The Boy and the Beast

“Hosoda brings emotional depth to what could easily have become a formulaic martial arts saga. Instead, Boy and Beast is a bracing tale of two flawed individuals who find the love and discipline they need to assume their rightful places in their respective worlds.”

Charles Solomon, Los Angeles Times · 90

“Rising to the challenge of delivering a rousing finale, Hosoda does sock over a spectacular climactic battle on and below the streets of Tokyo with imaginative aplomb.”

Neil Young, The Hollywood Reporter · 80

“Though it piles all sorts of emotional baggage onto a series of already-tired believe-in-yourself cliches, Hosoda’s over-complicated script has the virtue of expressing itself less via words than it does through truly spectacular set pieces.”

Peter Debruge, Variety · 80

“The burgeoning bond between man and monster hits soaring emotional heights, even if the new world feels a little under-developed.”

Jordan Farley, Total Film · 80

“The style isn’t necessarily inferior to Studio Ghibli—it’s just different.... But once the shift in plot occurs to add drama, the visuals change as well.”

Jared Mobarak, The Film Stage · 75