Parents' Guide to

HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle

By Jeremy Looney, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Epic volleyball anime highlights teamwork, perseverance.

Movie PG-13 2024 85 minutes
HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle Movie Poster: Teams of volleyball players face off in an intense stand-off

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

  • HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle Movie: A volleyball team stands on a court; behind them is a crow symbolizing their play style
  • HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle Movie: A volleyball player leaps above the net to spike as three opponents try to block him
  • HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle Movie: Two volleyball players face off at the net, staring each other down

Community Reviews

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age 11+

Based on 2 parent reviews

ash C.
ash C. Parent of 12-year-old
June 1, 2024
age 11+

Don't waste your time with the visually unappealing film.

I took my 12-yr-old son to see this today and we only lasted an hour... and that was only because for the very first time he was allowed to sit in the front and enjoy the big screen properly (I stayed in the back row because that would make me sick!). He eventually gave up on it. It had a terribly slow, depressing, boring start and never improved. The visuals are very ugly, the subtitles didn't help and it was a complete nothing film. Normally my son loves everything at the cinema but he wasn't loving this! He also didn't understand a lot of the volleyball references. I can't really give my own opinion as I just used my phone throughout because there was no entertainment value for me at all. Apparently it had no humour, no nothing.
jimm J.
jimm J. Parent of 13-year-old
May 29, 2024
age 11+

See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

HAIKYUU!! THE DUMPSTER BATTLE follows the highly anticipated match between Karasuno High and Nekoma High at the Nationals Tournament. Shoyo Hinata (voiced by Bryson Baugus) and his teammates face off against their longtime rivals, with a particular focus on Hinata's relationship with Kenma Kozume (Clint Bickham). The film explores themes of passion for the sport, friendship, and personal growth through a series of intense volleyball matches.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (1 ):

The animation and visuals in this film are top-notch, making the intense volleyball matches thrilling to watch. HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle showcases high-quality art that enhances the overall viewing experience. Even if you're not familiar with volleyball or the original series, the film's engaging balance of technical sport elements and compelling character-driven storytelling will likely captivate you. The emotional depth and strong character dynamics provide a captivating narrative for both fans and newcomers. Overall, the movie combines a gripping storyline and inspiring themes, making Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle a must-see both for sports anime enthusiasts and general audiences.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle portrays competition and rivalry. How do the characters handle winning and losing? What can be learned from their examples of sporting conduct?

  • How do you interpret the imagery of one team being represented by a crow and the other team by a cat? What do these animals say about the teams' rivalry?

  • How do characters demonstrate perseverance and teamwork? Why are those important character strengths?

Movie Details

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