Shall We Dance?

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Shall We Dance?

PG

1996

2h 17m

Romance

Drama

Comedy

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Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

51 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Shohei Sugiyama (Koji Yakusho) seems to have it all -- a high-paying job as an accountant, a beautiful home, a caring wife and a doting daughter he loves dearly. However, he feels something is missing in his life. One day while commuting on the train he spots a beautiful woman staring wistfully out a window and eventually decides to find her. His search leads him head-first into the world of competitive ballroom dancing.

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Critics Consensus

Elegantly told by director Masayuki Suo and warmly performed, Shall We Dance? is a delightful celebration of stepping out of one's comfort zone and cutting a rug.

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Terry Lawson

Detroit Free Press

Sep 10, 2024

3/4

If Shall We Dance? is as simplified as one of those color-coded mats that show you exactly where to plant your feet in a proper fox trot, it is also sweetly entertaining and sincere.

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Jami Bernard

New York Daily News

Sep 10, 2024

3/4

This charming comedy uses dance as a metaphor for individual expression, risk-taking and intellectual flight.

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Jeff Strickler

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Sep 10, 2024

4/5

The movie works on several levels, so if viewers don't understand the social commentary, there's still an amusing story with intriguing characters.

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Dennis King

Tulsa World

Sep 10, 2024

3.5/4

A treasure of humor and heartbreak that transcends cultural boundaries. While its sentimental rhythms sometimes move too close to the cloying, it still manages to lift our hearts and set our toes to tapping.

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Joe Baltake

Fresno Bee

Sep 10, 2024

B

What's more rousing here is the notion of a life awakened -- the rewarding sight of a mediocre man blossoming and becoming confident.

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Dan Webster

Spokesman-Review (Washington)

Sep 10, 2024

3.5/4

The lesson has to do with resolving the lure of a dream and coming to an acceptance of real life.

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Tom F

@RT55173143 Mar 29, 2026

Solid entertainment, if not particularly compelling.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 May 14, 2025

I love dancing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In Japanese and American English audio versions with American English subtitles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $102,500.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Cleveland E

@bdeneris Jan 11, 2025

Such an endearing, heartfelt story. I saw it in NYC when it first came out. Was with Midwest friends that never saw a subtitled film & were very reluctant, but they wound up loving it. What’s not to love. Great acting, fabulous & moving story, great dancing and choreography and a wonderful competition at the end! Don’t waste your time with the remake with Richard Gere. Hollywood is utterly incapable of doing simple, meaningful films with down-to-earth, realistic characters; they glam it up and ruin it. This should be on everyone’s must see list.

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Julia R

@RT97578853 Dec 2, 2022

The most beautiful movie I've seen in a long time. Simply wonderful. Sightly hilarious that from Japan the mecca to which they aspire is Blackpool, but also it is true...or was. An absolute must see.

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Dec 20, 2021

One of the most charming and entertaining films I've seen in a long time... I cared a lot about the characters and they seemed real and not contrived....a classic

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Jan 14, 2019

This is a Japanese film classic. One of the best films I have ever seen. Koji Yakusho and Tamiyo Kusakari are amazing. it is a charming and funny film. Forget the Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez remake.

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Masayuko Suo

Director

Kôji Yakusho

Shohei Sugiyama

Tamiyo Kusakari

Mai Kishikawa

Naoto Takenaka

Tomio Aoki

Eriko Watanabe

Toyoko Takahashi

Yu Tokui

Tokichi Hattori

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Synopsis

Shohei Sugiyama (Koji Yakusho) seems to have it all -- a high-paying job as an accountant, a beautiful home, a caring wife and a doting daughter he loves dearly. However, he feels something is missing in his life. One day while commuting on the train he spots a beautiful woman staring wistfully out a window and eventually decides to find her. His search leads him head-first into the world of competitive ballroom dancing.

Director: Masayuko Suo
Producer: Shoji Masui, Yûji Ogata
Screenwriter: Masayuko Suo
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Miramax
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance, Drama, Comedy
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 15, 1996, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): May 30, 2025
Release Date (Streaming): May 22, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $102.5K
Runtime: 2h 17m
Sound Mix: Surround

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