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Comedy drama

Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! (2026): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! (2026) movie poster

Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! is a 2026 comedy drama directed by Josef Kubota Wladyka, starring Rinko Kikuchi as Haru, Alejandro Edda and Yoh Yoshida. It runs 2 hours 2 minutes and earned $417,555 worldwide. Critics gave it 76 on Metacritic.

worldwide gross
$417.6K
Echo Score
78
Metascore
76
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Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! (2026) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 2m (122 min)
Genres
Comedy , Drama , Fantasy , Music
Original language
English
Studio
Ha-Chan
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! About?

The premise of Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Haru and Luis are a competitive ballroom duo in Tokyo’s lively dance scene. After a sudden tragedy, Haru retreats into isolation, abandoning rehearsals. Friends persuade her to return to the studio, where she finds herself drawn to the new instructor. She must confront lingering grief, a budding attraction and an uncertain future as sparks ignite.

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Cast & crew

Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! Cast & Characters

Rinko Kikuchi leads the cast as Haru, with Alejandro Edda as Luis and Yoh Yoshida as Yuki. Directed by Josef Kubota Wladyka; 20 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!

· 16 more
From the director

More from Josef Kubota Wladyka

More films directed by Josef Kubota Wladyka, best-rated first: Catch the Fair One, Manos Sucias and Dirty Hands.

Full filmography
Ratings

Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! 76 on Metacritic. Our Echo Score gives it 78/100, strongest in character & emotion (88) and weakest in story & flow (70).

78 /100

Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! Echo Score Breakdown

Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! earns a warm reception as a heartfelt blend of grief and ballroom-dance whimsy anchored by a widely praised central performance. Reviews consistently highlight Rinko Kikuchi's nuanced, radiant work, the film's gentle handling of loss, and its feel-good balance of humor and emotion, with several noting echoes of classic Japanese dance films. Recurring reservations concern pacing—a few describe the runtime as overlong or the rhythm as inconsistent—and stylistic choices that some found distracting. Overall, the film lands as a charming, emotionally resonant crowd-pleaser with minor structural unevenness.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 78

    In terms of direction and cinematography, the film draws consistent praise for its assured craftsmanship. Several reviewers single out the cinematography as a standout, while others commend the director's delicate balance of heartbreak and whimsy and the understated, modest visual approach. Sporadic criticism targets jarring stylistic flourishes and a runtime that feels extended. Overall, the artistry is regarded as skilled and tasteful, with occasional tonal or editorial distractions.

  • Character & Emotion 88

    When it comes to character and emotion, the lead performance is the film's most universally celebrated element. Viewers and critics alike describe the acting as nuanced, radiant, and strong, praising the emotional honesty in portraying grief and rebuilding after loss. Supporting performances and ensemble chemistry also receive favorable mentions, and the friendship theme resonates deeply. Emotional depth emerges as a consistent strength with virtually no dissent.

  • Story & Flow 70

    In terms of story and flow, the narrative's warmth and sincerity earn broad approval, with its chaptered structure compared to a pleasant, gently unfolding tale about grief and rediscovering joy. However, several reviews cite a straightforward or slight premise, uneven pacing, and stretches that feel overlong or mundane. The story is generally engaging and heartfelt, though its simplicity and rhythm divide some viewers.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    Regarding the sensory experience, the soundtrack, needle drops, and dance interludes draw frequent praise, with musical flourishes and lively dance sequences noted even by otherwise critical viewers. The visual style is described as whimsical and imaginative, complementing the ballroom setting. Occasional comments flag stylistic distractions that clash with the story's tone. The overall sensory impression is vibrant and musical, modestly tempered by tonal inconsistency.

  • Rewatch Factor 76

    For rewatch value, the film's breezy, feel-good energy and uplifting treatment of grief suggest lasting appeal, with several viewers calling it pure happiness and one of their favorites of the year. Its light comedy and joyful dance moments lend themselves to repeat viewing. Counterpoints describe the pacing as slow or mundane, which may temper enthusiasm across repeat watches. The net takeaway favors pleasant repeatability.

Plot

Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! Plot Summary

What happens in Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Rinko Kikuchi as Haru and Alejandro Edda as Luis are a devoted couple deeply immersed in the Tokyo ballroom and Latin dance scene. Following the sudden death of Luis due to a heart attack, Haru spirals into a state of isolation, often imagining her late husband visiting her in the form of a giant black bird.

Encouraged by her sister Yoh Yoshida as Yuki and her friend YOU as Hiromi, Haru eventually returns to her dance studio. There, she develops feelings for a new instructor, Alberto Guerra as Fedir, who hails from Latin America. Fedir is currently in an open marriage with another professional dancer, Keren Louis as Mila, who resides in Paris.

Full summary

The whole story of Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! Box Office

Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! grossed $417,555 worldwide. $414,736 came from the US and Canada and $2,819 (1%) from the rest of the world.

2026 box office

Worldwide gross

$417.6K

US & Canada
$414.7K
International
$2.8K
US & Canada 99% Rest of the world 1%
Videos

Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 teaser.

Official Trailer
  • Teaser Official Teaser
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What causes the sudden death of Luis, Haru's husband?

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FAQ

Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! FAQ: Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!?

Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! runs 2 hours 2 minutes (122 minutes).

When was Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! released?

Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! was released on September 25, 2026.

Who directed Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!?

Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! was directed by Josef Kubota Wladyka.

More films by Josef Kubota Wladyka

Who is in the cast of Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!?

Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! stars Rinko Kikuchi as Haru, Alejandro Edda as Luis and Yoh Yoshida as Yuki, among 20 credited actors.

How much did Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! make at the box office?

Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! grossed $417,555 worldwide ($414,736 domestic, $2,819 international).

How is Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! rated?

Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! has 76 on Metacritic.

Does Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! have a post-credit scene?

No. Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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