Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Magnolia Pictures | Release Date: March 9, 2012
7.9
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 56 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
49
Mixed:
5
Negative:
2
Watch Now
Stream On
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand
Review this movie
VOTE NOW
 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Check box if your review contains spoilers 0 characters (5000 max)

User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
9
hoops2448Aug 26, 2013
According to Jiro Ono, the modest star of Jiro Dreams of Sushi, a great sushi chef must be borderline obsessed or just plain obsessed with his craft to succeed. Clearly filmmaker David Gelb follows the same principals as Jiro Dreams of SushiAccording to Jiro Ono, the modest star of Jiro Dreams of Sushi, a great sushi chef must be borderline obsessed or just plain obsessed with his craft to succeed. Clearly filmmaker David Gelb follows the same principals as Jiro Dreams of Sushi is heart warming, informative cinema that demands attention for its keen eye, its views on family, loyalty and devotion and its unrelenting look at a man who has worked almost every day of his life and regrets none of it. The film tells the story of Jiro and his passion for Sushi, something that has brought him from nothing to having a three star Michellin restaurant and a family whose devotion to this strange yet beautiful craft rivals his own, especially his son Yoshikazu. Unlike any food documentary you have seen, Jiro Dreams of Sushi doesn't tell a story of how Jiro came to be so knowledgeable in sushi, in fact the documentary only briefly speaks of Jiro's past. The film tells the story from the point of view of Gelb, a fly on the wall but one intent on taking in every little morsel of information. Gelb however is uninterested in the man Jiro was but the one his is today, 85 years old at the time of filming, Jiro is a modern marvel, a gem of a long forgotten time where devotion wasn't a vice, where hard work and imagination meant more than technology and blind luck. A film for our time, Jiro and his son are extraordinary people who are worth knowing existed, not only to inspire you but to scare you. Gelb frames this lesson in perfection with subtlety making for a relaxed yet involving viewing experience. The film packs in so much into its run time that it may feel overstuffed and at times a little preachy but overall I left this cinematic meal very satisfied yet with a hankering for more.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
All this user's reviews
8
JwvJan 9, 2014
A great feel-good documentary. The film succeeds in bringing forward an inspiring story of success. It's a good thing the film also focuses on Jiro's succession, but some deeper personal digging into the mystery Jiro still is after watchingA great feel-good documentary. The film succeeds in bringing forward an inspiring story of success. It's a good thing the film also focuses on Jiro's succession, but some deeper personal digging into the mystery Jiro still is after watching instead of focusing almost solely on his weighty philosophy, could justify the title some more.

I had the feeling that the director didn't really have a very cohesive and logic narrative in mind throughout the whole mid part of the film, and that the reorganization of some scenes could have provided a more intricate and seamless narrative structure.

What I thought was particularly great about seeing this movie from a European perspective was that it made me genuinely inquisitive and interested into this unknown Japanese culture.

A film with a real, albeit cliché message.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
All this user's reviews
7
FilmVirtueMay 26, 2014
What an interesting little documentary this was. It's original, unique an one of a kind. You can't just take one persons word for it, you have to go see it on your own terms- Because this is something you won't regret taking a look at.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
All this user's reviews
6
RobertBroganOct 3, 2015
Jiro Dreams of Sushi is, of course, about more than Jiro and sushi. It is about work, dedication, mastery, family, and (changing) Japan. There is much one can get out of this simple little film. However, as others have stated, the materialJiro Dreams of Sushi is, of course, about more than Jiro and sushi. It is about work, dedication, mastery, family, and (changing) Japan. There is much one can get out of this simple little film. However, as others have stated, the material feels stretched out (more appropriate for a one-hour special). Jiro tells of many things but does not really tell a story. That said, I would recommend it to the hard workers out there that could use a bit of inspiration and a sense that dedication does pay off.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
All this user's reviews
8
The3AcademySinsDec 30, 2019
David Gelb's documentary on Jiro Ono is a fascinating look into the life and mind of a master craftsman. Jiro is very much an artist, and his simplistic yet brilliant approach to sushi is completely engrossing to watch. His story, and how hisDavid Gelb's documentary on Jiro Ono is a fascinating look into the life and mind of a master craftsman. Jiro is very much an artist, and his simplistic yet brilliant approach to sushi is completely engrossing to watch. His story, and how his quest for perfection effects his family, is as beautifully composed as Jiro's dishes. The virtues of attention to detail and years of devotion are expertly portrayed by Gelb's quiet documentary. My biggest complaint is that this movie runs out of subject matter rather quickly, and becomes unceasingly repetitive. However, this repetition in a way mirrors the silent tragedy of this movie; which is the fact that absolute perfection is unattainable.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
All this user's reviews
6
JLuis_001Sep 7, 2017
Simple, but a huge appetizer, an interesting documentary about a food that I hated for a long time and now fascinates me, as seen here, sushi is very good depending on where you eat it and the creations shown here are simply spectacular andSimple, but a huge appetizer, an interesting documentary about a food that I hated for a long time and now fascinates me, as seen here, sushi is very good depending on where you eat it and the creations shown here are simply spectacular and extremely delicious.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
All this user's reviews
5
GiuliusMar 28, 2012
It's an interesting film, but halfway through becomes quite repetitive. While a lot is said about the craft aspects of making sushi, the process is never described in any detail from beginning to end, so we're left to trust in itsIt's an interesting film, but halfway through becomes quite repetitive. While a lot is said about the craft aspects of making sushi, the process is never described in any detail from beginning to end, so we're left to trust in its complexity. Some lip service is paid to conservation issues, which anyone who follows such things knows is a terrible problem in the Japanese fishing industry.… Expand
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
All this user's reviews
8
mschoaApr 24, 2012
How do you show someone who is a perfectionist and who spends his entire lifetime honing his skill at his chosen craft? Such commitment is hardly seen anymore, in our get-rich-quick society. This quiet film shows us such a Masterl. Wish IHow do you show someone who is a perfectionist and who spends his entire lifetime honing his skill at his chosen craft? Such commitment is hardly seen anymore, in our get-rich-quick society. This quiet film shows us such a Masterl. Wish I could have a bite of Jiro's sushi!… Expand
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
All this user's reviews
8
jim109109Aug 10, 2012
The movie is completely fascinating and is very well done. The story it tells is a very extreme and unusual one. When you stop to think that a person could work 24/7 for 70 years only thinking about sushi all his life long, and imagine doingThe movie is completely fascinating and is very well done. The story it tells is a very extreme and unusual one. When you stop to think that a person could work 24/7 for 70 years only thinking about sushi all his life long, and imagine doing the same with your life, you will get a sinking feeling. Jiro is not human, he is God, legend, and his tale is like no other. His life sounds miserable but out of it came absolute perfection and something meaningful, which is hard to accomplish in a endless mass of 8 billion people.… Expand
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
All this user's reviews
9
MarcDoyleMar 22, 2012
It's a beautiful film - the visuals, the music, and the very subtle, quiet, gentle way in which the story is told work in delicious harmony. I'm not even a sushi eater, but I left the movie really needing to try it. The lifetime of Jiro'sIt's a beautiful film - the visuals, the music, and the very subtle, quiet, gentle way in which the story is told work in delicious harmony. I'm not even a sushi eater, but I left the movie really needing to try it. The lifetime of Jiro's and his sons' commitment to improving their craft as the ends, not the means to an end (such as wealth or fame) is impressive. It's almost as if all those years of preparation and commitment are serving that single reaction from the consumer - that umami. If only everyone had the same level of dedication. Sure, there's a tremendous amount of personal sacrifice necessary to achieve greatness in this way - and Jiro admits that his family life suffered over the years. But it's refreshing to see someone so dedicated to excellence in every element of his craft.… Expand
2 of 4 users found this helpful22
All this user's reviews
5
FunksatronNov 13, 2012
An interesting premise, but the film quickly exhausts the subject matter. One aspect of the film that is completely glazed over is the credibility of those claiming Jiro's sushi is so great. The interviewees are clearly biased and evenAn interesting premise, but the film quickly exhausts the subject matter. One aspect of the film that is completely glazed over is the credibility of those claiming Jiro's sushi is so great. The interviewees are clearly biased and even intimidated by Jiro. I would have liked to have seen Jiro's reputation enforced first (by blind taste tests or other good science) before the documentary started lauding his techniques. The way the way the critics talk about Jiro's sushi is eerily reminiscent of how wine tasters talk about wine and they have been shown to be easily tricked by labels, presentation and expectations.… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
All this user's reviews
9
AlexandrosOct 1, 2012
Peace of Art!
Jiro is a live monument!! like the Parthenon, the Great Wall or the Taj Mahal! The words are poor to describe this man. Wise, smart, role-model....The directing could be a little better, more deep. You 'll see it and see itPeace of Art!
Jiro is a live monument!! like the Parthenon, the Great Wall or the Taj Mahal! The words are poor to describe this man. Wise, smart, role-model....The directing could be a little better, more deep. You 'll see it and see it again and again.… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
All this user's reviews
10
PureSophistryAug 29, 2012
Somewhere in a Tokyo street, there is a sushi restaurant with ten seats. And at this restaurant, a very old
1 of 5 users found this helpful14
All this user's reviews
More From This Movie

77 Critic Reviews

7.9 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 84 The Fabelmans
2 81 Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
3 73 Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
4 67 Avatar: The Way of Water
5 67 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL