← Back to results
The Castle of Cagliostro
ルパン三世 カリオストロの城
1979 102 min Japan PG-13 12+
★7.8
Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Crime
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
🎭 Based on
«Lupin III»
Trailers
EN
EN
EN
EN
EN
Description
After a successful robbery leaves famed thief Lupin the Third and his partner Jigen with nothing but a large amount of expertly crafted counterfeit bills, he decides to track down the forgers responsible—and steal any other treasures he may find in the Castle of Cagliostro, including the 'damsel in distress' he finds imprisoned there.
Budget:
$7.2M
US Gross:
$142,425
Worldwide:
$8.19M
Starring
Yasuo Yamada
Actor
Eiko Masuyama
Actor
Kiyoshi Kobayashi
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 1981
— Best International Feature Film
Key opinion
Hayao Miyazaki’s feature debut is widely regarded as a charming, energetic adventure that blends classic heist tropes with the director's signature visual flair. While some viewers find its narrative simplicity and cartoonish villainy to be dated or overly childish, most appreciate its technical animation skill and its status as a foundational work of action-anime.
| Production | The film features impressive, fluid animation and detailed architectural design of the castle that remains visually striking for its 1979 release. | |
| Acting | Lupin's charisma and the ensemble cast's distinctive personalities anchor the narrative and provide a consistent source of entertainment. | |
| Originality | The blend of spy-genre tropes and comedic heist elements creates a balanced, engaging, and lively viewing experience. | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on the screenplay are divided: some praise its tight, adventurous structure, while others find the antagonist’s motivations clichéd and the overall plot too simple or childish. | |
| Emotion | Viewers are split on the tone and emotional resonance, with some enjoying the fun, lighthearted pacing, while others find the attempts at serious drama or the final act to be clumsy and overly pompous. |