Movies Like Patlabor: The Movie (1989)

Patlabor: The Movie is a 1989 action, animation, mystery, science fiction film from Mamoru Oshii with a MovieMagicScore of 7.0/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Patlabor 2: The Movie and Patlabor WXIII The Movie.

Action Animation Mystery Science Fiction

Patlabor 2: The Movie

1993

A Japanese police unit who use giant anthropomorphic robots (called Labors) is caught up in a political struggle between the civilian authorities and the military when a terrorist act is blamed on an Air Force jet. With the aid of a government agent, the team gets close to a terrorist leader to stop things from going out of control when after the military is impelled to impose martial law.

7.3

MagicScore

Patlabor WXIII The Movie

2002

Set in the year 2000, when the level of Labor accidents begin to escalate around Tokyo Bay, police detectives Kusumi and Hata are assigned to investigate. What they discover leads to a series of government cover-ups, conspiracy concerning a new biological weapon entitled WXIII-Wasted Thirteen and a tragic, personal connection to Hata. The only hope to stop this threat is to cooperate with the military and lead WXIII into a showdown with the Labors of Special Vehicle Division 2.

6.4

MagicScore

The Next Generation Patlabor: Tokyo War

2015

An attack takes place on Rainbow Bridge in Odaiba, Tokyo by the fighter helicopter `Gray Ghost`. 2 days earlier, the Gray Ghost was stolen. The perpetrators are followers of Yukihito Tsuge. Yukihito Tsuge planned a coup of Tokyo 13 years earlier. The leader of Special Vehicle Section 2, Keiji Gotoda, sets out to stop the terrorists.

6.3

MagicScore

Metropolis

2001

In the midst of societal conflict in the futuristic city of Metropolis, Kenichi and his uncle Shunsaku Ban set out to uncover the mystery behind the first human-like robot, Tima.

7.1

MagicScore

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion III - Glorification

2018

With his spell of impressive successes seemingly behind him, Lelouch Lamperouge's hopes of destroying the Brittanian Empire presided over by his father are crumbling at an alarming rate. With his sister kidnapped, his former friend Suzaku ignoring his pleas for help, and his organisation The Black Knights losing their faith in him, the man behind Zero's mask is left with nowhere to turn.

7.5

MagicScore

Macross: Do You Remember Love?

1984

It is A.D. 2009 and the human race is caught in a war between giant humanoids, male Zentrans and female Meltrans. Returning from the edge of our solar system after making a space fold, the SDF-1 Macross makes the long journey back to Earth with survivors of South Ataria Island.

7.2

MagicScore

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion I - Initiation

2017

The world is at war. Lelouch Lamperouge, an exiled prince, encounters a strange girl known as C.C., who gifts him with a great power. With this ability, Lelouch can get anyone to do as he wills. But the power of Geass: is it a blessing…or a curse?

7.1

MagicScore

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion II - Transgression

2018

Having achieved miraculous victories in a series of battles against the Britannian Army, Lelouch Lamperouge has brought the Black Knights, his paramilitary organization, to a more powerful state than ever before. Nothing seems impossible for him when he utilizes his military strength, intellect, and Geass power of absolute obedience. However, obstacles in the face of the uprising never cease, putting Lelouch in a difficult predicament. Most worryingly, Kururugi Suzaku's combat prowess and the appearance of a mysterious child named V.V. threaten to put an end Lelouch's great rebellion.

7.1

MagicScore

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM

2024

In C.E.75, the fighting still continues. There are independence movements, and aggression by Blue Cosmos... In order to calm the situation, a global peace monitoring agency called COMPASS is established, with Lacus as its first president. As members of COMPASS, Kira and his comrades intervene into various regional battles. Then a newly established nation called Foundation proposes a joint operation against a Blue Cosmos stronghold.

6.9

MagicScore

#10

Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Special Edition III: Return The World

2010

Like the Japanese Special Editions of other Gundam and Sunrise anime series, this is the last of three volumes, that will condense the second half of the second season of Gundam 00 into feature-length videos. They all feature some new animated sequences and some partially re-recorded dialogue.

6.8

MagicScore

#11

Mobile Suit Gundam I

1981

In the year Universal Century 0079, humans have colonized the area of space lying in between the Earth and the moon. However, the ambitious Zabi family, rulers of the Duchy of Zeon, the grouping of colonies furthest from the earth, has sparked a war.

6.7

MagicScore

#12

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam - A New Translation I: Heir to the Stars

2005

Universal Century 0087. The Titans, a bellicose faction among the Earth Federation Forces, grows powerful and tyrannical, even using poison gas to suppress a civil unrest. Dissident soldiers from the same military stand against them, forming a resistance group called the AEUG. Kamille Bidan, a civilian student, gets entangled in this conflict when he impulsively steals the Gundam Mark II and joins the AEUG, running away from his home space colony. Then he begins to fight along with Char Aznable, a former Zeon ace pilot who has infiltrated the Earth Sphere for reasons of his own. This is the first part of the feature trilogy derived from the anime series Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, and features enhanced animation and theme songs by GACKT.

6.6

MagicScore

#13

Psalms of Planets Eureka Seven: Good Night, Sleep Tight, Young Lovers

2009

Renton, son of scientists, and Eureka, a girl who can't live under the sun, are raised together when very young and become very attached to each other. One day, Eureka is taken away. Powerless at the time, Renton vows to rescue her. He enters the military and is soon is assigned to the Independent Youths Unit 303 of the First Mobile Forces thanks to his exceptional performance alongside his Nirvash, a bio-mechanical armor/control system. Unknown to Renton, lies a plot to extinguish the alien invasion that is currently happening involving not only him, but Eureka too.

6.3

MagicScore

#14

Mobile Suit Gundam F91

1991

U.C. 0123. After a generation of peace, the Earth Federation has begun to build new space colonies to house humanity's growing population. But a new force, the aristocratic Crossbone Vanguard, plans to seize the colonies of the newly constructed Frontier Side for itself. As their home becomes a battlefield, a handful of young civilians struggle to escape the conflict. To save his friends and family, the reluctant warrior Seabook Arno becomes the pilot of a new Gundam which bears the code name F91.

6.5

MagicScore

#15

The Five Star Stories

1989

Among the 5 star systems known as the Joker Systems, there are many kingdoms. There are knights within the kingdoms and these knights who control giant robots, Mortar Heads, are called Headliners. Bound to the knights are fatimas. Human in appearance and mind, the fatimas (mostly female) possess expanded physical capabilities and make it possible for a Headliner to control a Mortar Head. Fatimas cannot reproduce. All this is overseen by Emperor Amaterasu and his Mirage Knights.

6.3

MagicScore

#16

Promare

2019

Galo and the Burning Rescue Fire Department face off against BURNISH, a group of mutants who are able to control and wield flames, and the fire disaster they have unleashed on Earth.

7.1

MagicScore

#17

Appleseed Alpha

2014

The Third World War (2099–2126) devastated part of the Earth. Former nations are reforming while new powers emerge, and groups of humans struggle to survive in ruined cities. The story follows Deunan Knute and her partner Briareos as they search for the legendary city of Olympus.

6.7

MagicScore

#18

Appleseed

2004

In a utopian society created at the end of the third world war, a female warrior who has been plucked from the badlands begins to see cracks in this new facade. And what does this community have planned for the rest of humankind?

6.7

MagicScore

#19

Accel World: Infinite Burst

2016

In 2046, many aspects of life are carried out on a virtual network. No matter how advanced the time becomes, however, bullying never disappears. Haruyuki is one of the bullied students. However, one day he is contacted by Kuroyukihime, the most famous person in the school. "Wouldn't you like to 'accelerate' and go further ahead, boy?" Haruyuki is introduced to the "Accel World" and decides to fight as Kuroyukihime's knight.

6.6

MagicScore

#20

Appleseed: Ex Machina

2007

As members of ESWAT, the elite forces serving Olympus, Deunan and Briaereos are deployed anywhere trouble strikes. Olympus finds itself under a stealth attack - cyborg terrorism, deadly nanotech zealots, and rioting citizens are just some of the threats that Deunan must contend with as she fights to save Olympus!

6.5

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Patlabor: The Movie?

The top films similar to Patlabor: The Movie by MovieMagicScore are Patlabor 2: The Movie (7.3), Patlabor WXIII The Movie (6.4), The Next Generation Patlabor: Tokyo War (6.3). Each shares action/animation/mystery/science fiction themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Patlabor: The Movie worth watching?

Patlabor: The Movie holds a MovieMagicScore of 7.0/10 from 166 viewer ratings, putting it among the better-reviewed titles in its genre.

What kind of movie is Patlabor: The Movie?

Patlabor: The Movie (1989) is a action, animation, mystery, science fiction film directed by Mamoru Oshii, starring Mina Tominaga, Toshio Furukawa, Ryusuke Ohbayashi.

Where can I find more recommendations like Patlabor: The Movie?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more action recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like Patlabor 2: The Movie Movies like Patlabor WXIII The Movie Movies like The Next Generation Patlabor: Tokyo War Movies like Metropolis Movies like Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion III - Glorification Movies like Macross: Do You Remember Love?

About movies like Patlabor: The Movie

This ranked list pairs Patlabor: The Movie (1989), a action and animation and mystery and science fiction film from Mamoru Oshii, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Mina Tominaga take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

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