Kon thoughtfully depicts a woman on the verge of madness as her squeaky-clean image devolves into the compromising and gruesome roles she plays in her acting career...

| Oct 8, 2021

This engrossing animated thriller somehow displays realist gore, nudity, and sexual violence in a tone not too far from that of a children's adventure; its innocence stems in part from the convincing naivete of the heroine.

| Oct 8, 2021

Strange, stylish and intelligent, this is a rare anime film that delivers on its Eastern promise.

| Sep 22, 2020

Perfect Blue's success lies in the twisted, self-referential storyline that intercuts reality with fantasy so fluidly that viewers inevitably take on Mima's shattered point of view, unable to distinguish the truth until the stunning conclusion.

| Original Score: A | May 1, 2019

Perfect Blue is every Spice Girl, Shirelle and Supreme of yore refashioned and recast in Bergman's persona. An edgy new career, indeed.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 4, 2017

I found it very hard to get past the eroticised approach to rape and sexual violence which is a pervasive stain on this otherwise intriguing film.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Oct 29, 2017

... dark and voyeuristic fare with a plot that could easily have been borrowed from one of Brian De Palma's more lurid thrillers.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 26, 2017

The action is wrapped up with a slightly ridiculous reveal, which doesn't quite make sense on its own terms, but Perfect Blue has its own kind of cult pungency.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 25, 2017

A definite example that animated films can truly stimulate the mind, Perfect Blue is not for the faint of heart.

| Original Score: A | Apr 17, 2015

Though "Perfect Blue"... ultimately disappoints with its just-middling tension and underdeveloped scenario, it still holds attention by trying something different for the genre.

| Mar 26, 2009

The denouement isn't very surprising or enlightening, but at its best this works as both a critique of Japan's pop culture system and an effective woman-in-peril psycho-thriller.

| Feb 9, 2006

Quite enthralling.

| Original Score: B+ | May 4, 2005

| Original Score: 2/4 | Mar 19, 2002

Perfect Blue is a delirious, culturally astute invention.

| Mar 3, 2002

"Perfect Blue" manages, through animation, to take the thriller, media fascination, psychological insight and pop culture and stand them all on their heads.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jan 1, 2000

''Perfect Blue'' eventually turns into a very interesting play on levels and perceptions of reality.

| Jan 1, 2000

Where Perfect Blue succeeds... is in its smart, disorienting depiction of a girl on the edge of madness.

| Jan 1, 2000