9/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers

Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Haunted By Murder
2022 · 7.0/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers

Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Reunited and It Feels So Deadly
2020 · 7.3/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers

A Bone to Pick: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery
2015 · 6.9/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers

A Bundle of Trouble: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery
2017 · 6.9/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers

Gourmet Detective: Eat, Drink and Be Buried
2017 · 7.1/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers

Dead Over Heels: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery
2017 · 7.0/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers

Sherlock: Case of Evil
2002 · 6.3/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
The Motive: quick answers
Is The Motive worth watching?
The Motive doesn’t have enough ratings for a verdict yet.
How long is The Motive?
The Motive runs 160 minutes (2h 40m).
Does The Motive have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for The Motive. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
The Motive parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for The Motive yet.
Which OTT platform is The Motive on?
The Motive isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 18 December 2004. (Checked 10 November 2026.)
What movies are like The Motive?
If you liked The Motive, try Dead Man's Folly, Miss Marple: The Murder at the Vicarage, Miss Marple: They Do It with Mirrors.
Who directed The Motive?
The Motive (2004) was directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi and stars Takehiro Murata, Ryo Kase, Toshie Negishi.
What is The Motive based on?
The Motive is adapted from a novel.