Lupin the IIIrd: The Movie - The Immortal Bloodline (2025) Review: Violent, Stylish Island Survival With Lupin

This lupin the iiird: the movie - the immortal bloodline review starts with a simple question: what happens when the world's most charming thief is dropped into a brutal survival story? The answer is a lean, violent and stylish animated adventure that treats Lupin III less like a lovable prankster and more like a man fighting for his life. Directed by Takeshi Koike, it runs just 93 minutes and rarely wastes a second.

Lupin the IIIrd: The Movie - The Immortal Bloodline Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The film opens with Lupin III fending off a string of skilled assassins. Before he can catch his breath, he and his allies receive a mysterious invitation to an uncharted island. Curiosity and the promise of a big score are enough to send the gang on their way.

The trip goes wrong fast. Their plane is shot down and the group is stranded, hunted by the island's inhabitants, by enemies from Lupin's past, and by a monstrous immortal being known as Muom. A deadly toxic fog soon settles over the island, which turns survival into a race against time.

The tagline promises that you haven't seen the real Lupin III yet, and the setup backs that up. This is a darker, tougher outing than the cheerful capers many people associate with the franchise. If you want more like it, our Animation movie reviews page has plenty of company.

What Works in Lupin the IIIrd: The Immortal Bloodline

A lean, relentless pace

At 93 minutes, the film moves with real purpose. The island setting keeps the story tight, and the threats arrive one after another without much filler. It feels like an old-school action thriller dressed in anime clothing.

A harder-edged tone

The most interesting choice is the tone. The violence is blunt, the stakes feel personal, and the film is willing to put its heroes under real pressure. Fans who enjoy the gang's usual wit will still find it, but it sits alongside danger rather than replacing it.

Action built around character

The set pieces are staged around what each member of the gang does best. Lupin improvises, Jigen shoots, Goemon slices and Fujiko schemes. That clarity makes the action easy to follow, and it keeps the ensemble feeling like a team under strain rather than a set of interchangeable fighters.

• Clear, character-driven action sequences

• A strong sense of place on a hostile island

• A villain concept that threatens Lupin's legacy, not just his life

If action is your main draw, you can browse more in our Action movie reviews.

Lupin the IIIrd: The Immortal Bloodline Cast and Performances

The Japanese voice cast is the franchise's familiar core, and that familiarity pays off. Kanichi Kurita voices Arsène Lupin III, Akio Otsuka returns as the gruff marksman Daisuke Jigen, and Daisuke Namikawa plays the stoic swordsman Goemon Ishikawa XIII. Miyuki Sawashiro voices Fujiko Mine, and Koichi Yamadera plays the relentless Inspector Zenigata.

The chemistry among them is the glue of the film. Even when the story turns grim, the way these characters talk to each other feels lived-in. A little banter between bursts of violence goes a long way.

Ainosuke Kataoka voices the immortal Muom, the main new threat. The role calls for menace rather than subtlety, and the performance delivers that. The film does more with the idea of Muom than with the character's depth, but the voice work helps sell him as a genuine danger to the gang.

Where Lupin the IIIrd: The Immortal Bloodline Stumbles

The film's brevity is both a strength and a weakness. Because it moves so quickly, some ideas feel more like sketches than fully developed threads. The island's inhabitants and the enemies from Lupin's past could have used more room to register.

Newcomers may also feel a step behind. The film leans on the dynamics of a long-running franchise, and while you can follow the plot without homework, some character beats will land harder for longtime fans. The relationships are explained through behavior rather than exposition.

The darker tone might also divide audiences. Viewers who love the franchise for its light-hearted heists may find this too grim, and the heavy violence is not for everyone. The film carries no official age rating in our records, so check content guidance before pressing play with younger viewers.

Is Lupin the IIIrd: The Immortal Bloodline Worth Watching?

Yes, if you like your animation fast, violent and stylish. It is a compact survival adventure with a clear hook, a confident ensemble and a villain who raises the stakes. Audience reaction so far is positive, with a TMDB score of 7.6 out of 10 from 36 votes, though that is a small sample.

The real draw is the combination of a familiar crew and an unfamiliar mood. Watching the gang pushed to their limits is a fresh angle on characters many fans have followed for years. For anyone who wants a quick, tense action fix, it is a satisfying ride.

If you enjoy tight, no-nonsense thrills, you might also like our take on Agent Zero, a brisk French revenge thriller. For background details on the production, see the film's IMDb page. Overall, this lupin the iiird: the movie - the immortal bloodline review comes down on the positive side: a bold, if slightly underdeveloped, adventure.

Who Will Enjoy Lupin the IIIrd: The Immortal Bloodline

• Longtime Lupin III fans who want a darker, tougher take on the gang

• Anime action lovers who prefer short, fast-moving stories

• Viewers who like survival thrillers with a monstrous threat and a ticking clock