Really good movie staging in a fictional center European country. The drawings are great and the story is as delicate as any other from Miyazaki.…
8.4/10Fantasy · Animation · Adventure
Howl's Moving Castle
“A magician, a witch, a castle that has life. A fantastic journey into the world of imagination.”
- 2004
- 1h 59m
- PG
- JA
- Released
The story
What Howl's Moving Castle is 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.
Howl's Moving Castle is a fantasy, animation and adventure film from 2004, directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It runs 1h 59m and is rated PG in the US. It was produced by Studio Ghibli, Tokuma Shoten and Nippon Television Network Corporation, with production in Japan.
The main cast is led by Chieko Baisho, Takuya Kimura, Akihiro Miwa, Tatsuya Gashuin. The screenplay was written by Hayao Miyazaki. Reported worldwide gross stands at $236.0M.
Why it matters: Howl's Moving Castle currently holds 8.4/10 from 11639 TMDB user ratings and has taken $236.0M worldwide against a $24.0M budget. Figures move as more ratings and box-office updates arrive.
Editor’s note
Should you watch Howl's Moving Castle?
Howl's Moving Castle is best suited to viewers who like invented worlds. At 1h 59m, it is a standard feature length. The draw is Chieko Baisho and Takuya Kimura, directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
With 11,639 TMDB ratings averaging 8.4/10, this is one of the most widely seen titles in our library, so the score is a reliable signal.
TMDB tags the film with themes including witch, flying, rain and castle.
The US certification is PG: suitable for most viewers, with some parental guidance for younger children.
If you like this, try Swapped, Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender or Minions & Monsters.
Auto-generated from TMDB data (runtime, cast, ratings, keywords, certification). Last updated November 4, 2026.
Availability
Where to watch Howl's Moving Castle
36 official sources across 5 regions. Every button opens this exact title on the provider’s own site, where price, video quality and audio options are confirmed before you pay.
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HBO Max
Included with a HBO Max subscription, no extra charge · United States
United States10 options
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4 sources
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YouTubeOpen on YouTubeOpen ↗Buy
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Canada10 options
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4 sourcesPrime VideoWatch on Prime VideoOpen ↗Apple TVOpen on Apple TVOpen ↗YouTubeOpen on YouTubeOpen ↗CosmoGoCheck optionsOpen ↗Buy
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India1 option
Checked 4 November 2026. Listings from TMDB / JustWatch data and they change daily; the provider page always shows the final price. Compare every option on JustWatch. MovieState links only to licensed services.
Who is in it
Howl's Moving Castle cast
Chieko BaishoSophie (voice)
Takuya KimuraHowl (voice)
Akihiro MiwaWitch of the Waste (voice)
Tatsuya GashuinCalcifer (voice)
Ryunosuke KamikiMarkl (voice)
Mitsunori IsakiKosho (voice)
Yo OizumiPrince Justin / Turnip Head (voice)
Akio OtsukaKing of Ingary (voice)
Daijirō HaradaHeen (voice)
Haruko KatōMadame Suliman (voice)
Makoto Yasumura(voice)
Manabu Muraji(voice)Character names follow the film's credits. Open a name to see that person's other work on MovieState.
Behind the camera
Direction and crew
DirectorHayao Miyazaki
WritersHayao Miyazaki
ProducersTomohiko Ishii, Toshio Suzuki
MusicJoe Hisaishi
CinematographyAtsushi Okui
EditingTakeshi Seyama
Audience reaction
Ratings and reviews
8.4/1011639 ratings
Howl's Moving Castle sits at 8.4 out of 10 from 11639 user ratings. For context, the film's worldwide gross is $236.0M.
Scores show TMDB user ratings at the time of publishing and shift as new votes arrive.
Certainly my favourite Miyazaki film. The animations are a touch angular, but colourfully and stylishly depict this story of a beautiful young girl who is cursed by an evil witch. In despair, she sets off, directionless, from home and comes across "Howl" and his moving castle - and the sprite "Calcifer". She begins a j…
The facts
Howl's Moving Castle key details
| Original title | Howl's Moving Castle |
|---|---|
| Status | Released |
| Release date | June 10, 2005 |
| Runtime | 1h 59m |
| Certification | PG in United States, U in United Kingdom |
| Original language | JA |
| Spoken languages | Japanese |
| Country | Japan |
| Budget | $24.0M |
| Worldwide gross | $236.0M |
| Studios | Studio Ghibli, Tokuma Shoten, Nippon Television Network Corporation, dentsu |
| Also known as | Haulov pokretni zamak, Замок-мандрівник, Подвижният замък на Хол |
Release information
Release dates by country
| Country | Date | Cert |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Jun 10, 2005 | PG |
| United Kingdom | Sep 23, 2005 | U |
| Canada | Jun 10, 2005 | NR |
| Australia | Jun 9, 2005 | PG |
| Austria | Aug 26, 2005 | NR |
| Brazil | Aug 5, 2005 | L |
| China | Apr 24, 2004 | NR |
| Czechia | Dec 7, 2008 | U |
| Denmark | Oct 14, 2005 | 7 |
| France | Jan 12, 2005 | TP |
Official trailer for Howl's Moving Castle, via GKIDS Films. Open on YouTube
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
Who directed Howl's Moving Castle?
Howl's Moving Castle was directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
Who is in the cast of Howl's Moving Castle?
The main cast includes Chieko Baisho, Takuya Kimura, Akihiro Miwa, Tatsuya Gashuin, Ryunosuke Kamiki.
How long is Howl's Moving Castle?
Howl's Moving Castle runs 1h 59m.
When was Howl's Moving Castle released?
It was released in the United States on June 10, 2005. Release dates vary by country — see the table above.
What is Howl's Moving Castle rated?
Certification depends on the country: PG in United States, U in United Kingdom. Always check your local rating before watching with family.
Where can I watch Howl's Moving Castle online?
Availability changes by region and by week. The table above lists the streaming, rental and purchase services reported for major markets. Check the provider page for today's price and quality.
Can I watch Howl's Moving Castle in HD or 4K?
Most digital stores offer Howl's Moving Castle in HD, and newer releases are often available in 4K. Check the quality label on the provider's page before you pay.
How much did Howl's Moving Castle earn?
Reported worldwide gross is $236.0M against a budget of $24.0M. Box office figures update over time.
Director filmography
More from Hayao Miyazaki
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Data sources: TMDB (titles, cast, crew, release dates, provider listings and user ratings). Availability and box office figures change over time; this page was last rebuilt on November 4, 2026. We publish information only; we do not host or stream video files.
Exact record pages: IMDb record · TMDB record · Official site
At a glance: Howl's Moving Castle runs 1h 59m, opened in US cinemas on June 10, 2005, has 36 licensed options across 5 regions tracked here.