Howl's Moving Castle

NZ release: 20 November 2004

Some scenes may scare very young children Rated on: 20 November 2004

Howls Moving Castle

What’s it about?

Sophie's simple life is turned upside-down when she is turned into a 90-year-old woman by the spiteful Witch of the Waste. She leaves her old life behind and ventures into the waste to search for a way to break her curse. With the help of some unlikely friends, she meets along the way, Sophie faces an even bigger threat – war.

The facts

  • Directed by Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro)
  • Japanese language or English dub
  • Runtime: 119 minutes
  • Based on 1986 novel Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
  • Animated film by Studio Ghibli (Ponyo, Princess Mononoke)
  • Starring voice acting by Christian Bale, Emily Mortimer and Billy Crystal

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 and horror

War scenes includes bombs dropping and explosions. In an early scene two soldiers intimidate a female character. Blob-like figures chase after characters. A character turns into winged monsters and others are referred to as “demons”. While the film is animated some imagery may be scary for younger viewers.

Further information

Recent featured decisions

11 November 2026

Offensive language, sexual references, and nudity

Thirty-four days before she's sent to prison, notorious Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes invites a skeptical film crew to document her every move. What begins as an intimate portrait becomes a mind-bending three-year journey.

Read more

10 November 2026

Drug use, sexual references, and offensive language

A three-part documentary following the "biohacking" looksmaxxer and manosphere influencer known as Tony Huge. A portrait of masculinity in the influencer age, where extreme biohacking, online performance, and a series of suspicious deaths converge.

Read more