Akio Ôtsuka, Daisuke Sakaguchi, Hideyuki Tanaka

A machine allows therapists to enter patients' dreams. When it's stolen, all hell breaks loose, and only a woman therapist (nicknamed "Paprika") seems able to stop it.

Flixster Users

87% liked it

30,391 ratings

Critics

82% liked it

85 critics

R, 1 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Satoshi Kon

Release Date: December 31, 2007

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DVD Release Date: November 27, 2007

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Stats: 4,173 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (4,173)


  • September 30, 2009
    Surreal, very surreal and wonderfully inventive. It kept me entertained throughout with its unpredictability and amazing visuals. This is a great film, even if you?re not into Anime/Manga etc
  • August 22, 2009
    Really expected to like this. Perfect Blue was an absolute masterpiece and Paranoia Agent was fantastic at first. Unfortunately, this entire film is like the end of Paranoia Agent. It seems to say "The mind and dreams are unexplainable and random", fair enough, but that's no reas...( read more)on to make an unexplainable and random film. I'm all for surreal cinema, Inland Empire was incredible. But that had pacing and a general sense of mystery. Paprika, once you get over the perfect animation, is nothing but visuals. The characters are very flat, the pacing is off, and the story just fades into nothingness. I hope Kon can go back to using explorations of the mind as a tool and not the entire product.
  • June 13, 2008
    Visually inventive and beautifully constructed mind bender which tackles dream states' manipulation with technology. Largely comprehensible for Manga, it's let down by a flat ending.
  • April 5, 2008
    Almost Lynchian in a way. What more can I say...
  • March 13, 2008
    An interesting concept, with some truly interesting visuals.
    A sort of 'Wachowski brothers meet Alfred Hitchcock with some very Dali inspired Japanese anime.
    Could have been a bit more cohesive story wise, but all in all an enjoyable little journey.
  • October 11, 2009
    Interesting premise that failed to deliver. I was expecting more.
  • October 6, 2009
    The fact that this film is animation did not bother me in the least, this film would be great whether it was live action, animation, or whatever.This film was a mind blowing journey through the minds of its characters. If you like surreal films and you don't mind well done animat...( read more)ion then this film is definitely for you. This film ranks up there with Surreal Masterpieces like Jodorowsky's "The Holy Mountain" and Laloux's animated surreal classic "Fantastic Planet". This movie is flat out amazing and redefines the term Mind Blowing.
  • September 26, 2009
    anime kind of style, sometimes a little non-sequitur-like, at times even scary
  • September 25, 2009
    "This is your brain on anime."



    WOW. This movie was stellar! An amazing adventure filled with surrealism and psychedelic colors. I was hooked from the beginning. The ending was just too cool. A fun and enjoyable journey.

    Reco...( read more)mmended.
  • September 17, 2009
    Paprika is a very crazy film, yet with bits of great originality. The character development is extremely good, and it is well-written. Although it not may be Satoshi Kon's best film, it surely has the best animation in it and is the most intense and vissionary. Fantastic movie ov...( read more)erall.

    78/100

Critic Reviews


June 15, 2007
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

We're so used to current cautious commercial formulas, it comes as an enjoyable shock to see something like Satoshi Kon's Japanese film, Paprika, which reminds us that with animation, almost anything ... full review

June 8, 2007
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

This is without question a unique and superior achievement. full review

June 7, 2007
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

Style 10, substance, maybe 2. full review

June 1, 2007
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

You stagger out of this one both grateful and ready for a deep and dreamless nap. full review

May 31, 2007
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

For an alternate set of exciting alter egos, see Satoshi Kon's Paprika, a brilliant anime feature. full review

May 25, 2007
Pete Hammond, Maxim

The animated blast of the summer- a rowdy, racy, brilliantly executed sci-fi psychedelic head trip that may just blow you away. full review

May 25, 2007
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Fiercely provocative, Paprika shames Hollywood's use of animation as a kiddie pacifier. full review

October 10, 2006
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

Becomes far more enthralling ... the more one simply surrenders to the awe-inspiring beauty of Kon's images of flesh, metal and unhinged mental delusions. full review

View more Paprika reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • pressoffice1
    June 16, 2008
    Hi everyone,

    The Film Society of Lincoln Center is happy to welcome the acclaimed Japanese anime writer/director Satoshi Kon to NY for a complete retrospective of his films June 27 to July 1. We'll have an onstage conversation with Mr Kon at the Walter Reade Theater on Friday, June 27 at 6.15pm and would love to see you there!

    PS If you'd like more info, please go to filmlinc.com.

  • bluekiller2025
    September 13, 2007
    I'm so glad my friends told me that they were playing this at the college near me. Loved the story, music, and characters. It was really fun trying to see all the other movie references in this movie. Plus it was a real trippy movie too.
  • pariswhenitsizzles1
    March 15, 2007
    I cannot wait to see this in theatres. I just hope that the 'indie' theatre gets it close to its release date.
  • OhtoriKagura
    December 10, 2006
    HIGHLY RECCOMENDED. It's a Satoshi Kon at his best again.

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