Overview
A whimsical tale of a pig who soars through the skies, battling air pirates and rival pilots in a charming Mediterranean setting.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- playful
- wistful
- family movie night
- aviation film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a visually splendid, witty, and unusually layered Studio Ghibli adventure that blends fantasy with history and affectionately parodies wartime flying films.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Porco Rosso lives with the appearance of a pig, linking his curse to his identity as a disillusioned former ace and his rejection of fascism.
Porco’s seaplane, air-pirate encounters, and aerial duels make flight central to both the action and the film’s sense of freedom.
The film playfully echoes old flying-adventure stories while presenting Porco as a cynical, self-exiled hero who rejects militarism and fascism.
Early 1930s Italy, fascism, air pirates, and aviation history coexist with a human transformed into a pig and a comic adventure structure.
Films like Porco Rosso, and why
The Wind Rises
whimsical aviation adventure, imaginative fantasy, anti-authoritarian themes, and richly crafted animation
Castle in the Sky
family-friendly animated adventure, inventive fantasy worldbuilding, playful humor, and themes of courage and loyalty
Howl's Moving Castle
stylized animated fantasy adventure centered on flight, friendship, transformation, and a charismatic outsider hero
The Rocketeer
retro aviation spectacle, romantic rivalry, swashbuckling humor, and an affectionate revision of old adventure cinema
Movie Details
- Director
- Hayao Miyazaki
- Release Date
- 1992-07-18
- Runtime
- 93 min
- Rating
- 7.8 / 10 (3831)
Cast
- Shūichirō Moriyama
- Tokiko Kato
- Bunshi Katsura VI
- Tsunehiko Kamijô
- Akemi Okamura
- Akio Otsuka
- Hiroko Seki
- Reizō Nomoto
- Osamu Saka
- Yu Shimaka
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel, 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 Porco Rosso about?
- A rebellious pig-faced seaplane ace battles air pirates and fascist-era expectations in a witty, romantic Studio Ghibli sky adventure.
- What is Porco Rosso like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Porco Rosso as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Porco Rosso violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Porco Rosso as mild.
- What did critics think of Porco Rosso?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a visually splendid, witty, and unusually layered Studio Ghibli adventure that blends fantasy with history and affectionately parodies wartime flying films.
- Which films are like Porco Rosso?
- Films with a similar feel include The Wind Rises, Castle in the Sky, Howl's Moving Castle, and The Rocketeer.
- How long is Porco Rosso?
- Porco Rosso runs 93 minutes.
- Where can I watch Porco Rosso?
- In United States, Porco Rosso streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max.
