Ha Chan Shake Your Booty Review

Verdict: A charming, uneven blend of heartfelt emotion and playful fantasy that works best when Rinko Kikuchi is on screen. Worth a theatre visit if you enjoy character-driven stories with music and movement.

Pros:

• Rinko Kikuchi’s warm, layered lead performance
• Inventive dance sequences and strong visuals
• Honest look at grief mixed with humor

Cons:

• Pacing drags in the middle
• Tone shifts can feel uneven

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About Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! 2026

Detail	Information
Title	Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!
Directed by	Josef Kubota Wladyka
Written by	Josef Kubota Wladyka, Nicholas Huynh
Produced by	Josef Kubota Wladyka, Mao Nagakura, Kimberly Parker Zox
Cast	Rinko Kikuchi, Alberto Guerra, Alejandro Edda, You, Yoh Yoshida, Damián Alcázar
Cinematography	Daniel Satinoff
Music by	Nathan Halpern
Production Companies	JDM Pictures
Release Date	25 September 2026
Country	United States
Language	Japanese, English, Spanish
Genre	Comedy, Drama, Romance
Censor Rating	R

Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! arrived in limited US theatres on 25 September 2026 after winning the Directing Award in the US Dramatic Competition at Sundance earlier this year. Directed by Josef Kubota Wladyka, the film mixes ballroom dancing, quiet heartbreak, and flashes of fantasy. It stars Rinko Kikuchi as a woman trying to find her footing again after loss.

Early audience talk on X and platforms like Letterboxd has been mostly warm. Many viewers highlight the film’s unusual mix of sadness and joy. Some call it a refreshing take on moving forward, while others find the tone a bit scattered. The story follows Haru, a competitive ballroom dancer in Tokyo, and her partner Luis. They share a deep love for dance and each other. After a sudden tragedy, Haru pulls away from the world.

Her sister and cousin gently push her back into the studio. There she meets a new instructor and starts to feel something she is not sure she is ready for. The film stays light on big plot twists and focuses instead on Haru’s messy, human steps toward living again. Fantasy dance numbers and quiet everyday moments sit side by side without major spoilers. Viewers on X have praised Rinko Kikuchi the most. Many say she carries the film with a performance that feels both funny and deeply sad at the same time.

The dance sequences, especially the more imaginative ones, also draw strong compliments for their energy and look. Supporting turns from You and Yoh Yoshida as the women in Haru’s life get frequent mentions for adding warmth and humor. Alberto Guerra’s instructor role has been called magnetic by several people. Common complaints center on the runtime. At just over two hours, some feel the middle section stretches a little too long.

A few posts note that the shift between grounded emotion and surreal fantasy does not always land smoothly. Still, overall sentiment leans positive. People who connected with the story describe leaving the theatre wanting to dance or simply feeling seen in the way grief can be both heavy and strangely light. This is a film for anyone who likes stories about starting over, especially when music and movement play a big part. Fans of character-focused dramas with a touch of whimsy will likely enjoy it most.

The strengths lie in Kikuchi’s work, the colorful cinematography, and the honest way it lets a character be imperfect while healing. The weaker spots are the occasional lag in pace and moments where the fantasy elements feel less integrated. If you like going to the cinema for something different and are open to a mix of laughter and tears, it is worth catching on the big screen while it is playing. The dance numbers and atmosphere benefit from a theatre setting. Streaming can wait if you prefer a more intimate watch later.

Disclaimer: This review is based on publicly available audience reactions and discussions on X at the time of writing. Individual opinions may vary.