Castle in the Sky

Name: Castle in the Sky
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Animation, Family
Released: April 1, 1989
Duration: 125 min
Rating: 78
Cast: Andy Dick, Anna Paquin, Cloris Leachman, James Van Der Beek, Jim Cummings

1989

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 90 Ratings

See All

8.4

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8.4	Your Score
8.4	User Score Universal acclaim based on 90 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Castle in the Sky (Studio Ghibli Fest 2017)

Now Playing: Castle in the Sky (Studio Ghibli Fest 2017)

Movie Details & Credits

Toei Japan | Release Date: April 1, 1989 | TV-PG

Starring: Andy Dick, Anna Paquin, Cloris Leachman, James Van Der Beek, Jim Cummings, John Hostetter, Mandy Patinkin, Mark Hamill, Michael McShane, Richard Dysart

Summary: A young boy and a girl with a magic crystal must race against pirates and foreign agents in a search for a legendary floating castle.

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Genre(s): Adventure, Fantasy, Animation, Family

Rating: TV-PG

Runtime: 125 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Jeremy Conrad

Another example of the explosive imagination that Miyazaki has. The world of the movie looks to use early 20th Century technology, yet it's filled with these giant airships and flying cities. There's a giant, yet lovable, robot that instantly becomes one of the most memorable characters in the film. Combine all of that with an excellent and memorable Joe Hisaishi score, and you have a jewel of animation. Read full review

Chuck Bowen

Miyazaki’s concerns with the fragility and wonder of our less tangible surroundings haunt the picture without overpowering it. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Viewed from a purely narrative perspective, Castle in the Sky is a fun, engaging two hours. Miyazaki knows how to keep things moving without belaboring certain scenes. He doesn’t speak down to his audience and isn’t afraid to mix in exposition with action. Read full review

Richard Harrington

Miyazaki's world, so full of color and life, is always just across the borderline of imagination, its acute details softened by clouds and shadows, its principles revealed by actions more than words. Laputa has resonance and complexity. Read full review

Tasha Robinson

On the lighthearted end of the Miyazaki spectrum, but it features more dashing adventure. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Robert Pardi

Unusually detailed animation glides hand in hand with the film’s aura of wonderment. Read full review

Caryn James

Its detailed fantasy world, including a dark turn-of-the-century mining town and candy-colored futuristic space bikes, is as alluring as any live-action film. Yet this two-hour story about a lost princess, a flying island and space pirates is liable to strain the patience of adults and the attention spans of children. Read full review

SEE ALL 7 REVIEWS

Write a Review

Negative:

User Reviews

kyle20ellis

Mar 29, 2022

I cannot begin to describe how much I love this film. I love Studio Ghibli, and Castle in the Sky is one of my absolute favourites from them. It has a highly imaginative story for starters, every bit as imaginative as Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind's. Once again, the animation isI cannot begin to describe how much I love this film. I love Studio Ghibli, and Castle in the Sky is one of my absolute favourites from them. It has a highly imaginative story for starters, every bit as imaginative as Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind's. Once again, the animation is magnificent, as is the haunting and poignant music score. The dialogue and pacing are fine too, and the characters are never devoid of their likability and are wonderfully voiced by a top notch voice cast. Castle in the Sky is an absolutely beautiful film, but it is also quite haunting helped enormously by the music and visuals. It is an amazing and I think unforgettable film, one of the best animes, perhaps even animated movies I have seen. 10/10 Bethany Cox… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

NeoconTom

Sep 28, 2019

This is masterpiece film, with a great story, great characters, great voice acting, great visual art style, great soundtrack, etc.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

TheFieldMarshal

Aug 21, 2020

To be completely honest, this is the best movie I have ever seen. I am not exaggerating! It is truly the best of the best. The reason that Studio Ghibli was so successful and is still the "Disney of Japan" is Castle in the Sky. Not only was it the first Ghibli movie, but in my opinion, theTo be completely honest, this is the best movie I have ever seen. I am not exaggerating! It is truly the best of the best. The reason that Studio Ghibli was so successful and is still the "Disney of Japan" is Castle in the Sky. Not only was it the first Ghibli movie, but in my opinion, the absolute best.

There is something about Castle in the Sky that makes it very different from Hayao Miyazaki's other movies. The feeling that flows through you is not the same feeling you get when watching Howl's Moving Castle, Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, or anything. It is a deep, warm feeling from the inside, that is impossible to put into words. Only after watching it would you understand what I mean. When I first watched this movie, I didn't think it would be anything special at all. That is until I got to the opening credits. The theme song combined with the animation completely blew me away. The first Miyazaki movie I watched was Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, which was amazing but did not impress me nearly as much. A few days later I was scrolling through Netflix and came upon Castle in the Sky (at that point, I did not know that it was a Studio Ghibli movie). I decided to watch it, after all, there was nothing to lose. After some of the best two hours in my life, I went to bed astonished and completely dumbfounded. Even now, it is impossible to explain what it felt like. If I could, I would give this movie a 1 trillion stars. Unfortunately, ten is the max. :( I highly recommend you to watch Castle in the Sky; you won't be disappointed. There is nothing to lose! Hayao Miyazaki's stunningly great directing and Joe Hisaishi's breathtaking music combined makes this the best movie ever in my opinion. What Mr. Miyazaki did well was to directly control the audience's feelings, which he mastered using Mr. Hisaishi's music. Though I am someone who rarely has emotions (people used to call me "stone-face"), much less feelings when watching movies, Castle in the Sky changed everything. Tears welled up in my eyes when I heard the end song, Kimi o Nosete. Though I don't know Japanese, the feelings conveyed by the words and music are universal. Throughout the movie, you could journey alongside the characters; it feels like you are actually there with them. And the only time I cried when watching a movie was during Castle in the Sky. If that's not amazing, I don't know what is.

To conclude this review, these are the two words I can say: ABSOLUTELY SPLENDID! Have a great day and watch Castle in the Sky sometime!… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

alejandro970

Feb 10, 2019

Bigger and bolder. Astonishing story inspired on Jonathan SWift imaginario suported by accured mixture of witt humor and action sequences, and memorable villian. The first intro of Studio Ghibli is a good choice for a friday evening.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Zenflar

Sep 6, 2021

A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ThePerspectiv3

Sep 20, 2020

An incredible and very entertaining movie that really, at least for me, transmits that emotion of adventure and curiosity. The visual art added to the fantastic soundtrack results in a very emotional and well accomplished dozen. The characters are quite dynamic and charismatic. The directAn incredible and very entertaining movie that really, at least for me, transmits that emotion of adventure and curiosity. The visual art added to the fantastic soundtrack results in a very emotional and well accomplished dozen. The characters are quite dynamic and charismatic. The direct story, without hesitation, making the trip more pleasant and fun, without so much complication. Very good movie in general.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

lafi112233

Sep 2, 2019

I have seen just about all of Miyazaki's films, and they are all beautiful and captivating. But this one rises above the rest. This movie totally impressed me!

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

SEE ALL 13 REVIEWS