Lupin the IIIrd: The Movie – The Immortal Bloodline (2026): Release Date, Plot, Cast & Why This Final Chapter Is a Must-Watch Event

Anime fans, buckle up — because the world’s greatest gentleman thief is stepping into his darkest and most dangerous mission yet.

Lupin the IIIrd: The Movie – The Immortal Bloodline marks the explosive final entry in the Lupin the IIIRD saga, and director Takeshi Koike is back to deliver a brutal, stylish, and electrifying send-off fans will be talking about for years.

This isn’t just another Lupin adventure.

It’s the last chapter of an era — a culmination of Koike’s noir-driven, cinematic reimagining of Monkey Punch’s legendary character.

And for three nights only, fans in North America can experience it on the big screen from January 4–6, 2026.

Lupin the IIIrd: The Movie – The Immortal Bloodline is the final film in the Lupin the IIIRD saga, directed by Takeshi Koike and based on Monkey Punch’s iconic manga. After releasing in Japan in June 2025, the film arrives in North American theaters for a limited engagement from January 4–6, 2026. The story follows Lupin III and his crew as they face an immortal being named Muom on a mysterious island filled with assassins, toxic fog, and deadly secrets.

🗡️ A Final Mission: Lupin vs. an Immortal Enemy

The film begins with Lupin III doing what he does best — surviving a series of assassination attempts with his blend of charm, speed, and razor-sharp instincts.

But these aren’t ordinary assassins.

Someone is clearing the path for something far more sinister.

After the attacks, Lupin and his loyal allies — Jigen, Goemon, Fujiko, and the eternally frustrated Inspector Zenigata — follow a mysterious invitation to an uncharted island.

But the moment their plane is shot down…they realize they’ve walked into a trap.

On this island awaits a monster straight from the darkest nightmares of the Lupin universe:

Muom — an immortal, inhuman being hell-bent on erasing Lupin’s bloodline from existence.

This isn’t just survival.

This is legacy warfare.

And as a toxic fog creeps closer, stealing breath and hope, Lupin must do the one thing he’s always avoided — look death in the eye.

🌩️ The Island of Death: A Nightmare Playground

Koike has always pushed the boundaries of visual storytelling, but this final installment takes it to another level.

The island feels alive — a maze of shifting shadows, rotting ruins, and creatures that blur the line between human and monster. Every corner hides an enemy from Lupin’s past, creating a gauntlet of vengeance where every step forward is a battle.

Highlights include:

• a bone-rattling midair shootout before the crash

• Goemon slicing through monstrous enemies in fog-soaked silence

• Fujiko manipulating past foes in a deadly mind game

• Jigen facing a sharpshooter more ruthless than him

• Zenigata forced to work with Lupin to survive

This is the most brutal, atmospheric, and haunting Lupin setting ever animated.

🔥 Why This Film Feels Like Lupin’s Endgame

The Immortal Bloodline hits emotional territory the series has rarely explored.

For the first time, Lupin isn’t just protecting himself — he’s fighting for something older, darker, and deeply personal: the truth of his lineage.

Muom’s obsession with destroying the Lupin bloodline reveals decades of shadows behind the character’s charming façade. It forces him to confront:

• the meaning of his name

• the legacy he inherited

• the enemies born from history

• and the cost of living as a legend

The result?A story that blends sci-fi, horror, melodrama, and pure adrenaline into one final, unforgettable ride.

🧬 A Connection to Lupin’s First Film

Fans will immediately recognize the callbacks to Lupin III: The Mystery of Mamo (1978).

Koike brilliantly weaves elements from the original film — identity, cloning, immortality, and the question of what makes Lupin Lupin — into a modern, grittier, more psychological interpretation.

It’s poetic.

It’s cyclical.

It’s full-circle storytelling.

The past and the present collide, bringing the Lupin legacy full circle in its thirteenth major film.

🎨 Takeshi Koike’s Return: A Masterclass in Action Animation

After six years, Koike returns to the Lupin franchise — and he delivers a visual experience unmatched in anime cinema.

Expect:

• sharp, angular character designs

• ultra-fluid action

• heavy shadows and neon accents

• gritty noir energy

• stylish violence

• brutal choreography

• cinematic pacing

Koike’s trademark style — first seen in Lupin the IIIRD: Jigen’s Gravestone and the cult hit Redline — is on full display here.

He pushes Lupin into darker territory without losing the swagger, humor, and charm that define the series.

This is Lupin at his coolest.

This is Koike at his boldest.

🎵 The Music: A Pulse-Pounding Soundscape

The film’s theme song, “THE IIIRD Eye” by B’z, adds fire to the film’s already intense runtime. The music blends:

• rock

• electronic beats

• eerie ambiance

• and pulse-spiking rhythms

This soundtrack hits hard — matching the danger and energy of every battle, chase, and emotional reveal.

Composer James Shimoji also returns with a score that’s moody, atmospheric, and full of tension, amplifying the film’s darker tones beautifully.

🌟 The Full Cast Bringing the Final Chapter to Life

The gang is all here:

• Kanichi Kurita as Lupin III

• Akio Ōtsuka as Jigen

• Daisuke Namikawa as Goemon

• Miyuki Sawashiro as Fujiko

• Koichi Yamadera as Zenigata

• Kataoka Ainosuke VI as Muom

• Aoi Morikawa as Sarifa

• Mogura Suzuki as Luuo

• Katamari Mizukawa as Fua

Each performance is electric, grounded, and dripping with emotional intensity.

This cast knows Lupin. They are Lupin.

This is their final bow for the IIIRD saga — and it shows.

🇯🇵 Production & Release Breakdown

Produced by:

• TMS Entertainment

• Telecom Animation Film

Distributed by:

• Toho Next (Japan)

• GKIDS (North America)

Release Dates:

• Japan: June 27, 2025

• North America: January 4–6, 2026 (limited theatrical event)

Running Time:

93 minutes

This limited release is major — meaning fans have only three days to experience this finale in theaters before it moves to streaming later.

🔥 The Prequel: Zenigata and the Two Lupins

Just before the film’s release, a prequel titled Lupin the IIIrd: Zenigata and the Two Lupins dropped on streaming in Japan.

It sets up:

• Zenigata’s emotional stakes

• new conflicts with Lupin

• clues about Muom’s origins

• and shifting alliances within the Lupin world

If you want the full impact of Immortal Bloodline, watching the prequel is highly recommended.

🌌 Final Verdict: A Brutal, Beautiful Farewell to an Iconic Era

Lupin the IIIrd: The Movie – The Immortal Bloodline is a masterpiece of style, speed, grit, and emotion. It’s not just an anime film — it’s a cinematic celebration of everything Lupin stands for.

It delivers:

• the best action animation Koike has ever directed

• the darkest Lupin story to date

• deep character exploration

• unforgettable villains

• legacy-focused themes

• and a finale worthy of the legendary thief

For fans of:

• Lupin the Third

• Redline

• Cowboy Bebop

• Violence Jack

• Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

… this film is mandatory viewing.

Three nights only.

One final mission.

One immortal enemy.

One legend who refuses to fade.