Few theatrical experiences still spark the same communal magic that fans line up for year after year. Studio Ghibli Fest transforms cinema lobbies into reunion grounds where longtime fans sit alongside kids seeing Totoro for the first time. In 2025, the celebration hits a milestone — Studio Ghibli’s 40th anniversary — with eight films screening in US theaters through November, organized by GKIDS and Fathom Events (Cinema Daily US). Whether you caught the original runs or discovered these films on streaming, the big screen version feels like a different beast entirely.

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Organizer: GKIDS, Fathom Events · End Date: Nov 19, 2025 · Theaters: Regal, Cinemark, AMC nationwide

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact ticket prices per theater chain
  • Full list of all local “near me” showtimes
  • 2026 complete film roster beyond Ponyo
3Timeline signal
  • May 17: Kiki’s Delivery Service (DUB)
  • June 22: Arrietty 15th anniversary
  • Nov 15: The Boy and the Heron finale
4What’s next
  • Studio Ghibli Fest 2026 kicks off June with Ponyo
  • Tales from Earthsea 20th anniversary confirmed
  • Full 2026 slate on GKIDS site

The table below consolidates the essential details for quick reference during planning.

Key facts about Studio Ghibli Fest 2025
Field Detail
Event Name Studio Ghibli Fest 2025
Organizer GKIDS, Fathom Events
Opening Film Kiki’s Delivery Service (May 17)
Closing Film The Boy and the Heron (Nov 15-19)
Theaters Regal, Cinemark, AMC nationwide
Anniversary Studio Ghibli 40th (est. 1985)

Will there be a Studio Ghibli Fest 2025?

Yes — and it ran through November 2025, wrapping up with The Boy and the Heron. GKIDS and Fathom Entertainment organized the Studio Ghibli Fest 2025 to celebrate Studio Ghibli’s 40th anniversary, bringing eight films to US theaters from May through mid-November (Cinema Daily US). The announcement dropped in April 2025, and screenings have been available at Regal, Cinemark, and AMC locations nationwide.

The closing title made sense on multiple levels: The Boy and the Heron (2023) earned Hayao Miyazaki his second Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, and it was the most recent Ghibli release in the lineup. For fans who’d been following the studio for decades, catching the newest film on the big screen alongside classics from 1988 and 1989 felt like a full-circle moment.

What is the lineup for Studio Ghibli 2025?

The Studio Ghibli Fest 2025 lineup centered on the studio’s 40th anniversary with eight films spanning 1988 to 2023 (Cinema Daily US). Each film received both English dubbed (DUB) and Japanese subtitled (SUB) screenings, giving audiences genuine choice in how they experienced these stories (CableTV.com theater guide).

  • Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989) — May 17-21, DUB/SUB mix
  • The Secret World of Arrietty (2010, 15th Anniversary) — June 22-24
  • My Neighbor Totoro (1988) — July 19-23
  • Grave of the Fireflies (1988, SUB only) — August 10-12
  • Ponyo (2008) — August 23-27
  • Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) — September 20-24
  • Spirited Away (2001, Oscar-winning) — October 18-22
  • The Boy and the Heron (2023) — November 15-19

The lineup leaned heavily on Hayao Miyazaki’s directing credits — seven of the eight films — with only The Secret World of Arrietty directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi (co-written by Miyazaki). Most films received five days of screenings, while Grave of the Fireflies was limited to three SUB-only dates, a constraint that reflected both the war drama’s mature content and its historically limited theatrical availability.

Bottom line: The 2025 lineup stacked legendary titles side by side. For families who discovered Ghibli during the pandemic streaming boom, this was the chance to see what the fuss was about on a proper screen — and for longtime fans, it was the annual pilgrimage.

Studio Ghibli Fest 2025 schedule

The Studio Ghibli Fest 2025 schedule ran roughly May through November with films typically screening over 3-5 days each (Cinema Daily US). Specific dates and formats shifted slightly between films, but the general pattern held: opening weekend offered a DUB option, midweek added SUB options, and closing days cycled back to DUB.

Grave of the Fireflies broke the pattern entirely — it ran SUB-only from August 10-12, skipping English dub options entirely. This made sense given the film’s status as a gut-punch war drama that most critics argue loses impact in dubbed form, but it also meant fans had to plan around tighter scheduling constraints.

When and where to catch screenings

  • Check the Fathom Entertainment site for national schedule overview
  • Search specific films at AMC Theatres for real-time ticket availability
  • Regal and Cinemark locations offered their own listings through their respective apps and websites
The upshot

Plan ahead if you want specific dates or premium formats — popular titles like My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away sold out fast at major chains, and the five-day windows closed without warning for most locations.

How much do tickets cost for Ghibli Fest?

Ticket pricing varied by theater chain rather than following a single national rate. AMC, Regal, and Cinemark each set their own prices for Ghibli Fest screenings, and studios didn’t publish standardized pricing as part of the announcement (CableTV.com theater guide). Premium large-format screens and reserved seating often cost more than standard auditoriums.

For context, most major chain screenings in 2024 ranged roughly $13-20 per ticket depending on location and format, though 2025 prices could have shifted. The safest approach: check your specific theater’s website for the film and date you want, rather than relying on national averages.

Tickets were available through the official theater websites — AMC, Regal, and Cinemark all had dedicated pages for Ghibli Fest screenings with showtimes and seat maps. Fathom Events also linked directly to theater partners from its own schedule page (Fathom Entertainment).

Studio Ghibli Fest 2026 details

Studio Ghibli Fest 2026 is already on the calendar, and the organizers have started revealing the slate. GKIDS announced that the 2026 lineup will kick off in June with Ponyo and feature the 20th anniversary of Tales from Earthsea, with Only Yesterday also on the schedule (GKIDS official site). The full roster hasn’t been published yet, but the direction is clear: this isn’t a one-time anniversary event.

The pattern suggests the fest is settling into an annual rhythm, with the 2026 edition starting in summer rather than the spring launch that characterized 2025. For fans who missed specific films in 2025 — or who want to see different titles on the big screen — planning ahead now means better seat selection and fewer last-minute scrambles.

Timeline


Lineup and schedule announced for 40th anniversary fest

Kiki’s Delivery Service opens fest (first DUB screening)

The Secret World of Arrietty 15th Anniversary screenings begin

My Neighbor Totoro runs July 19-23

Grave of the Fireflies (SUB only, 3 days)

Howl’s Moving Castle at AMC nationwide

Spirited Away (Oscar-winning 2001)

The Boy and the Heron closes fest

The timeline shows a deliberate arc from family-friendly openings to the prestige closer — organizers clearly designed the schedule to pull in different audience segments across the months.

What we know — and what we don’t

Confirmed

  • Studio Ghibli Fest 2025 ran May-Nov with 8 films
  • GKIDS and Fathom Events organized the fest
  • Kiki’s opened May 17; Boy and Heron closed Nov 19
  • Screenings available at Regal, Cinemark, AMC
  • Both DUB and SUB options offered
  • 2026 lineup includes Ponyo and Tales from Earthsea

Unclear

  • Exact ticket prices per chain or location
  • Full list of every participating theater beyond major chains
  • Specific showtimes (e.g., 3PM vs 7PM) per venue
  • Complete 2026 film roster beyond confirmed titles
  • Whether international screenings beyond US will materialize

The gap between confirmed facts and open questions reflects the typical information asymmetry between official announcements and granular operational details — fans should expect the unknowns to resolve closer to each film’s run.

What they’re saying

In celebration of Studio Ghibli’s 40th anniversary, GKIDS and Fathom Entertainment are teaming up to bring eight of their critically acclaimed animated movies back to U.S. theaters.

— Cinema Daily US (publication report)

Ever wanted to watch your favorite Studio Ghibli films on the big screen, where they were meant to be experienced?

— CableTV.com (theater guide)

The STUDIO GHIBLI FEST 2026 lineup kicks off this June with Ponyo as one of many timeless classics.

— GKIDS (official announcement)

Why this matters

Studio Ghibli has historically resisted digital distribution outside of Max — theatrical runs like this fest remain the primary way most fans outside Japan experience these films on a big screen. Each year’s window closes and doesn’t reopen until the next edition.

The implication is straightforward for US fans: if you missed your local run, the wait for the next opportunity just got longer. GKIDS has built Ghibli Fest into an annual tradition, but the gaps between a film’s screening window and the next year’s fest can stretch to 12 months or more — and some films don’t appear every year. For the 2025 lineup, every single title felt like a legitimate event draw: Kiki’s for nostalgia, Grave of the Fireflies for serious viewers, Totoro for families, and The Boy and the Heron as the freshest possible entry.

Related reading: Where to Watch 28 Days Later · Cast of 16 Candles 40 Years Later

Studio Ghibli Fest 2025 spotlights eight classics from the studio’s catalog, similar to those profiled in Studio Ghibli produced films overview.

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Frequently asked questions

Do they do Ghibli Fest every year?

GKIDS and Fathom Events have staged Studio Ghibli Fest annually since 2017, making 2025 the ninth consecutive edition. The 2026 lineup announcement confirms the tradition continues.

Which theaters show Studio Ghibli Fest 2025?

Regal, Cinemark, and AMC participate in the national rollout, with specific locations varying by market. Not every chain carries every screening — check individual theater websites for availability.

Is Studio Ghibli Fest 2025 still happening?

The 2025 edition wrapped in November. For current and upcoming screenings, check GKIDS and Fathom Events for the latest schedule announcements.

Where to find Studio Ghibli Fest 2025 near me?

Search your theater chain’s website (AMC, Regal, Cinemark) for “Studio Ghibli Fest” or the specific film title. Fathom Events also lists participating locations on its event page.

Has the 2026 Ghibli Fest lineup been revealed?

GKIDS has confirmed Ponyo and Tales from Earthsea 20th Anniversary for 2026. The complete roster, including potential additional films, is expected on the official GKIDS Ghibli Fest site.

Studio Ghibli Fest 2025 Cinemark — are dates confirmed?

Cinemark carried 2025 screenings as part of the national distribution. Specific showings varied by location — check Cinemark.com directly for the film and dates you’re targeting.

Can I stream Ghibli Fest films instead?

Studio Ghibli’s library is available on Max in the US outside the theatrical window. The films also appear for digital rental on Apple TV, Amazon, and other platforms — but these are separate from the fest screenings and don’t include special theatrical content.