Disclosure: Greatful Moments is sharing information provided by GKIDS and Fathom Entertainment about the upcoming theatrical presentation of Spirited Away. Please check your local theater and the official ticketing information for current availability, showtimes and pricing.
For my family there are some movies that you watch once and remember. And then there are movies that become part of your family’s movie history. If Spirited Away is one of those movies for your family, there is a special reason to see it on the big screen this fall.
Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy Award-winning Spirited Away is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a return to theaters nationwide during Studio Ghibli Fest 2026. The film will be shown for five nights only, October 17–21, 2026, through GKIDS and Fathom Entertainment. And yes, there will be both English-dubbed and Japanese-language-with-English-subtitles screenings.
Originally released in 2001, Spirited Away follows Chihiro, a young girl whose family takes a wrong turn while moving to a new home. They stop to explore what appears to be an abandoned village. But it isn’t abandoned. After Chihiro’s parents undergo a mysterious transformation, Chihiro finds herself trapped in a strange world filled with spirits, creatures and magic.
She is forced to work in a magical bathhouse run by the sorceress Yubaba while trying to find a way to save her parents and return home. The movie combines adventure, fantasy, beautiful animation and a coming-of-age story in a way that has allowed it to remain popular with audiences more than two decades after its original release.
Spirited Away won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and is considered one of the most acclaimed animated films ever made. GKIDS lists the film’s runtime at approximately 125 minutes and its rating as PG.
When Can You See Spirited Away?
The 25th Anniversary presentation is scheduled for five nights:
Saturday, October 17 — 3:00 p.m.
English-language dub
Sunday, October 18 — 3:00 p.m.
English-language dub
Sunday, October 18 — 7:00 p.m.
English-language dub
Monday, October 19 — 7:00 p.m.
Japanese language with English subtitles
Tuesday, October 20 — 7:00 p.m.
Japanese language with English subtitles
Wednesday, October 21 — 7:00 p.m.
English-language dub
The official schedule notes that times are local and that families should check participating theaters and ticketing sites for availability.
One reason I think this is an interesting family outing is that Spirited Away isn’t being presented as a preschool or elementary-school activity. It is one of those movies that can work for older children, teenagers, young adults and parents watching together.
And if you have a young adult in your family who grew up with Studio Ghibli, seeing the movie in a theater for its 25th anniversary could make the evening feel a little more special than simply streaming it at home. Sometimes a family outing doesn’t have to involve a huge attraction or an expensive day trip. Sometimes you buy a couple of movie tickets, grab something to eat afterward and spend a few hours together. That counts, too.
One nice thing about this year’s Ghibli Fest presentation is that families have a choice. The English-dubbed screenings are scheduled for the weekend and Wednesday, while the Monday and Tuesday evening presentations will be in Japanese with English subtitles.
If your family has never watched the original Japanese version, the subtitle screenings could even turn the movie into a different kind of experience. And if you’re taking younger viewers who aren’t accustomed to subtitles, an English-dubbed showing may be the easier choice.
The theatrical presentation includes the full feature along with a post-film clip from the bonus featurette “Nippon Television Special.” So this isn’t simply a regular screening pulled from the theater archives. It is part of the larger Studio Ghibli Fest 2026 celebration.
Spirited Away isn’t the only Studio Ghibli movie being celebrated this year. The 2026 Ghibli Fest lineup has included several special presentations and anniversary screenings, including:
- Ponyo
- My Neighbor Totoro
- Tales from Earthsea — 20th Anniversary
- Only Yesterday — 35th Anniversary
- Castle in the Sky — 40th Anniversary
- Princess Mononoke — 4K Remastered
- Spirited Away — 25th Anniversary
GKIDS describes Spirited Away as the film that closes this year’s Studio Ghibli Fest lineup. There was even a special theatrical presentation of Spirited Away: Live On Stage earlier this month as part of the festival’s 25th-anniversary celebration.
If you’re thinking about seeing Spirited Away in theaters, I’d make the movie part of the evening rather than the entire plan.
You could:
Before the movie: Talk about whether anyone in the family has seen Spirited Away before. During the movie: Pay attention to the different spirits, characters and details in the bathhouse. After the movie: Grab dinner or dessert and talk about your favorite character.
You could even ask:
- What did you think Chihiro learned during the story?
- Which character would you want to meet?
- Which part of the movie surprised you?
- Would you want to visit the spirit world?
- What do you think the movie says about growing up?
Those questions can turn a movie night into a conversation that lasts longer than the credits.
Tickets are currently on sale for the Spirited Away 25th Anniversary screenings. Because participating theaters can vary and schedules can change, check the official sites for your local theater before making plans. Get Spirited Away 25th Anniversary tickets through GKIDS
You can also check the official Studio Ghibli Fest 2026 schedule and Fathom Entertainment’s Spirited Away event page for current information.
There is something special about watching an animated movie that has been loved for 25 years. For some families, the movie may be brand new. For others, it may be something parents watched when they were younger and are now introducing to their children. And for others, it may simply be an excuse to get everyone out of the house for a couple of hours this October.
Whatever brings you to the theater, Spirited Away is getting another chance to fill the big screen. October 17 through October 21, 2026. Five nights. One very memorable movie. Maybe this is the fall family movie night you’ve been looking for.
Grateful. Thankful. Blessed.
GreatfulMoments.com
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
