Check Google Play Movies availability
Rent or buy
LOADING
MOVIE DECISION GUIDE
Akira
CAST & DIRECTOR
Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo. With Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki, Mami Koyama.
7.9/10
MOVIHERO RATINGWHAT IT'S ABOUT
A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath that only two teenagers and a group of psychics can stop.
Watch NowWatch trailer
7.9/10
MOVIHERO RATINGYOUR WATCHLISTA secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath that only two teenagers and a group of psychics can…
MAKE THE CALL
Does this belong in your night?
A decision, not a review. Choose the kind of night you want and keep your queue honest.
RELEASE SNAPSHOT
Release snapshot for Akira.
MoviHero lists June 10, 1988 as the release date for Akira. Katsuhiro Otomo is the listed director. The listed cast includes Mitsuo Iwata as Shotaro Kaneda (voice), Nozomu Sasaki as Tetsuo Shima (voice), Mami Koyama as Kei (voice), Taro Ishida as Colonel Shikishima. A trailer and 5 stills are available on this page.
Release dateJune 10, 1988
GenresScience Fiction · Action · Animation
Runtime2h 4m
DirectorKatsuhiro Otomo
CastMitsuo Iwata as Shotaro Kaneda (voice), Nozomu Sasaki as Tetsuo Shima (voice), Mami Koyama as Kei (voice), Taro Ishida as Colonel Shikishima
TrailerAvailable on this page
Images5 stills
BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY
Is Akira right for tonight?
Pacing, attention and emotional impact are estimates from the current MoviHero Watch Profile, not verified scene-by-scene reviews.
How much time should I set aside?
Akira runs 2h 4m. Allow extra time for breaks.
Is it slow or fast?
The current MoviHero pacing estimate is 8/10: a faster-moving watch.
Is it a good choice when I am tired?
The attention estimate is 6/10. Expect to follow the story rather than use it as background viewing.
How emotionally intense is it?
The emotional-impact estimate is 4/10, suggesting a lighter emotional load. This does not tell you whether the ending is happy or sad.
CHANGE ONE THING
Like this, but...
These share a listed genre with Akira. Profile differences are estimates, not a guarantee of the same story or mood.
MOVIE RATING
MoviHero Rating
MoviHero Rating: 7.9/10 from 5,101 votes. Updated Nov 4, 2026.
Rating data supplied by TMDB, shown on a 10-point scale. MoviHero audience ratings are calculated separately from scores submitted here.
MOVIHERO AUDIENCE RATING
What did you think?
Your movie rating. Your audience score.
CHECK AVAILABILITY
Check Akira on Google Play Movies or Apple TV Store
Find rental or purchase options. Confirm availability, price and quality in your region on the store.
Check Apple TV Store availability
Rent or buy
Quality isn’t confirmed yet. Check the viewing option on the provider’s site.
OPTION 2
Other ways to watch Akira
Compare reported U.S. streaming, free, rental and purchase options in one place.
United States
Crunchyroll
SubscriptionCheck quality on provider
Price varies by providerVisit Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll Amazon Channel
SubscriptionCheck quality on provider
Price varies by providerWatch on Prime Video
Amazon Video
RentBuyCheck quality on provider
Price varies by providerRent or buy
WHAT WATCHING IT FEELS LIKE
Watch Profile
Seven estimates of the viewing experience, based on the stored Watch Profile. These are separate from the movie rating and are not verified scene-by-scene assessments.
Pacing8/10
Emotional Impact4/10
Mind-Bending5/10
Scary1/10
Violence7/10
Rewatchability7/10
Attention Required6/10
VIEWER REVIEWS
What viewers say about Akira
Selected viewer reactions, in their own words. These excerpts reflect individual opinions, not an overall verdict.
Viewer reaction
“Let's make one thing clear right off the bat: this review is gonna be positive.”
Viewer reaction
“Technically very good, but so confusing that it doesn't work.”
Viewer reaction
“It has been said that when Oppenheimer witnessed the first atom bomb test, he said, "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds." This…”
Selected review excerpts supplied by TMDB. Opinions belong to their original authors.
A CLOSER LOOK
Stay with the image.
CAST & CREW
The people who make it land.
CHARACTERS IN THIS MOVIE
Follow the character.
Reviewed MoviHero character guides connected to this movie.
otherColonel ShikishimaColonel Shikishima appears in Akira (1988).Open character guide otherDoctor ÔnishiDoctor Ônishi appears in Akira (1988).Open character guide voiceShotaro KanedaShotaro Kaneda appears in Akira (1988).Open character guide voiceTetsuo ShimaTetsuo Shima appears in Akira (1988).Open character guide voiceKaiKai appears in Akira (1988).Open character guide voiceKeiKei appears in Akira (1988).Open character guide
SIMILAR GENRES & STORY THEMES
Keep the night going.
6.6/10
MOVIHERO RATINGSpace Jam: A New Legacy
2021·Adventure · Science Fiction · Family · Comedy · Animation
7.4/10
MOVIHERO ESTIMATEPeter and the Goblin Arrow
2026·Animation
7.4/10
MOVIHERO ESTIMATEWaking
2026·Animation