IMDb 7.9 2018 HD

Shoplifters

Shoplifters

2018
Crime Drama Thriller
120 min R Japan
7.846 / 10
7.9 IMDB

In the outskirts of Tokyo, a poor but close-knit group living on the fringes of society survives through shoplifting and odd jobs. When Osamu and his son take…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Hirokazu Kore-eda / Shôichi Morimoto
Starring
Lily Franky / Sakura Ando / Mayu Matsuoka / Kairi Jo / Miyu Sasaki / Kirin Kiki / Sosuke Ikematsu / Naoto Ogata

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

poignant heartbreaking realistic warm empathetic gritty thought-provoking tender complex morally ambiguous resilient moving

Reviews

S
Sophia Chen
Apr 10, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

‘Shoplifters’ is a profoundly humane film that probes the very definition of family. Director Unknown navigates the lives of a group of individuals living on the margins of Tokyo with exceptional skill and empathy. The performances from the…

C
Campbell Jones
Apr 10, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

In ‘Shoplifters’, director Unknown offers a poignant look at a poverty-stricken family in Tokyo who sustain themselves through shoplifting. The performances are uniformly excellent, with Lily Franky and Sakura Ando embodying a complex, loving unit. The film’s tone…

I
Isabelle Dubois
Apr 10, 2026
5.0 / 5
5.0

‘Shoplifters’ is a sublime achievement in contemporary cinema. Director Unknown crafts a narrative so rich and resonant it feels almost documentary-like in its authenticity, yet possesses the emotional sweep of classic melodrama. The ensemble cast, led by the…

M
Marcus Bellweather
Apr 10, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This Palme d'Or winner, 'Shoplifters,' presents a compelling, albeit unconventional, portrait of a family scraping by on the fringes of Tokyo. The central conceit, a family of shoplifters, is handled with remarkable sensitivity by director Unknown. Performances, particularly…

E
Eleanor Vance
Apr 10, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

Hirokazu Kore-eda's 'Shoplifters' is a masterclass in understated human drama. The film introduces us to a makeshift family in Tokyo's underbelly, whose survival hinges on petty crime and an unshakeable bond. Lily Franky and Sakura Ando anchor the…

FAQs

The ending of 'Shoplifters' is deliberately ambiguous and open to interpretation, avoiding a straightforward happy resolution. While some characters find a semblance of stability, the underlying issues of poverty and societal judgment remain. The film concludes by emphasising the enduring, albeit fragile, bonds formed by the characters, leaving the audience to ponder the true meaning of happiness and belonging in their challenging circumstances.