Movies like Gegege no Kitaro: Japan Explodes!! (2008)
The best movies like Gegege no Kitaro: Japan Explodes!! (2008) are X (1996), Demon City Shinjuku (1988) and Devilman - Volume 1: The Birth (1987). If Gegege no Kitaro: Japan Explodes!! hooked you with its action and fantasy, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedDemon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Sibling's Bond (2019)7.9/10 from 263 votes
- NewestThe Spine of Night (2021)Released 2021
- In JapaneseX (1996)Also in Japanese
X (1996)
It's the year of destiny, and 15 year old Kamui Shiro, a powerful psychic, has returned to Toyko after a 6 year absence, having left when he was very young. He wants to be with his childhood friends, Fuma (his best friend) and Kotori, Fuma's little sister (and Kamui's possible girlfriend). He wants to protect them from all dangers, but destiny and fate are haunting Kamui and pulling in himself and his beloved childhood friends. It is his destiny and his sole decision to decide the fate of the world, no matter if he wants the role or not. Now it is a matter of if he will join the side of the Seven Seals and become the Dragon of Heaven to save mankind or join the Seven Angels and become the Dragon of Earth to destroy all civilization so the earth can heal itself from man's destruction.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDemon City Shinjuku (1988)
Ten Years ago, Genichiro Izayoi died trying to stop the sorcerer Rebi Ra, and as a result Shinjuku became a playground for demons. And now, the day approaches when Rebi Ra will complete his decade-long ritual to plunge the rest of the world into chaos! As Genichiro's son, it falls to Kyoya to venture into the heart of Shinjuku and put an end to the sorcerer his father couldn't beat. Can Kyoya exceed his father's legacy, or will the demons of Shinjuku create Hell on Earth?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDevilman - Volume 1: The Birth (1987)
Akira Fudo is just a normal kid in Tokyo, until an old friend of his, Ryo, shows up and turns his world upside down. An upcoming war of demons on humanity is waiting in the wings, however, the only way for a human to fight a demon is with their power. To save the world, Akira and Ryo risk a dangerous ceremony in an attempt to create humanity's only hope: the powerful Devilman.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action & fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisDragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle (1987)
Goku and Kuririn are given an assignment by Kame-Sen'nin: "Retrieve the sleeping princess from Lucifer and I will take you as my students." But the mission proves to be more perilous than originally thought.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Spine of Night (2021)
When ancient dark magic falls into sinister hands and unleashes ages of suffering onto mankind, a group of heroes from different eras and cultures must band together in order to defeat it at all costs.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisK: Missing Kings (2014)
The "Academy Island Incident" in which four "kings" cross paths... Since then, Silver Clansmen Kuroh Yatogami and Neko have been searching for their master, Shiro. Without finding any clues to Shiro's whereabouts, the two became disheartened. However, one day, they see HOMRA members Rikio Kamamoto and Anna Kushina being chased by someone.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisYu Yu Hakusho: The Movie - Poltergeist Report (1994)
When the Spirit World is flooded due to an unusual rainfall which overflows the River Sanzu (aka the River Styx), Lord Koenma senses an extremely powerful enemy. He entrusts Death God Botan, to deliver to Spirit Detective Yusuke, a mysterious item which must be protected from the invading enemy. However, by the time Botan finds Yusuke, she's too weak to explain the situation. Yusuke and his friends are left in the dark about the new enemy, but not for long. Soon it is a battle for Earth between mere Spirit Detectives and the almighty king of the Netherworld.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisInuyasha the Movie 2: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass (2002)
With their most formidable foe vanquished, Inuyasha and his comrades begin returning to their everyday lives. But their peace is fleeting as another adversary emerges: Kaguya, the self-proclaimed princess from the Moon of Legend, hatches a plot to plunge the world into an eternal night of the full moon. Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango and Shippou must reunite to confront the new menace.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action & animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBleach the Movie: Hell Verse (2010)
Hell – A place where beings that have committed mortal sins during their lifetime are sent. It is a realm where even Soul Reapers are forbidden to interfere. When a group of vicious Sinners plot to escape from this eternal prison, they discover that Substitute Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki is the key to their freedom.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action & animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Garden of Sinners: Overlooking View (2007)
The story starts following an incident: a young girl jumps from the top of a building. The image provokes a certain dread, as the girl appears to have been a corpse even before she jumped. The case is dismissed, yet more and more of these suicides occur, and all from the same building. Thus began the rumour, that a ghost inhabited the rooftop of the building.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & action
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPokémon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened (2013)
A group of five Genesect have invaded the big city and pose a threat to the supply of electricity, which attracts the attention of the legendary Pokémon Mewtwo. Satoshi, Pikachu and his friends must come to the rescue when the powerful leader, a red Genesect, faces Mewtwo.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDemon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Sibling's Bond (2019)
movie anime adaptation of Koyoharu Gotoge's Kimetsu no Yaiba by Ufotable. The movie consists of the first 5 episodes of the TV anime adaptation. A two-week theatrical release on 11 theaters began on March 29, 2019, a week before the premiere of the TV series.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & action
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisFatal Fury: The Motion Picture (1994)
The Armor of Mars -- a suit of armor consisting of six pieces. If anyone from the bloodline of the ancient warrior Godimus were to find all six pieces for himself, he would receive power equal to the level of a god. The Curse of Godimus, however, also dictates that this same person would lose all sense of himself and become an insane killing machine.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action & animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBleach the Movie: Memories of Nobody (2006)
In Karakura Town, unidentifiable spirits begin appearing en mases. While attempting to deal with these strange souls, Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki meet Senna, a mysterious shinigami who wipes out most of them. Senna refuses to answer any questions, so Ichigo is forced to follow her while Rukia tries to find out what's going on.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both fantasy & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBleach the Movie: The DiamondDust Rebellion (2007)
When an artifact known as the "King's Seal" is stolen during transport from Soul Society, Hitsugaya Toushirou is assigned to retrieve it. Toushirou goes missing after a battle with the thieves, leading Seireitei to suspect him of treachery. They order his immediate capture and execution. Unwilling to believe him capable of such a crime, Ichigo, Rangiku, Rukia, and Renji set out to find Toushirou.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Garden of Sinners: Epilogue (2010)
March 1999: Mikiya Kokutou meets Shiki Ryougi again at the same place where he met her for the first time four years ago...
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisAvengers Confidential: Black Widow & Punisher (2014)
When the Punisher takes out a black-market weapons dealer, he stumbles upon a far-reaching terrorist plot devised by a group known as Leviathan.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & action
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisHurricane Touchdown (2000)
After the older DigiDestined are abducted by the mysterious Kokomon, the next generation of kids team up with American DigiDestined Willis to rescue them - only to discover that their enigmatic enemy has an unexpected connection to their new friend!
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisBrave Story (2006)
Jr. High School Student Wataru and his friends like playing in an abandond building and looking for ghosts. However it seems he is not the only one. Another mysterious student Mitsuru shows Wataru that there is a magical door to another world where one can go and get the Goddess of Fortune to grant one wish! When tragedy strikes Wataru's family he decides to open the door for himself.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisInuyasha the Movie 3: Swords of an Honorable Ruler (2003)
Inuyasha and his brother, Sesshomaru, each inherited a sword from their father after his death. However, their father had a third sword, named Sounga, that he sealed away. Seven hundreds years after his death, Sounga awakens and threatens mankind's very existence. How will the children of the Great Dog Demon stop this unimaginable power?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both animation & fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMoldiver (1993)
A naïve young girl accidentally modifies her brother's secret superhero uniform and becomes the unwilling superheroine Moldiver.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both action & animation
Tomorrow's Joe The Movie (1980)
An abridged remake of the first Ashita no Joe TV series, released in 1980 to provide back-story for the second TV series to new fans who were not familiar with the first TV series or the manga.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both action & animation
Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest (1990)
The evil Dr. Kochin uses the dragon balls to resurrect his mentor, Dr. Wheelo, in an effort to take over the world. Dr. Wheelo, his body having been destroyed by the avalanche that killed him fifty years before, desires the body of the strongest fighter in the world as his new vessel. Believing Roshi to be the world's strongest warrior, Dr. Kochin abducts Bulma and forces Roshi to surrender himself to save her. When Goku hears of their abduction, he goes to their rescue.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both action & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might (1990)
Goku and friends must stop a band of space pirates from consuming fruit from the Tree of Might before it's destructive powers drain Earth's energy.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both action & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDragon Ball Z: Lord Slug (1991)
A Super Namekian named Slug comes to invade Earth. But the Z Warriors do their best to stop Slug and his gang.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both action & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler (1992)
Cooler has resurrected himself as a robot and is enslaving the people of New Namek. Goku and the gang must help.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both action & animation
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDragon Ball Z: Super Android 13! (1992)
Dr. Gero's Androids #13, #14, and #15 are awakened by the laboratory computers and immediately head to the mall where Goku is shopping. After Goku, Trunks, and Vegeta defeat #14 and #15, #13 absorbs their inner computers and becomes a super being greater than the original three separately were. Now it is up to Goku to stop him.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both action & animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMarvel Rising: Secret Warriors (2018)
When a threat no one could have expected bears down on the Marvel Universe, this ragtag, untrained band of teens have no choice but to rise together and prove to the world that sometimes the difference between a 'hero' and 'misfit' is just in the name.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & action
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space (1982)
Amuro Ray and the rest of the White Base crew, now denominated the 13th Autonomous Corps, return to outer space to support the rest of the Earth Federation forces for the decisive battle against the Principality of Zeon's forces.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & action
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Fantastic Adventures of Unico (1981)
When Unico, a young unicorn, is banished from his family by a pantheon of manipulative gods, his powers of joy and happiness are tested as he explores the lands with his friends Beezle and Katy.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both animation & fantasy
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Gegege no Kitaro: Japan Explodes!!?
The closest matches to Gegege no Kitaro: Japan Explodes!! are X (1996), Demon City Shinjuku (1988) and Devilman - Volume 1: The Birth (1987). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Gegege no Kitaro: Japan Explodes!!?
Start with X (1996), the closest match to Gegege no Kitaro: Japan Explodes!!.
What is the highest-rated movie like Gegege no Kitaro: Japan Explodes!!?
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Sibling's Bond (2019), rated 7.9/10 by 263 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Gegege no Kitaro: Japan Explodes!!?
The Spine of Night (2021) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there Japanese movies like Gegege no Kitaro: Japan Explodes!!?
Yes: X (1996), Demon City Shinjuku (1988) and Devilman - Volume 1: The Birth (1987).
How are movies similar to Gegege no Kitaro: Japan Explodes!! chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Gegege no Kitaro: Japan Explodes!!, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.