I Wish
Separated brothers enlist their friends in a train-centered journey that tests childhood wishes against the complicated realities of family.
Overview
A heartfelt journey of childhood dreams and family bonds unfolds in this touching drama.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- nostalgic
- gentle
- wistful
- family movie night
- reflective weekend
What critics said
Critics broadly praised its absorbing, finely observed portrait of childhood, combining nostalgic warmth with well-rounded characters and understated family drama.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Koichi and Ryunosuke's separated experiences organize the film around children's hopes, friendships, and interpretations of the adult world.
Koichi lives apart from Ryunosuke and their father, while the siblings privately imagine whether their family can reunite.
The children's belief that passing bullet trains can grant wishes drives their trip and exposes their differing hopes.
The film balances its train adventure with carefully observed friendships, family routines, and the children's changing expectations.
Films like I Wish, and why
Still Walking
childhood perspective, gentle family drama, wistful emotional tone, and a journey shaped by friendship
Nobody Knows
warmly observed childhood, understated family conflict, and bittersweet everyday realism
The Florida Project
children navigating family separation through an intimate, compassionate coming-of-age story
Stand by Me
nostalgic youth adventure, friendship, and emotionally grounded discovery
Movie Details
- Director
- Hirokazu Kore-eda
- Release Date
- 2011-06-11
- Runtime
- 127 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (183)
Cast
- Koki Maeda
- Oshirō Maeda
- Nene Otsuka
- Joe Odagiri
- Ryôga Hayashi
- Hoshinosuke Yoshinaga
- Kyara Uchida
- Kanna Hashimoto
- Rento Isobe
- Masami Nagasawa
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is I Wish about?
- Separated brothers enlist their friends in a train-centered journey that tests childhood wishes against the complicated realities of family.
- What is I Wish like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of I Wish as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is I Wish violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in I Wish.
- What did critics think of I Wish?
- Critics broadly praised its absorbing, finely observed portrait of childhood, combining nostalgic warmth with well-rounded characters and understated family drama.
- Which films are like I Wish?
- Films with a similar feel include Still Walking, Nobody Knows, The Florida Project, and Stand by Me.
- How long is I Wish?
- I Wish runs 127 minutes.
- Where can I watch I Wish?
- In United States, I Wish streams on Philo, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel.
