Overview
A chance encounter in Tokyo leads to an unexpected bond between two lost souls navigating their lives.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- melancholic
- witty
- wistful
- quiet evening
- reflective weekend
What critics said
Critics broadly acclaimed Sofia Coppola’s subtle direction and screenplay for balancing dry humor with melancholy, especially through Bill Murray’s vulnerable performance and the chemistry between the leads.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Bob and Charlotte develop a close friendship during a brief shared stay in Tokyo, outside their normal routines.
Bob confronts waning movie-star relevance, an unfulfilling marriage, and the pressures of commercial work.
Coppola foregrounds hotel interiors, Tokyo nightlife, jet lag, silence, and understated interactions.
Bob and Charlotte struggle with language barriers and broader feelings of disconnection while navigating Tokyo.
Films like Lost in Translation, and why
In the Mood for Love
shared melancholic romance, emotional disconnection, and understated intimacy between lonely adults
Before Sunset
shared bittersweet romantic comedy, urban alienation, and quietly observant character writing
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
shared dry humor, midlife dissatisfaction, and wistful connection across social dislocation
Movie Details
- Director
- Sofia Coppola
- Release Date
- 2003-09-18
- Runtime
- 102 min
- Rating
- 7.4 / 10 (8336)
Cast
- Bill Murray
- Scarlett Johansson
- Giovanni Ribisi
- Anna Faris
- Akiko Takeshita
- Kazuyoshi Minamimagoe
- Kazuko Shibata
- Take
- Ryuichiro Baba
- Akira Yamaguchi
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Lost in Translation about?
- Two adrift Americans find an unexpectedly intimate refuge in each other amid the neon solitude of Tokyo.
- What is Lost in Translation like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Lost in Translation as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Lost in Translation violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Lost in Translation.
- What did critics think of Lost in Translation?
- Critics broadly acclaimed Sofia Coppola’s subtle direction and screenplay for balancing dry humor with melancholy, especially through Bill Murray’s vulnerable performance and the chemistry between the leads.
- Which films are like Lost in Translation?
- Films with a similar feel include In the Mood for Love, Before Sunset, and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.
- How long is Lost in Translation?
- Lost in Translation runs 102 minutes.
- Where can I watch Lost in Translation?
- In United States, Lost in Translation is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube.
