The WORST episodes of Lupin III

Every episode of Lupin III ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Lupin III!

Probably the most light-hearted and crazy series of all those dedicated to the gentleman thief.

Last Updated: 2/16/2024Network: Nippon TVStatus: Ended
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Mecca's Treasure Wore a Veil
star
4.00
5 votes

#1 - Mecca's Treasure Wore a Veil

Season 2 - Episode 149 - Aired 8/25/1980

The treasure of the prophet Mahomet is held in the Islam holy city of Mecca. Patra Lawrence, daughter of Lawrence of Arabia, is guarding it as head of mosque security, because if she does, she will be accepted as a Moslem. It's secured in a vault operated by crude oil pressure. So long as the crude oil pressure does not drop, the vault cannot be opened. Fujiko is nowhere to be seen, but when Lupin concludes from the arrangement of the Earth's tectonic plates that drilling a new well at the South Pole should do the trick, he finds a trap awaiting his swift attack.

Keep Your Hands Off the Hot Treasure
star
4.33
3 votes

#2 - Keep Your Hands Off the Hot Treasure

Season 2 - Episode 133 - Aired 4/28/1980

Lupin's date while Fujiko is away is Claudia. Lupin's objective is the gold and silver fortune placed in the mouth of the 100-year Volcano, on Cleo Island. Once every 100 years, the volcano stops erupting, for only 30 minutes. Jigen and Goemon, accepting Claudia's pleas not to steal that which supports the spirit of the natives, attempt to stop Lupin. With the girl and the Mafia also mixed in, who will get the hot fortune?

The Himalayan Sacred Mountain Thieves' Cult
star
4.33
3 votes

#3 - The Himalayan Sacred Mountain Thieves' Cult

Season 2 - Episode 132 - Aired 4/21/1980

The holy ground is in the middle of the roof of the world. Discarding the fat that is the common world's wealth, believers who appeal to Guru Fandar can disappear from this world, and be given an new life in Utopia. "Don't be ridiculous." As it turns out that amongst the believers is a man who stole Lupin's 30,000 bills of Napoleon currency, Lupin goes out to expose the scam. But when the disguise at which he is so good is uncovered, things get bad!

Two Goemons: The Mystery of Zantetsuken
star
4.33
3 votes

#4 - Two Goemons: The Mystery of Zantetsuken

Season 2 - Episode 131 - Aired 4/14/1980

A nationwide warrant is out for Goemon, who not only robbed a bank but also stabbed a security guard to death. The Zantetsuken in Goemon's hand has none of the blood-clouding on the blade that would indicate stabbing a person. This is the work of Goemon's archenemy, Nidaemon. There are two Zantetsukens, a male and a female variety. According to tradition, unless the two blades lay together once every 300 years, the larger, male blade will lose its potency. This time is Midnight straight up. Will the disgrace be cleared up?

Lupin vs. The Two-Faced Oddball
star
4.33
3 votes

#5 - Lupin vs. The Two-Faced Oddball

Season 2 - Episode 130 - Aired 4/7/1980

A strange meeting is taking place at the atelier of surrealist artist Darac. Inspector Magrey is saying that he will recover what Lupin has stolen. Having no idea what awaits him, Lupin nonchalantly shows up, only to be put to sleep, and then locked in a smokehouse by Inspector Magrey, who is actually Darac. He says that Lupin is indeed the ultimate in source material for a work of art.

Lupin and an Old Lady's Theft Contest
star
4.33
3 votes

#6 - Lupin and an Old Lady's Theft Contest

Season 2 - Episode 128 - Aired 3/24/1980

There is a reward of $1,000,000 for Lupin's arrest. This in itself is not unusual, but when a newspaper reports of Lupin's crimes before they happen, something is definitely not right. The way Old Lady Dokonjo, who publishes a small newspaper all by herself, figures it, scoops are the only way to increase sales. Lupin and company fall for her tearful pleas, but her son, Benson, is a sinister character. It's a motorcycle showdown!

Lupin's Splendid Defeat
star
4.40
5 votes

#7 - Lupin's Splendid Defeat

Season 2 - Episode 146 - Aired 8/4/1980

Even though Fujiko says, which of you can capture my heart? Lupin's heart just isn't in it when he finds out his opponent is an eight-year-old kid. Romanov is a boy genius, made so with drugs. In any case, the duel to see which of them can gather the most money before sunset is a draw. The next showdown is to see who can get the largest diamond. Romanov, who is in poor physical condition, is determined to prove his intellect. Who has the smartest brain in the world?

The Disappearing Favorite at the Grand Race
star
4.40
5 votes

#8 - The Disappearing Favorite at the Grand Race

Season 2 - Episode 142 - Aired 7/7/1980

Enraged at the hypocritical courtesy of English Lord Weather, Lupin accepts a bet over whether he can steal the Lord's horse, Red Arrow. Though he makes attempts while the horse is in transit, and during the hunt, the Lord's counterstrategies are scrupulous, leaving no opening. Lupin makes an impossible announcement: "I will take the horse in the middle of the Grand National Race, before a full crowd in the stands!" In a jumping accident, only the horse disappears.

Poison, Magic, and Lupin the Third
star
4.67
3 votes

#9 - Poison, Magic, and Lupin the Third

Season 2 - Episode 135 - Aired 5/12/1980

The spinster Lucrezia, last of the notorious Borgia clan, who used poison as a favorite means of murder, is in prison. Lupin and company, asked by her nephew Caldan to spring her, get themselves arrested and thrown in jail, and free her, bed and all. But Galdan was actually after Lucrezia's life, and getting her out was so that he could make her confess where the clan's jewels have been hidden. With the Old Man strangely mixed in, what will be the resolution?

Fujiko's Close-Call Rescue Mission
star
4.75
4 votes

#10 - Fujiko's Close-Call Rescue Mission

Season 2 - Episode 144 - Aired 7/21/1980

Lupin is attacked by the brothers Nanja-Monja while waiting for Fujiko to come over so they can celebrate her birthday party, which he has made all the preparations for. They have kidnapped Fujiko, and made her the prize inside the Lucky Safe on display at the stadium of the tourist country of Karchina. The only way to release her is for Lupin himself to be the key, accepting certain death by electrocution in exchange for Fujiko's freedom. Brushing aside Jigen and Goemon's hands, Lupin charges forth: "I love you..."

Steal Everything from Lupin
star
4.75
4 votes

#11 - Steal Everything from Lupin

Season 2 - Episode 139 - Aired 6/9/1980

Even for truly wealthy men, the greatest wish in life is to once again acquire a youthful body. Mister Steel has chosen Lupin III as the destination body for his brain transplant. The procurer is, of course, Fujiko. After a faked traffic accident, Lupin is borne to Steel's mansion, where the brain transplant takes place successfully. The old man has only a little time left, but the brain is Lupin's. How will the brain shuffle resolve itself?

Hades' Tear
star
4.83
6 votes

#12 - Hades' Tear

Season 3 - Episode 48 - Aired 8/31/1985

The Tears of Hades is an exquisitely large diamond embedded in a statue; Lupin plucks it from Hade's eye but soon finds more than meets the eye. The diamond holds secret plans, and a group of mercenaries want Lupin to exchange it for the life of a girl named Maria. Does Hades weep for joy or sorrow?

The $10 Million Key
star
4.83
6 votes

#13 - The $10 Million Key

Season 3 - Episode 32 - Aired 3/9/1985

Stopping for some fast food proves to be a fast way to prison for Lupin courtesy of Zenigata. A mysterious man breaks Lupin out of prison and takes him to his boss. They have an interesting proposal for Lupin -- steal the ten million dollar US presidential limo for us. Lupin is game for the challenge and knocks over the Chase Manhattan bank to find the spare key. Lupin's clients have a more sinister plot behind the theft and want Lupin to take the fall. Is Lupin destined to save the US government?

Together with Lupin to Hell
star
5.00
4 votes

#14 - Together with Lupin to Hell

Season 2 - Episode 126 - Aired 3/10/1980

Lady Black, who wants for nothing in life, makes a certain wager with Fujiko, who believes in Lupin's immortality. If Lupin can get out alive from a maze equipped with killing devices, she will give Fujiko her fine art collection. All manner of traps attack Lupin and Jigen. Black has a secret. Lupin and Black's mother had a relationship... And what of Goemon?

Fire is a Poor Fit for Diamonds
star
5.00
6 votes

#15 - Fire is a Poor Fit for Diamonds

Season 3 - Episode 22 - Aired 12/22/1984

Lupin and company are sneaking inside a room with a vault in it. After breaking into the vault, they all begin to steal thousands of wonderful diamonds. But a fire breaks loose in the room, and they narrowly escape with only one diamond but without Fujiko. Lupin immediately investigates the incident and soon finds that the diamonds are all fakes and part of a plan to make the cost of the diamonds rise. What Lupin doesn't know is that the owner is telling Zenigata that Lupin burned the diamonds to increase their value. Lupin will not let this go unanswered. What will Lupin do? Where did Fujiko run off to?

Operation: Arrest Lupin the Third
star
5.00
4 votes

#16 - Operation: Arrest Lupin the Third

Season 2 - Episode 134 - Aired 5/5/1980

The Kimberly Diamonds, which take up a full half of the diamonds traded annually worldwide, are worth a good $30,000,000,000. Lupin's dream is to claim those diamonds and make them into a diamond carriage for his honeymoon with Fujiko, but Zenigata isn't so naive as that. Lupin and company's crash-landed transport plane is fully surrounded by policemen from all over the world, gathered together and mobilized by a call from the UN! Will a shot from a giant crossbow made on the spot succeed in snatching victory from the jaws of defeat?

1980 Moscow Revelation
star
5.00
6 votes

#17 - 1980 Moscow Revelation

Season 2 - Episode 141 - Aired 6/30/1980

On the night before the Moscow Olympics, Zenigata is called to the Kremlin to safeguard a chandelier hanging from its ceiling, a chandelier made up entirely of over 3,000,000 diamonds. It's a special creation, with all the diamonds strung together on a single string. Lupin learns of its design from the engineer who made it, while they are locked up in adjoining cells, and mounts a rain gutter operation to steal it, under cover of repairing it, disguised as the engineer. The diamonds fly through the air as the gun salute goes off!

Anniversary of the Miami Bank Robbery
star
5.00
4 votes

#18 - Anniversary of the Miami Bank Robbery

Season 2 - Episode 143 - Aired 7/14/1980

Lupin and company are taking a summer vacation on Miami Beach. Suddenly, a helicopter appears in the sky overhead, its passenger shouting something about Lupin having placed a call saying that he was going to raid Miami Bank. After that comes a phone call asking them to raid the bank, adding the strange proviso that if they do, then Miami Bank will join the ranks of the country's best. So, Lupin agrees, for the moment. Though he takes a shot at cracking the vault, it turns out to be empty. The bank becomes very famous for not having had a single cent stolen. And they plan to hold an anniversary celebration next year on the same date.

The Bills From God
star
5.00
3 votes

#19 - The Bills From God

Season 2 - Episode 153 - Aired 9/22/1980

Once a year, ICPO takes the money they've collected from criminals all over the world to a Swiss bank, where they make an accounting. This year, Zenigata is given the task of escorting the money, which makes taking it like candy from a baby to Lupin. He acquires it easily enough, but all those bills are a major obstacle to getting away. Just then, they spot Sister Joanna's church, in need of renovation... Oh, a miraculous rain falls in the Alps.

Love Speaks Telepathically
star
5.00
5 votes

#20 - Love Speaks Telepathically

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/24/1984

Deep beneath the whirlpools of the Bermuda Triangle, Lupin and Jigen discover a pirate ship containing tons of Spanish gold. Before the two can collect it, a submarine manned by a team of female pirates intervenes. After a quick skirmish, Lupin and Jigen escape empty-handed, as do the pirates who cannot get past the whirlpools to reach the gold. Later that evening, Fujiko is kidnapped right before Lupin's eyes. The Captain informs him that if he wants to see Fujiko again he must steal the gold for them. Will the pirates hold up their end of the bargain? And whose voice is Lupin hearing in his head?

Variations on Getting Carried Away
star
5.00
9 votes

#21 - Variations on Getting Carried Away

Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 10/20/1984

After narrowly escaping Zenigata, Lupin is both physically and mentally exhausted. However, he jumps at the chance to help Fujiko. Together, they attend a party of rich women located in an old castle, intent on stealing all their jewelry. Things take a turn for the worse when the castle tower they are in turns out to be a rocket ship that carries them all to an island nation at war. Zenigata is then called in to collect funds for the ransom of all the women as well as capture Lupin. When he gets there, he finds Lupin hanging from a cross, seconds away from being shot to death by Fujiko. It is all part of the plot designed by the mysterious Madam Razor.

A Boy Genius' Dangerous Game
star
5.00
5 votes

#22 - A Boy Genius' Dangerous Game

Season 3 - Episode 33 - Aired 3/16/1985

The Macintosh Jewelry building is Lupin's next target, but he quickly finds himself having to rescue a kidnapped boy. This is no ordinary boy though; his is the keeper of revolutionary scientific research. He also happens to be a huge fan of Lupin and as much of a lecher as Lupin. How can Lupin stop Macintosh from stealing the boy's secrets, steal Macintosh's inventory, and keep himself from getting slapped for the boy's penchant for peeking up women's skirts?

Pops Boils Over with Rage
star
5.00
4 votes

#23 - Pops Boils Over with Rage

Season 3 - Episode 37 - Aired 4/20/1985

An attempt to break an old man out of prison turns into a trap for Lupin. He can quickly escape from this trap, but others have set another more dangerous trap in motion. When Zenigata's rage boils over, Lupin has more to worry about than a set of cuffs.

A Toast to the Con Game
star
5.00
5 votes

#24 - A Toast to the Con Game

Season 3 - Episode 45 - Aired 7/20/1985

The key to an unbreakable safe is hidden in a near impregnable prison. With a bit of help, Lupin makes off with the key, but crime boss Carlos makes off with the safe. As the two sides square off, can any of them remember the old saying about honor among thieves?

Orders to Destroy the Atomic Sub Ivanov
star
5.00
4 votes

#25 - Orders to Destroy the Atomic Sub Ivanov

Season 3 - Episode 50 - Aired 11/6/1985

Lupin has absconded with the Russian submarine Ivanov, and the world's spy agencies are haggling over the price to buy it with Fujiko. However, Lupin just wants to use it to salvage some sunken gold in Bermuda. Will the Ivanov be Lupin's watery, iron coffin?