IMDb 6.8 2004 HD

Lupin the Third: Swallowtail Tattoo

Lupin the Third: Swallowtail Tattoo

2004
Action Animation Comedy Crime TV Movie
97 min NR Japan
6.6 / 10
6.8 IMDB

Fujiko and Lupin are kidnapped by Malkovich, a notorious criminal escaped from Alcatraz who forces Lupin to steal the "Bull's Eye," a precious stone.

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Hidehito Ueda
Starring
Kanichi Kurita / Kiyoshi Kobayashi / Eiko Masuyama / Makio Inoue / Gorō Naya / Yuu Asakawa / Takeshi Aono / Kōji Nakata

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

entertaining familiar classic competent enjoyable thrilling energetic sharp standard predictable solid good

Reviews

P
Penelope Croft
May 8, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

In 'Lupin the Third: Swallowtail Tattoo', the beloved thief finds himself in a bind, coerced by the notorious Malkovich to procure the 'Bull's Eye'. The narrative is a standard Lupin affair, featuring the expected cat-and-mouse dynamics and elaborate…

A
Alistair Finch
May 8, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

Arsène Lupin III is back in top form with 'Swallowtail Tattoo', a thrilling adventure that crackles with energy. The ingenious premise, involving a forced heist of the precious 'Bull's Eye' under the thumb of the menacing Malkovich, sets…

G
Genevieve Dubois
May 8, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

'Swallowtail Tattoo' presents a classic Lupin III scenario: a perilous heist orchestrated by a cunning antagonist, this time the Alcatraz escapee Malkovich. The plot, revolving around the theft of the 'Bull's Eye', is engaging enough, though it treads…

M
Marcus Bellweather
May 8, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This entry in the Lupin III saga, 'Swallowtail Tattoo', is a testament to the enduring appeal of the character and his world. The narrative, driven by the formidable Malkovich and the coveted 'Bull's Eye', offers a compelling hook.…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 8, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

Lupin the Third: Swallowtail Tattoo' delivers a reliably entertaining, if somewhat familiar, outing for the legendary thief. The premise, with Lupin and Fujiko coerced by the escaped Alcatraz convict Malkovich into stealing the 'Bull's Eye', provides a solid…

FAQs

Malkovich's escape from Alcatraz, a globally recognised maximum-security prison, immediately imbues him with a certain notoriety and dangerous mystique. This detail suggests a character who is not only cunning and resourceful enough to overcome immense security measures but also possesses a deep well of resilience and determination. For Lupin, facing an adversary with such a formidable history adds an extra layer of challenge and unpredictability to the predicament.