Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko
Seen it?2021 | 97 min | Animation, Drama, Family, Comedy
Saturday Specialearly ratingWhy it’s a Saturday Special
It earned strong reviews (92% on Rotten Tomatoes), despite almost no lasting buzz. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh and families. If you loved The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, start here.
- The mood
- Funny with heart, feel-good.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 37 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in Japanese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
Brash single mother Nikuko is well-known for her bold spirit, much to the embarrassment of Kikuko, her pensive yet imaginative daughter. In contrast to her mother, Kikuko wants nothing more than to fit in as she navigates the everyday social dramas of middle school. Life in the harbor is peaceful until a shocking revelation from the past threatens to uproot the pair's tender relationship.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
92% on Rotten Tomatoes, 68 on Metacritic
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsBelow par
4 wins and 1 nomination from smaller awards and festivals
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$2 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 23K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Ayumu Watanabe
- Shinobu OtakeNikuko-chan (voice)
- CocomiKikuko (voice)
- Natsuki HanaeNinomiya (voice)
- Ikuji NakamuraSassan (voice)
- Izumi IshiiMaria (voice)
- Atsushi YamanishiZenji (voice)
- Yuichi YasodaOld man at the aquarium / Other characters (voice)
- Matsuko DeluxeDarcia (voice)
- Riho YoshiokaMiu (voice)
- Hiro ShimonoLizard / Gecko (voice)