Castle in the Sky

NZ release: 02 September 1986

Violence Rated on: 02 September 1986

Castle in the Sky

What’s it about?

A young boy and a girl with a magic crystal must race against pirates and the military in a search for the lost city in the sky, Laputa.

The facts

  • Directed by Hayao Miyazaki (Howl’s Moving Castle, My Neighbor Totoro)
  • Japanese language or English dub
  • Runtime: 125 minutes
  • Animated film by Studio Ghibli (My Neighbor Totoro, Ponyo, Princess Mononoke)
  • Starring voice acting by Mark Hamill and Anna Paquin
  • Studio Ghibli's first official film

Why did it get this rating?

This film was cross-rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body. You can find out more about cross-rating here.

Violence

War violence is frequently shown throughout the film. We see explosions, guns, tanks, soldiers, and pirates.

There is one scene where a robot shoots powerful laser beams blowing up and destroying everything around it. It is stopped when it is viciously shot by large cannons. This scene may shock younger viewers.

Many guns are fired throughout the film. In one scene, a bullet grazes a characters’ cheek, brief spurt of blood is seen.

There are a few scenes where we see physical violence. For example, there is a fist fight between two characters which later turns into a large brawl. Characters are seen hitting each other with objects.

Content that may disturb

There are instances of characters almost falling from dangerous heights. They don't get hurt but it can be tense.

Further information

Recent featured decisions

08 April 2026

The Testaments

The Testaments Season 1 Episodes 1-4

Violence, sexual violence, offensive language, and content that may disturb

This dystopian drama follows two teenage girls, Agnes and Daisy, living in Gilead. They attend a strict school for future wives, where obedience is enforced through harsh discipline and religious teachings. As they form a close bond, they begin to question the rules and expectations placed on them.

Read more

25 March 2026

Violence, offensive language, sexual material and content that may disturb

In the final stages of planning their wedding, a couple’s seemingly perfect lives are thrown into turmoil when one partner reveals a shocking secret.

Read more