Belle
A shy rural teenager becomes a virtual pop sensation and risks her newfound visibility to understand a hunted online outcast.
Overview
A shy girl transforms into a virtual superstar, but her journey of self-discovery leads her to confront deeper truths.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- wistful
- uplifting
- tender
- family movie night
- anime night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's sumptuous animation, music, worldbuilding, and emotional character work, while noting that its many plot threads can feel overstuffed.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Suzu becomes the globally celebrated singer Belle inside the virtual world U, contrasting with her shy rural identity.
U lets Suzu rebuild her confidence while exposing the emotional wounds and abusive circumstances surrounding the mysterious Beast.
The Beauty and the Beast framework is reworked through avatars, livestreamed concerts, vigilante hunts, and social networking.
Belle's performances and the design of U provide sumptuous, globally scaled animation and recurring musical set pieces.
Films like Belle, and why
Summer Wars
shares anime spectacle, virtual-reality worldbuilding, identity themes, and emotionally driven science fiction
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
shares Mamoru Hosoda's anime style, family-centered drama, digital-world adventure, and questions of online identity
The Shape of Water
shares a tender Beauty and the Beast-inspired romance, self-acceptance themes, and visually imaginative fantasy
Sing
shares musical animation, adolescent self-discovery, and a protagonist finding confidence through performance
Movie Details
- Director
- Mamoru Hosoda
- Release Date
- 2021-07-16
- Runtime
- 121 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (918)
Cast
- Kaho Nakamura
- Ryo Narita
- Shota Sometani
- Tina Tamashiro
- Lilas Ikuta
- Ryoko Moriyama
- Michiko Shimizu
- Fuyumi Sakamoto
- Yoshimi Iwasaki
- Sachiyo Nakao
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel, Philo, HBO Max
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Belle about?
- A shy rural teenager becomes a virtual pop sensation and risks her newfound visibility to understand a hunted online outcast.
- What is Belle like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Belle as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Belle violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Belle as mild.
- What did critics think of Belle?
- Critics broadly praised the film's sumptuous animation, music, worldbuilding, and emotional character work, while noting that its many plot threads can feel overstuffed.
- Which films are like Belle?
- Films with a similar feel include Summer Wars, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, The Shape of Water, and Sing.
- How long is Belle?
- Belle runs 121 minutes.
- Where can I watch Belle?
- In United States, Belle streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, Philo, HBO Max.
