The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)
Movie · 1979 · Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Crime · 1h 42m · Japanese
Curator score: 8.4/10 (141.1K ratings)
Tagline: Believe in the Thief.
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.
Ratings:
- Curator score: 8.4/10
- IMDb: 7.6/10
- Letterboxd: 4.02/5
- Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
- Metacritic: 72
- TMDB: 7.5/10
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Production: Tokyo Movie Shinsha, Telecom Animation Film
Cast: Yasuo Yamada, Kiyoshi Kobayashi, Eiko Masuyama, Makio Inoue, Gorō Naya, Sumi Shimamoto, Taro Ishida, Kohei Miyauchi, Ichiro Nagai, Tadamichi Tsuneizumi, Kinpei Azusa, Eken Mine, Shozo Hirabayashi, Minoru Midorikawa, Mikio Terashima, Osamu Saka, Junkichi Yarita, Akio Nojima, Juji Matsuda, Yoko Yamaoka
Curator Review
Verdict: A breezy, beautifully animated caper with inventive action, comic timing, and a surprisingly warm sense of adventure. It’s less meditative than later Miyazaki films, but as a pure chase movie it’s a delight.
Best for: fans of stylish heist stories; viewers who like playful adventure-comedy; animation lovers; people seeking a light, fast-moving classic
Skip if: you want a darker or more introspective Miyazaki film; you dislike episodic chase plots; you need high emotional stakes over fun set pieces
Overview: The Castle of Cagliostro is one of those rare films that feels like it’s grinning at you the whole time. It takes the bones of a pulp caper and turns them into a gleaming, kinetic adventure full of traps, escapes, disguises, and impossible stunts. The animation is crisp and expressive, and the action has a clean, almost architectural clarity that makes every chase easy to follow and fun to anticipate.
Worth noting: What stands out most is how confident the film is in its momentum. It never lingers too long on any one beat, but it keeps finding new ways to surprise you with visual invention and comic rhythm. The humor is broad but sharp, and the movie’s charm comes from how effortlessly it balances swagger with sincerity.
Bottom line: It’s also an interesting early showcase for Miyazaki’s instincts: the love of machinery, movement, and rescue-driven adventure is already here, even if the tone is lighter and more straightforward than his later masterpieces. If you want a classic animated caper that feels genuinely cool without trying too hard, this is an easy recommendation.
Top Letterboxd reviews:
- Neil Bahadur: Let's be real here, this is one of the coolest films ever made.
- Taylor Williams: Were they really that great of counterfeits if everyone who sees them instantly goes “these are the greatest counterfeits I’ve ever seen!”
- James (Schaffrillas): This Miyazaki guy is going places
- Georgia Coley: In most Miyazaki movie reviews, the adjectives that I’d use to describe the feeling of watching his films would be something like: meditative, atmospheric, moody, mystical, thoughtful, down-to-earth, and even transcendant.
In this review of Castle of Cagliostro, the only adjectives I can manage are “the coolest dang thing I’ve ever seen.”
Yo, this is so awesome. I managed to let out gasps of amazement and terror at an alarming rate, and I yelled “oh my GOD!” at an even more… more
- adambolt: surely having every five square meters of floor as a trap door has to be a safety hazard of some kind
Recommended similar titles:
- Castle in the Sky (1986 · Adventure, Fantasy, Animation · 2h 5m · PG · Curator 8.6/10 (726.2K ratings) · Where to watch: Max)
Shares the same sense of airborne adventure, mechanical wonder, and romantic momentum, with a bigger mythic sweep.
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989 · Adventure, Action · 2h 7m · PG-13 · Curator 8.2/10 (1.6M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus, fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential)
For viewers who want a witty, globe-trotting treasure hunt with traps, chases, and old-school adventure energy.
- The Pink Panther (1963 · Comedy, Crime · 1h 55m · PG · Curator 4.0/10 (111.6K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads)
A suave, comic crime film that leans on timing, elegance, and playful pursuit rather than hard-edged suspense.
- The Adventures of Tintin (2011 · Adventure, Animation, Mystery · 1h 47m · PG · Curator 5.8/10 (652.1K ratings) · Where to watch: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential)
A modern animated-adventure equivalent with relentless motion, puzzle-box plotting, and a boyish sense of wonder.
- The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956 · Thriller, Mystery, Drama · 2h 1m · PG · Curator 7.0/10 (168.4K ratings))
For the rescue-and-chase structure, escalating peril, and the pleasure of watching a protagonist improvise through danger.
- The Thief of Bagdad (1940 · Adventure, Fantasy, Romance · 1h 47m · NR · Curator 6.6/10 (31.2K ratings) · Where to watch: Max)
A foundational fantasy-adventure with ornate spectacle, daring escapes, and a fairy-tale sense of movement.
- The Lady Vanishes (1938 · Mystery, Thriller · 1h 36m · NR · Curator 8.7/10 (128.1K ratings) · Where to watch: fuboTV, Fandor, Philo, IndieFlix, Max)
A brisk, witty mystery built on pursuit, mistaken identity, and escalating comic tension.
- Porco Rosso (1992 · Animation, Adventure, Fantasy · 1h 33m · PG · Curator 8.7/10 (614.3K ratings) · Where to watch: Max)
If the appeal is stylish outlaw charisma and airborne action, this offers a more mature but similarly breezy adventure tone.
- The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938 · Adventure, Romance, History · 1h 42m · PG · Curator 8.7/10 (103.1K ratings))
Swashbuckling heroics, clean action geography, and a timeless sense of fun make it a strong tonal match.
- The Italian Job (1969 · Crime, Comedy, Thriller · 1h 39m · G · Curator 6.1/10 (54.7K ratings))
A classic caper built on clever planning, comic swagger, and the satisfaction of a well-executed scheme.
- The Mask of Zorro (1998 · Action, Adventure · 2h 16m · PG-13 · Curator 4.6/10 (374.4K ratings))
For viewers who want charismatic action, romance, and a polished old-school adventure feel.
- The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988 · Fantasy, Adventure, Comedy · 2h 6m · PG · Curator 6.4/10 (107.7K ratings))
For audiences drawn to extravagant imagination, elaborate set pieces, and playful cinematic invention.
Topics: animated adventure, heist comedy, classic anime, 1970s, fast-paced, whimsical, capers, action-comedy, romantic rescue, pulp
https://watchlist.tannermartz.com/apple/movie/the-castle-of-cagliostro/15371
The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)
Movie · 1979 · Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Crime · 1h 42m · Japanese
Curator score: 8.4/10 (141.1K ratings)
Believe in the Thief.
Overview 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.
Ratings
Curator score: 8.4/10
IMDb: 7.6/10
Letterboxd: 4.02/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Metacritic: 72
TMDB: 7.5/10
Production Tokyo Movie Shinsha, Telecom Animation Film
Cast Yasuo Yamada, Kiyoshi Kobayashi, Eiko Masuyama, Makio Inoue, Gorō Naya, Sumi Shimamoto, Taro Ishida, Kohei Miyauchi, Ichiro Nagai, Tadamichi Tsuneizumi, Kinpei Azusa, Eken Mine, Shozo Hirabayashi, Minoru Midorikawa, Mikio Terashima, Osamu Saka, Junkichi Yarita, Akio Nojima, Juji Matsuda, Yoko Yamaoka
Curator Review
Verdict
A breezy, beautifully animated caper with inventive action, comic timing, and a surprisingly warm sense of adventure. It’s less meditative than later Miyazaki films, but as a pure chase movie it’s a delight.
Best for
fans of stylish heist stories
viewers who like playful adventure-comedy
animation lovers
people seeking a light, fast-moving classic
Skip if
you want a darker or more introspective Miyazaki film
you dislike episodic chase plots
you need high emotional stakes over fun set pieces
Overview
The Castle of Cagliostro is one of those rare films that feels like it’s grinning at you the whole time. It takes the bones of a pulp caper and turns them into a gleaming, kinetic adventure full of traps, escapes, disguises, and impossible stunts. The animation is crisp and expressive, and the action has a clean, almost architectural clarity that makes every chase easy to follow and fun to anticipate.
Worth noting
What stands out most is how confident the film is in its momentum. It never lingers too long on any one beat, but it keeps finding new ways to surprise you with visual invention and comic rhythm. The humor is broad but sharp, and the movie’s charm comes from how effortlessly it balances swagger with sincerity.
Bottom line
It’s also an interesting early showcase for Miyazaki’s instincts: the love of machinery, movement, and rescue-driven adventure is already here, even if the tone is lighter and more straightforward than his later masterpieces. If you want a classic animated caper that feels genuinely cool without trying too hard, this is an easy recommendation.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Neil Bahadur (4.5★) · 2210 likes
Let's be real here, this is one of the coolest films ever made.
Taylor Williams (4★) · 1862 likes
Were they really that great of counterfeits if everyone who sees them instantly goes “these are the greatest counterfeits I’ve ever seen!”
James (Schaffrillas) (3.5★) · 1860 likes
This Miyazaki guy is going places
Georgia Coley (5★) · 637 likes
In most Miyazaki movie reviews, the adjectives that I’d use to describe the feeling of watching his films would be something like: meditative, atmospheric, moody, mystical, thoughtful, down-to-earth, and even transcendant.
In this review of Castle of Cagliostro, the only adjectives I can manage are “the coolest dang thing I’ve ever seen.”
Yo, this is so awesome. I managed to let out gasps of amazement and terror at an alarming rate, and I yelled “oh my GOD!” at an even more… more
adambolt (4.5★) · 597 likes
surely having every five square meters of floor as a trap door has to be a safety hazard of some kind
Recommended similar titles
1986 · Adventure, Fantasy, Animation · 2h 5m · PG · Curator 8.6/10 (726.2K ratings) · Where to watch: Max
Shares the same sense of airborne adventure, mechanical wonder, and romantic momentum, with a bigger mythic sweep.
1989 · Adventure, Action · 2h 7m · PG-13 · Curator 8.2/10 (1.6M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus, fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential
For viewers who want a witty, globe-trotting treasure hunt with traps, chases, and old-school adventure energy.
1963 · Comedy, Crime · 1h 55m · PG · Curator 4.0/10 (111.6K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
A suave, comic crime film that leans on timing, elegance, and playful pursuit rather than hard-edged suspense.
2011 · Adventure, Animation, Mystery · 1h 47m · PG · Curator 5.8/10 (652.1K ratings) · Where to watch: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential
A modern animated-adventure equivalent with relentless motion, puzzle-box plotting, and a boyish sense of wonder.
1956 · Thriller, Mystery, Drama · 2h 1m · PG · Curator 7.0/10 (168.4K ratings)
For the rescue-and-chase structure, escalating peril, and the pleasure of watching a protagonist improvise through danger.
1940 · Adventure, Fantasy, Romance · 1h 47m · NR · Curator 6.6/10 (31.2K ratings) · Where to watch: Max
A foundational fantasy-adventure with ornate spectacle, daring escapes, and a fairy-tale sense of movement.
1938 · Mystery, Thriller · 1h 36m · NR · Curator 8.7/10 (128.1K ratings) · Where to watch: fuboTV, Fandor, Philo, IndieFlix, Max
A brisk, witty mystery built on pursuit, mistaken identity, and escalating comic tension.
1992 · Animation, Adventure, Fantasy · 1h 33m · PG · Curator 8.7/10 (614.3K ratings) · Where to watch: Max
If the appeal is stylish outlaw charisma and airborne action, this offers a more mature but similarly breezy adventure tone.
1938 · Adventure, Romance, History · 1h 42m · PG · Curator 8.7/10 (103.1K ratings)
Swashbuckling heroics, clean action geography, and a timeless sense of fun make it a strong tonal match.
1969 · Crime, Comedy, Thriller · 1h 39m · G · Curator 6.1/10 (54.7K ratings)
A classic caper built on clever planning, comic swagger, and the satisfaction of a well-executed scheme.
1998 · Action, Adventure · 2h 16m · PG-13 · Curator 4.6/10 (374.4K ratings)
For viewers who want charismatic action, romance, and a polished old-school adventure feel.
1988 · Fantasy, Adventure, Comedy · 2h 6m · PG · Curator 6.4/10 (107.7K ratings)
For audiences drawn to extravagant imagination, elaborate set pieces, and playful cinematic invention.
Topics
animated adventure, heist comedy, classic anime, 1970s, fast-paced, whimsical, capers, action-comedy, romantic rescue, pulp
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