The Definitive Lupin III Movie and Special Tier List: Where Does Your Favorite Land?

Fair warning: this list is going to upset someone. That's kind of the point.

The Lupin III catalog of films and TV specials spans over four decades, multiple animation studios, wildly different tonal registers, and enough creative reinventions to make your head spin. There's no single "correct" ranking — but there are definitely entries that hit harder than others, and some that the fandom either overrates or criminally ignores. We've dug through the full catalog, weighed community sentiment from forums and Discord servers, and come up with a tier breakdown we're prepared to defend.

Here's how we're organizing things: S Tier (essential, no debate), A Tier (excellent with minor caveats), B Tier (solid, worth your time), C Tier (mixed bag), and D Tier (for completionists only). Let's go.

S Tier: The Ones That Defined the Franchise

The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)

Look, we're a website literally named after this movie. Of course it's at the top. But beyond the obvious sentimental connection, Cagliostro earns its legendary status on pure craft. Hayao Miyazaki's theatrical debut is a masterwork of pacing — every sequence builds on the last, the villain is genuinely threatening, and Lupin himself is more fully realized here than in almost any other entry. The car chase in the opening ten minutes remains one of the best action sequences in anime history. If you're introducing someone to Lupin III for the first time, this is still the answer.

Best for: Literally everyone. New fans, lapsed fans, people who claim they don't like anime.

Lupin III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine (2012)

Okay, technically a TV series rather than a film, but the cinematic ambition here is undeniable, and enough fans treat it as a standalone entry that we're including it. Dark, stylish, and genuinely subversive, Fujiko Mine reframes the entire Lupin mythology through Fujiko's perspective — and the result is something that feels completely fresh while honoring the source material. The noir aesthetic is immaculate. Controversial pick for S Tier in some circles, but the craft speaks for itself.

Best for: Fans who want something with serious weight and visual ambition.

A Tier: Near-Classics That Deserve More Credit

Lupin III: Dead or Alive (1996)

Directed by Monkey Punch himself, Dead or Alive is the most visually distinctive theatrical film in the catalog — and probably the most underrated. The plot involves a rogue nation-state, a self-replicating nanotechnology weapon, and Lupin going full action-hero in a way that's surprisingly effective. It's messier than Cagliostro and the pacing stumbles in the second act, but the ambition is real and there are sequences here that rival anything in the franchise.

Best for: Fans who want to see Monkey Punch's personal vision on the big screen.

Lupin III: The First (2019)

The CG animation divided people, and honestly, that reaction is fair — it takes about fifteen minutes to adjust. But once you do, The First is a genuinely thrilling adventure film that captures the spirit of Cagliostro while carving out its own identity. The Indiana Jones-inspired treasure hunt premise is a perfect fit for Lupin, and the emotional core involving a young woman and her grandfather's legacy lands better than it has any right to. This one deserves a reappraisal from anyone who bounced off the visual style.

Best for: New fans, younger viewers, anyone who wants a modern entry point.

Farewell to Nostradamus (1995)

This one is perpetually undervalued in Western fandom, mostly because it got a rough localization and hasn't been widely available in clean form for years. The kidnapping plot is tighter than most Lupin films, the villain has actual menace, and the climax aboard a collapsing skyscraper is legitimately spectacular. If you've never seen this one, fix that immediately.

Best for: Fans of high-stakes action and tighter plotting.

B Tier: Good Times, Some Caveats

Lupin III: Episode 0 – First Contact (2002)

A TV special that functions as an origin story, First Contact has a warm nostalgic quality that fans of the original series will love. It's not trying to reinvent anything — it's comfort food, and well-made comfort food at that. The retro aesthetic is charming, even if the stakes never feel particularly high.

Lupin III vs. Detective Conan: The Movie (2013)

The crossover premise sounds like a fever dream, but the execution is more competent than you'd expect. Conan's deductive style bouncing off Lupin's improvisational chaos creates genuinely fun dynamics, and the mystery plot holds together reasonably well. It's not essential viewing, but fans of either franchise will have a good time.

Lupin III: Part IV – The Italian Adventure (2015)

Another TV series making a guest appearance in this list because the theatrical quality of several episodes justifies it. The Italian setting is gorgeous, the new character Rebecca is a welcome addition, and the Zenigata material is some of the best the franchise has produced in years. Not every arc sticks the landing, but the highs are real.

C Tier: Complicated Feelings

Lupin III: Crisis in Tokyo (1998)

There's a solid 45-minute movie buried inside this 90-minute special. The setup involving a secret society manipulating Tokyo's power structure is intriguing, but the execution gets muddled and the finale is weirdly anticlimactic for something building toward this scale. Fans of the franchise will find things to enjoy, but it's not a priority watch.

Lupin III: Sweet Lost Night (2008)

The amnesia plot is a well-worn device, and Sweet Lost Night doesn't do quite enough to justify revisiting it. There are good character moments scattered throughout, particularly between Lupin and Fujiko, but the central mystery is underwhelming and the resolution feels rushed. Worth watching once, probably not twice.

D Tier: For Completionists Only

Lupin III: Alcatraz Connection (2001)

Ambitious premise, disappointing follow-through. The Alcatraz setting promises a lot and delivers surprisingly little, and the villain's motivation is underdeveloped to the point of frustration. The action sequences are fine but forgettable. If you've seen everything else, sure. Otherwise, skip it.

The Hidden Gem You Need to Watch Right Now

If we had to pick one entry that consistently flies under the radar in American fan conversations, it's Lupin III: Island of Assassins (1997). The premise — Lupin infiltrating a private island run by a secretive guild of killers — plays like a fever dream mashup of The Most Dangerous Game and a classic Bond film. The atmosphere is genuinely dark without losing the franchise's essential playfulness, and the Jigen character work here is some of the best in the entire catalog. It's not perfect, but it's the one we recommend whenever someone says they've run out of essential Lupin content.

Where Should New Fans Start?

Simple answer: The Castle of Cagliostro, then The First if you want something modern, then Fujiko Mine when you're ready for something more challenging. That path will give you the full range of what this franchise can do before you start filling in the gaps.

And when you've worked through all of that? Come argue with us about this list. We're ready.