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Mystery thriller

Sacrifice (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Sacrifice (2020) movie poster

Sacrifice is a 2020 mystery thriller directed by Taku Tsuboi, starring Michiko Gomi as Midori, Yuzu Aoki and Miki Handa. It runs 1 hour 17 minutes and earned $161 million worldwide. Its Echo Score is 58/100.

worldwide gross
$161M
Echo Score
58
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Sacrifice (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 17m (77 min)
Director
Taku Tsuboi
Genres
Mystery , Drama , Thriller
Original language
Japanese
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Sacrifice About?

The premise of Sacrifice without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Seven years after a startling prediction of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and her involvement with a doomsday cult, college student Midori experiences recurring visions through unusual powers. At the same school, another student, Toko, feels trapped and suspects her classmate Okita is responsible for a series of disturbing events, including the killings of cats and a fellow student. As Midori struggles to understand her abilities, Toko’s suspicions deepen, leading to a tense and unsettling investigation.

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Cast & crew

Sacrifice Cast & Characters

Michiko Gomi leads the cast as Midori, with Yuzu Aoki as Okita and Miki Handa as Toko. Directed by Taku Tsuboi; 4 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

Sacrifice Reviews & Ratings

Our Echo Score gives it 58/100, strongest in sensory experience (76) and weakest in story & flow (42).

58 /100

Sacrifice Echo Score Breakdown

Sacrifice draws a divided response, with its visual and atmospheric design earning consistent praise while its narrative foundation falters. Critics highlight the film's vivid dreamscape, coloured‑gel cinematography, and mounting dread, yet many note a thin plot, limited originality, and uneven character focus. The combined strengths and weaknesses produce a moderate overall impression, reflected in a middling aggregate score.

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

  • Art & Craft 62

    In terms of direction and visual craft, the film benefits from striking coloured‑gel cinematography and a distinctive giallo‑inspired style that many reviewers applauded. However, critics also observe that these stylistic choices do not fully compensate for pacing gaps and a lack of narrative cohesion. The net effect is a respectable but not outstanding artistic execution.

  • Character & Emotion 50

    When assessing acting and character depth, reviews offer little specific commendation, implying an average performance level. The occasional mention of “nightmare fakeouts” suggests some effective character moments, yet the overall absence of strong emotional resonance or chemistry points to a fairly neutral portrayal. Consequently, the character aspect sits near the midpoint.

  • Story & Flow 42

    Storytelling emerges as the film’s weakest element, with multiple critics citing a quickly unspooling narrative, limited Lovecraftian substance, and insufficient originality. Though the finale is described as surprising and chilling, the buildup is regarded as tepid and unsatisfying. This predominance of narrative criticism drags the story score into the lower range.

  • Sensory Experience 76

    Sensory experience receives strong approval, highlighted by an atmospheric horror tone, vivid dream‑like visuals, and an escalating sense of dread. Reviewers commend the eerie soundscape and visual cohesion that sustain tension throughout. While a few note that style alone cannot salvage the film, the overall sensory impact remains a notable strength.

  • Rewatch Factor 58

    Rewatch potential is moderate; the film’s unsettling ambiance and a knockout finale suggest occasional repeat value. Yet narrative shortcomings and a lack of compelling character arcs diminish its lasting appeal. The mixed sentiment yields a rewatch factor that is neither high enough to guarantee frequent returns nor low enough to be disregarded.

Plot

Sacrifice Plot Summary

What happens in Sacrifice from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 6-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Ben is an American social psychologist living in Berlin in the aftermath of his separation from his wife in California. He teaches at a local college and studies how cults work, writing books that explore the mechanics of group influence and conformity. His teenage daughter, Mazzy, arrives in Berlin for the semester to live with him and attend a nearby English-language school.

Full summary

The whole story of Sacrifice, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Sacrifice Box Office

Sacrifice grossed $161 million worldwide.

2020 box office

Worldwide gross

$161M

International
$161M
Videos

Sacrifice Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Sacrifice.

『サクリファイス(Sacrifice)』予告編|SKIPシティ国際Dシネマ映画祭2019国内コンペティション上映作品
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Sacrifice?

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

  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

What is Ben's profession?

Details

Sacrifice Also Known As

Also known as “牺牲”.

Also known as
  • 牺牲

Seen Sacrifice?

FAQ

Sacrifice FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, post-credit scenes and language of Sacrifice, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Sacrifice?

Sacrifice runs 1 hour 17 minutes (77 minutes).

When was Sacrifice released?

Sacrifice was released on March 6, 2020.

Who directed Sacrifice?

Sacrifice was directed by Taku Tsuboi.

Who is in the cast of Sacrifice?

Sacrifice stars Michiko Gomi as Midori, Yuzu Aoki as Okita and Miki Handa as Toko, among 4 credited actors.

How much did Sacrifice make at the box office?

Sacrifice grossed $161 million worldwide.

Does Sacrifice have a post-credit scene?

No. Sacrifice has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Sacrifice in?

The original language of Sacrifice is Japanese.

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