Paprika

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Paprika

R

2007

1h 29m

Sci-Fi

Action

Adventure

Anime

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

95 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Dr. Atsuko Chiba works as a scientist by day and, under the code name "Paprika," is a dream detective at night. Atsuko and her colleagues are working on a device called the DC Mini, which is intended to help psychiatric patients, but in the wrong hands it could destroy people's minds. When a prototype is stolen, Atsuko/Paprika springs into action to recover it before damage is done.

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Critics Consensus

Following its own brand of logic, Paprika is an eye-opening mind trip that is difficult to follow but never fails to dazzle.

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Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

Jul 20, 2007

3.5/5

Paprika, while certainly not suitable for kids, manages to capture the childlike, helter-skelter chaos and curiosity of the human mind better than any other animated film.

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Richard Nilsen

Arizona Republic

Jul 13, 2007

2.5/5

You could sit through the film two or three times to nail down the details of the story, but the film isn't interesting enough to warrant a second look.

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Bruce Westbrook

Houston Chronicle

Jun 22, 2007

1.5/4

Is it sci-fi? Fantasy? Idiocy? Mostly it's a droning mess -- pretty to look at but confounding to the point where you just don't care any more.

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Leandro Ariel Porcelli

Cinéfilo Serial

Mar 21, 2026

10/10

A must see masterpiece for every animation and cinema fan out there. The magnum opus of one of the greats that feels both intimately precise and impossibly ambitious. [Full review in Spanish]

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Sebastian Zavala Kahn

Me gusta el cine

Jan 9, 2026

4.5/5

It is one of the most original anime films ever made, a movie that is not limited by its animation, developing adult and complex themes in an undeniably visually striking way. [Full review in Spanish].

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Lindsay Costello

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

Oct 22, 2024

The film's crazed parade of roaming toys is perhaps the most accurate visual depiction of a nightmare I've witnessed.

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Sandra

Jan 13, 2025

A visually stunning surreal psychological thriller. with a powerhouse soundtrack to match.

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Emanuel

Jan 13, 2025

Woooooow. 5/5. Open your mind and let yourself be entertained

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Angelina

Jan 10, 2025

Fiya, very colorful, beautifully written/ directed. deep psychology meaning. Would watch again!

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Kenneth

Jan 9, 2025

The movie is fun, beautiful and carries many different meanings throughout. A must watch.

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Arthur G

Feb 13, 2024

This is Satoshi Kon's masterpiece. A thrilling adventure with many twists and turns, blending reality and fiction to keep the audience on their toes constantly.

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jesse v

Feb 11, 2024

if you like Requiem for a dream and perfect blue, imagine both of them combined to this. funny cause one came after this movie so maybe the director created the dream genre

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Satoshi Kon

Director

Cindy Robinson

Chiba

Yuri Lowenthal

Tokita

Michael Forest

Inui

David Lodge

Shima

Paul St. Peter

Detective Toshimi Konakawa

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Synopsis

Dr. Atsuko Chiba works as a scientist by day and, under the code name "Paprika," is a dream detective at night. Atsuko and her colleagues are working on a device called the DC Mini, which is intended to help psychiatric patients, but in the wrong hands it could destroy people's minds. When a prototype is stolen, Atsuko/Paprika springs into action to recover it before damage is done.

Director: Satoshi Kon
Producer: Jungo Maruta, Masao Takiyama
Screenwriter: Satoshi Kon, Seishi Minakami
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Madhouse Productions
Rating: R (Violent and Sexual Images)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure, Anime
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 1, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 23, 2018
Runtime: 1h 29m

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