Castle in the Sky

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Castle in the Sky

PG

Released Apr 1, 1989

2h 4m

Fantasy

Anime

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

28 Reviews

91%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Young orphan Sheeta and her kidnapper, Col. Muska, are flying to a military prison when their plane is attacked by a gang of air pirates led by the matronly Dola. Escaping from a mid-air collision via a magic crystal around her neck, Sheeta meets fellow orphan Pazu and the pair join forces to discover the mystical floating city of Laputa while pursued by both Muska and the pirates, who lust for the city's myriad treasures.

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Critics Consensus

With a storytelling palette as rich and brilliant as its animation, Castle in the Sky thrillingly encapsulates Studio Ghibli's unique strengths.

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Caryn James

New York Times

Liable to strain the patience of adults and the attention spans of children.

Aug 30, 2004

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Richard Harrington

Washington Post

Frequently astounding.

Mar 7, 2002

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Miyazaki’s characters feel tangible and human, his action scenes ripe with energy, and his film’s design, as always, abundantly imaginative.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jul 31, 2023

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

A terrific adventure yarn.

Rated: 3.5/4

Sep 22, 2021

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James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Castle in the Sky is a good enough film to benefit from multiple viewings. And, for anyone unfamiliar with Miyazaki's canon, it provides a great introduction to a wonderfully rich animated catalog.

Rated: 3.5/4

Apr 24, 2020

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Chris Ludovici

The Spool

[S]ometimes a fun adventure in a unique, thrilling environment is all you need.

Jan 18, 2020

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Ethan O.

Another beautiful film. Not my favorite Ghibli film but definitely a must watch!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/14/25

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Lucas O

Rating: 84%. The animation of this film is great for its time and still holds up well today. I think the voice acting and music were great helping contribute to the film's message. The dialogue was solid and the story kept me entertained. What I didn't like about this film was at times it was a bit too Looney Tunes-ish/goofy for me. It didn't exceed my expectations, but I still think it had a great message and a great story.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/30/25

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I Am F

Story is very thin and I am not interested in Laputa, which you know what it means in Spanish.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/06/25

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Jens B

In the absence of humans, everything improves. Even structures once created by humans, such as a floating city in the sky, can become a place of life and harmony. Once the creators of these worlds are no longer visible.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/28/25

Full Review

Audience Member

castle in the sky is definitely one of my top studio ghibil movies to watch. the story is absolutely capitivating, beautiful, and amazing. the soundtrack is also just BREATHTAKING. i love everything about this movie and i always find myself coming back to watch it. it is truly a masterpiece

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/22/25

Full Review

Francisco C

Absolutely outstanding movie by Hayao Miyazaki. Amazing plot, characters and astonishing world building and themes. Humour with the pirates was always on point. Maybe I’m a sucker for steampunk movies and Studio Ghibli but this is definitely a must watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/10/25

Full Review

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Hayao Miyazaki

Director

Anna Paquin

Sheeta

James Van Der Beek

Pazu

Cloris Leachman

Dola

Mark Hamill

Muska

Mandy Patinkin

Louis

Castle in the Sky - Studio Ghibli Fest 2018: Fathom Events Trailer

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Synopsis

Young orphan Sheeta and her kidnapper, Col. Muska, are flying to a military prison when their plane is attacked by a gang of air pirates led by the matronly Dola. Escaping from a mid-air collision via a magic crystal around her neck, Sheeta meets fellow orphan Pazu and the pair join forces to discover the mystical floating city of Laputa while pursued by both Muska and the pirates, who lust for the city's myriad treasures.

Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Producer: Isao Takahata
Screenwriter: Hayao Miyazaki, John Semper
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures, Streamline Pictures
Production Co: Studio Ghibli
Rating: PG (Peril|Fantasy Action Violence)
Genre: Fantasy, Anime
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 1, 1989, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): May 20, 2024
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 18, 2019
Runtime: 2h 4m
Sound Mix: Dolby
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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