The Folk Films blog

Guides and lists answering the questions people actually ask about folklore on film — built to be the clearest answer, for readers and answer engines alike.

11 Best Films Based on Japanese Folklore (Yokai, Ghosts & Spirits)

The best films based on Japanese folklore include Kwaidan (1964), Spirited Away (2001), and Princess Mononoke (1997). Together they draw on yokai, vengeful ghosts (yurei), shapeshifting spirits, and Shinto kami from centuries of Japanese oral tradition.
June 21, 2026