Based on the novel of the same name by Diana Wynne Jones, "Howl's Moving Castle" tells the story of Sophie, a shy young girl who works at her mother's hat shop. When she is cursed by a witch and turned into an old woman, Sophie begins a journey to break the spell that changes her life forever. While wandering through a desolate countryside, Sophie comes upon a miraculous sight: a giant contraption that appears to be a house moving all on its own. She hitches a ride and meets some unique characters, including the eccentric wizard, Howl, who lives in the enchanted castle along with a young boy named Markl, and a fire demon called Calcifer.
Sophie employs herself as Howl's maid and gives the house a much-needed cleaning. Meanwhile, Howl is summoned to serve the local king, but he is reluctant to join in the futile ongoing war between the king and a rival country. As she learns more about Howl, Sophie begins to uncover a dark secret that could threaten the wizard's life, and she risks her own in an effort to break the curse overshadowing him.
Along with Christian Bale as Howl, "Howl's Moving Castle" stars an impressive cast in the English-dubbed version, including Emily Mortimor (Sophie), Josh Hutcherson (Markl), and Billy Crystal (Calcifer). Anime fans who haven't yet seen this gem of a film can stream it now on HBO Max.
