Gantz
Two teenagers recruited by a mysterious black sphere are forced into a brutal alien-hunting game hidden within modern Tokyo.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- tense
- kinetic
- disturbing
- action movie night
- late night genre viewing
What critics said
Critics generally viewed the film as entertaining Japanese popcorn science fiction with impressive effects, while noting that voice-over presentation weakened the experience.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The mysterious black sphere dictates missions, equips the participants, and determines the terms of their survival.
The protagonists hunt aliens hiding among ordinary people and locations in contemporary Tokyo.
The alien enemies and combat effects are central attractions, with reviews specifically praising the impressive effects.
The story begins with an attempted rescue and repeatedly places the teens in missions where survival depends on lethal choices.
Films like Gantz, and why
Inuyashiki
Japanese science fiction action with alien threats, stylized violence, and youthful protagonists confronting an opaque system
Battle Royale
High-concept Japanese science fiction built around ordinary people transformed into combatants and forced into lethal confrontations
Attack the Block
Visually ambitious alien-invasion action combining body horror, adolescent characters, and escalating survival stakes
Tokyo Ghoul
Manga-derived science fiction action with fantastical enemies, graphic combat, and a morally uncertain game-like structure
Movie Details
- Director
- Shinsuke Sato
- Release Date
- 2010-11-29
- Runtime
- 130 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (355)
Cast
- Kazunari Ninomiya
- Kanata Hongo
- Kenichi Matsuyama
- Natsuna Watanabe
- Ainosuke Shibata
- Yuriko Yoshitaka
- Ayumi Ito
- Chieko Ichikawa
- Donpei Tsuchihira
- Hidekazu Nagae
Common questions
- What is Gantz about?
- Two teenagers recruited by a mysterious black sphere are forced into a brutal alien-hunting game hidden within modern Tokyo.
- What is Gantz like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Gantz as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Gantz violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Gantz as graphic.
- What did critics think of Gantz?
- Critics generally viewed the film as entertaining Japanese popcorn science fiction with impressive effects, while noting that voice-over presentation weakened the experience.
- Which films are like Gantz?
- Films with a similar feel include Inuyashiki, Battle Royale, Attack the Block, and Tokyo Ghoul.
- How long is Gantz?
- Gantz runs 130 minutes.
