The live-action adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto's Look Back has a date: it opens in Japan on September 11, 2026, and a new trailer just added more of its cast. Directing is Hirokazu Kore-eda — the Palme d'Or winner behind Shoplifters — which is a striking pairing for a story most fans know through the acclaimed 2024 animated film.
Quick answer
Look Back is a live-action film adapting Tatsuki Fujimoto's one-shot manga, directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda and opening in Japan on September 11, 2026 (produced by K2 Pictures; GKIDS holds North American rights to the 2024 anime film). The cast includes Masaki Suda and Kankurō Kudō. According to SenpaiRanks, the 2024 animated Look Back film holds an adjusted 7.47, and it's the version currently streamable while the live-action awaits a Western release.
Trailer for the 2024 animated Look Back film — the work the live-action adapts.
The pairing
Kore-eda directing Fujimoto is the headline. Fujimoto (*Chainsaw Man*, Goodbye, Eri) writes tight, emotionally exact stories; Kore-eda builds quiet, observational family dramas. Look Back — two girls, a shared love of drawing, and a grief that reframes everything — sits right in the overlap. SenpaiRanks tracks the animated film in the upper tier of its drama ranking at 7.47, so the source material has already cleared a high bar with anime viewers.
Where to watch
The live-action film is Japan-theatrical first, opening September 11, 2026; no streaming or Western date is confirmed yet. In the meantime the 2024 animated film is the one to watch — GKIDS handled its North American release, and it circulates on premium digital and select streaming windows. For more film coverage, see our Sword Art Online film review and the best anime to watch in 2026 hub, then open the Look Back ranking page to rate the animated film yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Q: When does the live-action Look Back film release?
A: It opens in Japanese theaters on September 11, 2026. No Western or streaming date is confirmed yet.
Q: Who is directing the live-action Look Back?
A: Hirokazu Kore-eda, the director of Shoplifters, with a cast that includes Masaki Suda and Kankurō Kudō.
Q: Where can I watch the animated Look Back film?
A: The 2024 animated film had a North American release via GKIDS and circulates on premium digital and select streaming windows. Per SenpaiRanks it holds an adjusted 7.47.
Q: Is Look Back based on Chainsaw Man's author?
A: Yes. Look Back is a one-shot manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, the creator of Chainsaw Man.
Q: How does SenpaiRanks rank the Look Back film?
A: SenpaiRanks scores the animated film at an adjusted 7.47 using its dual-axis system — a Consensus axis for how broadly liked it is and a Quality axis for how well it holds up.