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FantasyAnimationAdventure Venice 2004 Editor's Pick

Howl's Moving Castle Review (2004) — 80% Celluloid Score

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki · 2004 ·

Short answer

Is Howl's Moving Castle worth watching?

Yes. Howl's Moving Castle (2004) earns an 80% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

80%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

86% Editorial Rating
85% Audience snapshot · excluded
74 Metascore
★★★½☆ Letterboxd 3.8
8.2 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
1h 59m
Age rating
PG (US) · U (UK) · PG (Australia) · All (South Korea)
Cast
Chieko Baisho , Takuya Kimura , Akihiro Miwa , Tatsuya Gashuin , Ryunosuke Kamiki , Mitsunori Isaki , Yo Oizumi , Akio Otsuka , Daijirō Harada , Haruko Katō
Streaming
HBO Max
Country
Japan
Language
Japanese

Also known as ハウルの動く城 El increíble castillo vagabundo El castillo ambulante Le Château ambulant Das wandelnde Schloss O Castelo Animado 하울의 움직이는 성 哈尔的移动城堡

Where to watch

  • HBO Max

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Where to watch Howl's Moving Castle by country

Country Streaming on
India Netflix
Indonesia Netflix
Malaysia Netflix
Nigeria Netflix
Pakistan Netflix
Philippines Netflix
South Africa Netflix
South Korea Netflix
Thailand Netflix
Turkey Netflix
United Arab Emirates Netflix
United Kingdom Netflix
United States HBO Max

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is positive (86/100).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (85%).
  • Metascore is generally favorable (74/100).
  • IMDb users score it 8.2/10.
  • Celluloid Score 80% combines 4 rating inputs; audience sentiment is shown separately. Consult the source notes for verification dates where recorded.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded fantasy, animation, adventure pick

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

    Is Howl's Moving Castle worth watching?

    Yes — Howl's Moving Castle earns an 80% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded fantasy, animation, adventure pick. Read our full review (4/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    Miyazaki’s anti-war fantasy romance — cursed Sophie, the walking castle, and Calcifer — is Ghibli’s most rewatched English-language gateway after Spirited Away.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

    What is Howl's Moving Castle about?

    Sophie, a young milliner, is turned into an elderly woman by a witch who enters her shop and curses her. She encounters a wizard named Howl and gets caught up in his resistance to fighting for the king.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English Howl's Moving Castle

    Howl's Moving Castle (2004) Review: Enchantment Over Logic

    Howl's Moving Castle is Hayao Miyazaki's ravishing anti-war fantasy about a cursed young hatter and a vain wizard, gorgeous even when its plot comes loose.

    Yes. Its images, music and heroine are enchanting, even if the story unravels late. Ideal for Ghibli fans, families with older kids and fantasy lovers.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    Howl's Moving Castle stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    Howl's Moving Castle production still 1
    Howl's Moving Castle production still 2
    Howl's Moving Castle production still 3
    Howl's Moving Castle production still 4
    Howl's Moving Castle production still 5
    Howl's Moving Castle production still 6

    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    Howl's Moving Castle: frequently asked questions

    Is Howl's Moving Castle worth watching?

    Yes. Howl's Moving Castle (2004) has a Celluloid Score of 80%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

    Where can I watch Howl's Moving Castle?

    In the United States, Howl's Moving Castle streams on HBO Max with a subscription, and you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube. Elsewhere: Netflix in India; Netflix in Indonesia; Netflix in Malaysia; Netflix in Nigeria. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is Howl's Moving Castle?

    Howl's Moving Castle runs 1 hour 59 minutes (119 minutes).

    What is Howl's Moving Castle rated?

    Howl's Moving Castle is rated PG in the United States, U in the UK, PG in Australia and All in South Korea. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in Howl's Moving Castle?

    Howl's Moving Castle is directed by Hayao Miyazaki and stars Chieko Baisho, Takuya Kimura, Akihiro Miwa, Tatsuya Gashuin, Ryunosuke Kamiki.

    What is the Metascore for Howl's Moving Castle?

    Metacritic's Metascore for Howl's Moving Castle is 74 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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