Monday Morning Maybe

Add your email and we'll match picks to the services you stream at home.

Poster for Evil Does Not Exist

Evil Does Not Exist

Seen it?

2023 | 106 min | Drama

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (91% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had soft box office and little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Thoughtful and character-driven.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 46 min.
What might put you off
  • It's in Japanese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

Takumi and his daughter Hana live in Mizubiki Village, close to Tokyo. One day, the village inhabitants become aware of a plan to build a camping site near Takumi's house offering city residents a comfortable "escape" to nature.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    91% on Rotten Tomatoes, 83 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    6.8 out of 10

  • AwardsSolid

    Won 1 Venice award: Venice Film Festival: Best Original Score. Plus 9 other awards.

  • Reach & staying powerBelow par

    Streaming release that reached a modest audience

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 75K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

More like this

Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks

Cast & crew

Directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi

  • Hitoshi OmikaTakumi
  • Ryo NishikawaHana
  • Ryuji KosakaTakahashi
  • Ayaka ShibutaniMayuzumi
  • Hazuki KikuchiSachi
  • Hiroyuki MiuraKazuo
  • Yoshinori MiyataHoriguchi
  • Yûto ToriiTatsuki
  • Takako YamamuraYoshiko
  • Takuma NagaoHasegawa