Culture
Action thriller
Akira (1989): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Akira is a 1989 action thriller directed by Katsuhiro Ôtomo, starring Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki and Mami Koyama. It is based on Akira 35th Anniversary Box Set by Katsuhiro Otomo. It runs 2 hours 4 minutes and earned $3 million worldwide. Critics gave it 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and 68 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.0/10.
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- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 4m (124 min)
- Director
- Katsuhiro Ôtomo
- Original language
-
Japanese - Studio
- Toho Company
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
The story
What Is Akira About?
The premise of Akira without spoilers, adapted from Akira 35th Anniversary Box Set by Katsuhiro Otomo. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In 1988, a failed psychic experiment leads to a catastrophic event in Tokyo. Thirty years later, biker Kaneda finds himself facing a dangerous government project linked to his friend Tetsuo. Tetsuo's latent psychic abilities are growing uncontrollably, and Kaneda must fight against powerful, corrupt forces to stop him. The escalating conflict culminates in a confrontation at the Tokyo Olympiad, uncovering the dark secrets behind the original experiment and threatening the city's destruction.
Akira Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- cyberpunk
- biker gang
- based on manga
- military
- psychic
- supernatural power
- post thermonuclear war
- science runs amok
- mutation
- motorcycle gang
- post apocalypse
- anger
+38 more Show fewer
- bosozoku
- headache
- teenager
- government
- adult animation
- gifted child
- motorcycle accident
- motorcycle chase
- protest
- laboratory
- mutant
- motorcycle crash
- tokyo japan
- gang
- scientist
- clown
- fighting the system
- superhuman speed
- superhuman strength
- antihero
- hallucination
- human experimentation
- telekinesis
- delinquent
- friend becomes rival
- school
- riot police
- good versus evil
- drug
- drugs
- teenage gang
- future japan
- neo noir
- japanese cyberpunk
- body horror
- politician
- based on comic book
- prosthetic arm
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Cast & crew
Akira Cast
Mitsuo Iwata leads the cast, with Nozomu Sasaki and Mami Koyama. Directed by Katsuhiro Ôtomo; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Director Katsuhiro Ôtomo
Also Starring in Akira
· 6 more From the director
More from Katsuhiro Ôtomo
More films directed by Katsuhiro Ôtomo, best-rated first: Steamboy and Short Peace.
Ratings
Akira Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Akira 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and 68 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.0/10.
-
IMDb 8.0 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 91% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 90%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 68 Metascore
User score 8.5
See on Metacritic
Plot
Akira Plot Summary
What happens in Akira from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
On July 16, 1988, a catastrophic atomic explosion devastates Tokyo, leading to the rise of Neo-Tokyo, a grim and violent city by 2019, 31 years after World War III. In a dilapidated part of this urban sprawl, a bar buzzes with tension as the bartender, Yôsuke Akimoto, deals drugs while the news broadcasts highlight the rampant unrest stemming from widespread unemployment and economic despair.
Full summary
The whole story of Akira, scene by scene
Box office
Akira Box Office
Akira grossed $3 million worldwide. $553,171 came from the US and Canada and $2.4 million (82%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$3M
- US & Canada
- $553.2K
- International
- $2.4M
US & Canada 18%
Rest of the world 82%
Quiz
How Well Do You Know Akira?
9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 9
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
What catastrophic event devastated Tokyo in Akira?
Cars
Cars in Akira
1 car on screen: the 1982 Nissan Civilian.
-
1982 Nissan Civilian Minor role
Details
Akira Also Known As
16 alternative titles, including “อากีรา ไม่เหมือนคน” and “아키라”.
- Also known as
-
- อากีรา ไม่เหมือนคน
- 아키라
- 光明战士阿基拉
- 亚基拉
- アキラ
- AKIRA：1988
- 폭풍 소년
- 阿基拉
- Ακίρα
- אקירה
- Акира
- Акіра
+4 more Show fewer
- อากิระ คนไม่ใช่คน
- أكيرا
- Chúa Tể Akira
- آکیرا, აკირა
Seen Akira?
More like this
Movies Like Akira
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Metropolis, Akira Production Report and Akira and Akira.
From the blog
Articles About Akira
3 articles about Akira. The latest: “Exploring the World of Cult Animation Films”.
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FAQ
Akira FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of Akira, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Akira?
Akira runs 2 hours 4 minutes (124 minutes).
When was Akira released?
Akira was released on December 25, 1989.
Who directed Akira?
Akira was directed by Katsuhiro Ôtomo.
More films by Katsuhiro Ôtomo Who is in the cast of Akira?
Akira stars Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki and Mami Koyama, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Akira make at the box office?
Akira grossed $3 million worldwide ($553,171 domestic, $2.4 million international).
How is Akira rated?
Akira has 8.0/10 on IMDb, 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and 68 on Metacritic.
Is Akira based on a book?
Yes. Akira is adapted from Akira 35th Anniversary Box Set by Katsuhiro Otomo.
Does Akira have a post-credit scene?
No. Akira has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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