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Sion Sono

Sion Sono

Director, writer, editor and producer, also composer · Born December 18, 1961 (64) · Toyokawa, Aichi, Japan

Sion Sono (園 子温 Sono Shion, born December 18, 1961) is a Japanese filmmaker, author and poet. Best known on the festival circuit for the film Love Exposure (2008), he has been called "the most subversive filmmaker working in Japanese cinema today".

Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 18, 1961 (64)
From
Toyokawa, Aichi, Japan
Works as
Director, writer, editor and producer, also composer
Titles
26 on MovieCove · 89 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 16% in 30 days

What are Sion Sono's films like?

Across their 23 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Self.

Genres

Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Survival
33%
Self
24%
Power
14%
Bonds
13%
Morality
7%
Society
7%
Ideas
2%
Identity9 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence5 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themePower3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 22 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 6 · Serious 6 · Dark 10

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 4 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 10

Intense: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their intense movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 3 · Charged 7 · Intense 12

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 7 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 9

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 13 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 4

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 5

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 6 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 8

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 7 · Affecting 6 · Heavy 9

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 10 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 7

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
13
Dread
9
Absurd
7
Melancholic
7
Thrilling
5
Other
18

How their films linger

Haunting8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet6
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous8

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Sion Sono's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 9 of their 26 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Sion Sono's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

89 credits, 26 with a MovieCove page; 12 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Superplastic Deformation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Director · Composer · Original Story · Writer

  • The Homeless Billionaire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Show 64 episodes · Director

  • Possibly, Huh Huh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Writer

  • Prisoners of the Ghostland(2021)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • AMI.exe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Producer

  • Red Post on Escher Street(2020)

    Director · Composer · Editor · Writer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • State of Emergency (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Director

  • The Lonely 19:00 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Director · Editor · Writer

  • Crazy Samurai Musashi(2020)

    Story

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • The Forest of Love: Deep Cut(2020)

    Show 7 episodes · Director · Creator · Editor · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • The Forest of Love(2019)

    Director · Editor · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Red Blade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Writer

  • Dream Breaker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Executive Producer

  • ami. exe・2nd atom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as The Dream Man

  • The Bastard and the Beautiful World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Director

  • Tokyo Vampire Hotel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Director · Writer

  • Tokyo Vampire Hotel(2017)

    Show 10 episodes · Director · Creator · Writer

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • ami. exe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as The Dream Man

  • Love Exposure: The TV-Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 10 episodes · Director · Creator · Writer

  • Antiporno(2016)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Shinjuku Swan II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Director

  • Re:Born(2016)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Madly(2016)

    Director · Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Whispering Star (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director · Writer

  • Everyone Is Psychic!: The Movie(2015)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • All Esper Dayo! ~The Lust-filled Love Wars~ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director · Writer

  • Love & Peace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director · Writer

  • Shinjuku Swan(2015)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Tag(2015)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • All Esper Dayo! Special Edition - Esper, Go to City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director · Teleplay · as Cameo

  • Tokyo Tribe(2014)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Why Don't You Play in Hell?(2013)

    Director · Composer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Venice 70: Future Reloaded (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director · as Self (segment Sion Sono)

  • Minna! ESPer Dayo! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 12 episodes · Director · Creator · Writer · Actor

  • The Land of Hope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director · Writer

  • BAD FILM (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director · Cinematographer · Editor · Idea · Producer · Screenplay · Story · Writer · as Shiro

  • Tokyo Gagaga (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director · as self

  • Himizu(2011)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Guilty of Romance(2011)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • YOU+ME=LOVE (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Casting

  • Cold Fish(2010)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Karma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Executive Producer · Script Supervisor · Writer

  • Be Sure to Share (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director · Writer

  • Make the Last Wish(2009)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Love Exposure(2008)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Tokyo Gore Police(2008)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Himiko-san (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • The Insects Unlisted in the Encyclopedia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • Exte: Hair Extensions(2007)

    Director · Composer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Balloon Club Revisited (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director · Writer

  • Teruo Ishii Fan Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Damejin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Golden Child (voice)

  • Time Limit Investigator (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 4 episodes · Director · Writer

  • Strange Circus(2005)

    Director · Author · Composer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Hazard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Noriko's Dinner Table(2005)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Into a Dream (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director · Writer

  • Strange Days: The Making of Strange Circus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • No-Pants Girls: Movie Box-ing2(2004)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • When I Grow Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Director

  • Love Doctor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Director

  • No Memory Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Director

  • Sion Sono Fantasia Short Film Collection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Virtual Love(2004)

    Director · as Masao

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Woman in the Viewfinder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Director

  • Father's Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Director

  • Suicide Club(2001)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • 0cm⁴ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director · Editor · Writer

  • Blind Beast vs Killer Dwarf (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Actor

  • Utsushimi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Director · Camera Operator · Editor · Writer

  • Teachers of Sexual Play: Modelling Vessels with the Female Body (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Director · Screenplay · as Tetsuya

  • Horny Couple: Wants to Sip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Actor

  • Phallus: The Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director · Writer

  • I Am Keiko (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director · Art Direction · Editor · Producer · Writer

  • Heaven's Trumpet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Actor

  • The Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Director · Editor · Idea · Screenplay · Script · Story · Writer

  • Vagina & Virgin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Director

  • I Hate You... Not (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Actor

  • Bicycle Sighs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Director · Writer · as Shiro

  • Reflect on That Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Director · Actor

  • Decisive Match! Girls Dorm Against Boys Dorm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Director · Writer · Actor

  • ENDLESS LOVE (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Cinematographer

  • A Man's Flower Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Director · Editor · Writer · as The Man in the Red Coat

  • Happiness Avenue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Actor

  • Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Director · Actor

  • I Am Sono Sion! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Director · Editor · Producer · Screenplay · as Himself

  • Love Song (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Director · Writer · Actor

  • 東京ガガガ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director of Operations

Career shape

A full career of 89 titles, 87 of them dated from 1984 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Shinjuku Swan (2015)

$11M worldwide

Highest rated

Love Exposure (2008)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Prisoners of the Ghostland (2021)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting24 of 89: 13 only acting, 11 with another roleDirecting66 of 89: 14 only directing, 52 with another role · typical Midcredits score59thWriting54 of 89: 4 only writing, 50 with another role · typical Midcredits score60thProducing7 of 89: 2 only producing, 5 with another roleMusic4 of 89: 0 only music, 4 with another roleCinematography2 of 89: 1 only cinematography, 1 with another roleEditing11 of 89: 0 only editing, 11 with another roleOther crew10 of 89: 2 only other crew, 8 with another role

89 titles, 53 with more than one role — directing and writing overlap on 49 of them.

By decade

1980s8 · 6 acting · 7 crew1990s9 · 4 acting · 6 crew2000s29 · 9 acting · 22 crew2010s32 · 5 acting · 30 crew2020s9 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Sion Sono's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 56th percentile, the median of all 24; across their 22 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 64th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Approval · how many liked their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Reach · how many have seen their films

85thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Midcredits score across 26 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

10 of their 26 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Universally Panned3
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · director, writer

Madly (2016)

89th percentile spread · 34% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director, writer

Love Exposure (2008)

Midcredits 97th · 83% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 73/100 and the pacing 41/100 in their films, across 18 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Sion Sono's work okay for kids?

Across up to 13 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore11 titles76–98 · median 91 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity13 titles27–83 · median 63 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles49–87 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles11–45 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense9 titles56–96 · median 79 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Sion Sono work with?

People who share at least 2 of Sion Sono's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jun'ichi Itô shares the most, 9.

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles