Film Content
The film revolves around Suzume, a 17-year-old high school girl living in Kyushu. She accidentally meets Sota, a college student who is on a journey to become a teacher, while he is searching for doors. Following Sota to a tourist area, Suzume discovers a door that resembles one she had seen in her dreams.
After Suzume accidentally opens the door, soon after, mysterious doors begin to appear all over Japan, unleashing disasters from the other side. Determined to close all the doors and protect the world from chaos, Suzume embarks on a journey across Japan. Despite the dangers that lie ahead, Suzume continues to push forward…
And not to disappoint the audience, right from its release, Suzume has received rave reviews from both domestic and international viewers, achieving the highest box office earnings and becoming one of the trending films in Japan.
Critical Acclaims and Audience Reception
Makoto Shinkai, the visionary director, has once again showcased his brilliance following the massive successes of Your Name and Weathering with You. Therefore, his new work – Suzume’s Door Lock is highly anticipated by critics and audiences alike.
Indeed, Suzume has drawn in 1.331 million viewers within its opening weekend, grossing approximately 1.884 billion yen, marking it as Shinkai’s most successful film debut to date. The film has also garnered immense acclaim from critics, achieving an impressive 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and scoring 78 points on Metascore.
Suzume’s Door Lock has received numerous nominations for Best Anime at the 47th Hochi Film Awards and the 77th Mainichi Film Contest, and it has also been recognized by the Japan Academy Prize for its excellence in animation and music, with the score composed by RADWIMPS.
Suzume also made its mark in the Berlin Film Festival, becoming the second anime film to achieve this recognition since the legendary Spirited Away in 2001.
Top 2 Shinkai Films with the Highest Ratings
Many fantastic films have contributed to the reputation of director Makoto Shinkai. Notably, Your Name revolves around the story of two teenagers who experience body-swapping, living completely different lives. The film boasts a stunning 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, an 8.4/10 score from both critics and audiences on IMDb, and a 79 score from Metacritic.
Weathering with You, released in 2019, follows a boy who can manipulate weather. He meets and falls in love with a girl who has the power to control the weather unpredictably, leading him to realize that his feelings for her are what truly matter. Weathering with You received a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a 7.5 rating on IMDb, and a 72 on Metacritic.
The next three outstanding films, ranked by IMDb ratings, are: 5 Centimeters Per Second (2007) with a score of 7.5, The Garden of Words (2013) with a score of 7.4, and Children Who Chase Lost Voices (2011) with a score of 7.1.
As of now, Suzume has officially surpassed the aforementioned titles, becoming the second highest-rated film by Shinkai, just behind the iconic Your Name, with impressive ratings of 7.8 on IMDb and 78 from critics on Metacritic.
Promotional Campaigns Across Social Media
As part of an extensive promotional campaign, images from Suzume’s Door Lock have been widely circulated across cinemas, shopping centers, and public transport in Japan.
Moreover, Japanese netizens, influencers, and content creators have continuously shared their experiences and feelings about the film on social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter.
Suzume’s Door Lock will officially reach Vietnamese audiences on March 10, 2023.
