SimilarScreen
April Story

April Story

19987.11h 7m

Overview

In spring, a girl leaves the island of Hokkaido to attend university in Tokyo. Once there, she is asked to reveal why she wanted to go there in the first place.

Directed by Shunji Iwai
Written by Shunji Iwai
Produced by Hidemi Satani
0

Top Cast

Takako Matsu

Takako Matsu

Uzuki Nireno

Seiichi Tanabe

Seiichi Tanabe

Yamazaki

Kaori Fujii

Kaori Fujii

Teruko Kitao

R

Rumi

Saeko Sono

Kazuhiko Kato

Kazuhiko Kato

Kato

Ken Mitsuishi

Ken Mitsuishi

Salaryman

Matsumoto Hakuō II

Matsumoto Hakuō II

Father

N

Noriko Fujima

Mother

Matsumoto Kōshirō X

Matsumoto Kōshirō X

Brother

K

Kio Matsumoto

Sister

Themes & Keywords

japannostalgiccomforting

About April Story

April Story is a romance, drama film released in 1998 exploring themes of japan, nostalgic, comforting. Directed by Shunji Iwai, it stars Takako Matsu, Seiichi Tanabe, Kaori Fujii. In spring, a girl leaves the island of Hokkaido to attend university in Tokyo. Once there, she is asked to reveal why she wanted to go there in the first place.

Movies Similar to April Story

Discover titles like April Story — ranked by similarity and community votes

We found 15 movies similar to April Story

If you enjoyed April Story, you'll love these handpicked recommendations. Each title below shares similar themes, tone, and storytelling style. Our algorithm analyzes genres, keywords, director filmography, and cast connections to find the closest matches. Whether you're looking for the same emotional depth, narrative structure, or visual style, these picks are curated to deliver the best viewing experience for fans of April Story.

Love Letter
51% Match

Hiroko attends the memorial service of her fiancé, Itsuki Fujii, who died in a mountain-climbing incident. Although Itsuki's mother says that their old house is gone, Hiroko records the address listed under his name in his yearbook and sends him a letter. Surprisingly, she receives a reply, and discovers it came from his old classmate, a girl who also happens to be called Itsuki Fujii.

Our Friend
36% Match

Our Friend(2019)

Movie7.1/10

After learning that his terminally ill wife has six months to live, a man welcomes the support of his best friend who moves into their home to help out.

I've Always Liked You
36% Match

Love is blooming at Sakuragaoka High School. Natsuki Enomoto has finally mustered the courage to confess to her childhood friend, Yuu Setoguchi. However, in the final moments of her confession, an embarrassed Natsuki passes it off as a "practice confession." Oblivious to her true feelings and struggling with his own, Yuu promises to support Natsuki in her quest for love. While Natsuki deals with her failed confession, fellow classmate Koyuki Ayase struggles with his own feelings for Natsuki. Despite his timidness, he is determined to win over her heart. This movie follows Natsuki as she dreams of one day ending her practices and genuinely confessing to Yuu. Meanwhile, close friends also find themselves entangled in their own webs of unrequited love and unspoken affections.

Eternity
34% Match

Eternity(2025)

Movie7.0/10

In an afterlife where souls have one week to decide where to spend eternity, Joan is faced with the impossible choice between the man she spent her life with and her first love, who died young and has waited decades for her to arrive.

Ready or Not
30% Match

A young bride's wedding night turns into her worst nightmare when her ridiculously rich in-laws force her to play a gruesome game of hide-and-seek.

Two Irenes
30% Match

Two Irenes(2017)

Movie6.8/10

In the shimmering heat of Brazil, 13-year-old Irene discovers a dark secret her father's been hiding: he has another family and even another daughter with the same name.

Amélie
29% Match

Amélie(2001)

Movie7.9/10

At a tiny Parisian café, the adorable yet painfully shy Amélie accidentally discovers a gift for helping others. Soon Amelie is spending her days as a matchmaker, guardian angel, and all-around do-gooder. But when she bumps into a handsome stranger, will she find the courage to become the star of her very own love story?

Let the Right One In
29% Match

When Oskar, a sensitive, bullied 12-year-old boy, meets his new neighbor, the mysterious and moody Eli, they strike up a friendship. Initially reserved with each other, Oskar and Eli slowly form a close bond, but it soon becomes apparent that she is no ordinary young girl.

House Party 2
29% Match

Kid'N'Play leave their neighborhood and enter the world of adulthood and higher education. Play attempts to get rich quick in the music business while Kid faces the challenges of college.

Stand by Me
29% Match

After learning that a boy their age has been accidentally killed near their rural homes, four boys decide to go see the body. Gordie, Vern, Chris, and Teddy encounter a mean junk man and a marsh full of leeches, but they also learn more about one another and their very different home lives. Just a lark at first, the boys' adventure evolves into a defining event in their lives.

Weathering with You
27% Match

The summer of his high school freshman year, Hodaka runs away from his remote island home to Tokyo, and quickly finds himself pushed to his financial and personal limits. The weather is unusually gloomy and rainy every day, as if taking its cue from his life. After many days of solitude, he finally finds work as a freelance writer for a mysterious occult magazine. Then, one day, Hodaka meets Hina on a busy street corner. This bright and strong-willed girl possesses a strange and wonderful ability: the power to stop the rain and clear the sky.