One of anime’s most influential sci-fi films is heading back to the big screen.
Lionsgate will re-release Mamoru Oshii’s Ghost in the Shell in more than 800 theaters across North America beginning September 18, 2026, celebrating the film’s 30th anniversary in the United States.
The 1995 anime classic will be presented in 4K at select theaters, giving fans another opportunity to experience Major Motoko Kusanagi’s cyberpunk world on the big screen.
Watch The Ghost In The Shell 4K Re-Release Trailer
Set in 2029, Ghost in the Shell follows cybernetic government agent Major Motoko Kusanagi and Section 9 as they hunt the mysterious Puppet Master, a dangerous entity capable of infiltrating human hosts through an increasingly interconnected digital network.
The film was directed by Mamoru Oshii, with a screenplay by Kazunori Itô, and is based on Masamune Shirow’s manga.
The Japanese voice cast includes Atsuko Tanaka, Akio Ōtsuka, Kōichi Yamadera and Tamio Ōki.
Ghost In The Shell Celebrates 30 Years
Originally released in Japan in 1995 before arriving in U.S. theaters in 1996, Ghost in the Shell became one of the defining works of cyberpunk anime.
Its exploration of artificial intelligence, identity, consciousness and the increasingly blurry boundary between humans and technology helped establish the movie as an enduring science-fiction landmark.
The film has also been widely cited as an influence on later science-fiction filmmaking, including The Matrix.
This isn’t the first time Ghost in the Shell has received the 4K treatment. A remastered version previously returned to North American theaters in 2021, but the new anniversary engagement significantly expands its theatrical footprint, with more than 800 locations participating.
Tickets are now on sale for the September screenings.
Ghost in the Shell returns to North American theaters beginning September 18, 2026, with 4K presentations available at select locations.
Thomas Miller is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Seat42F, covering television, movies and streaming entertainment. He launched Seat42F in 2007 and has spent nearly two decades covering the entertainment industry.
