An image processing apparatus includes: a correlation value computing section that computes a correlation value between pixels in a noted image and its preceding and following reference images; a break determining section that determines a break in identical images based on the correlation value between pixels; a successive occurrence counting section that cumulatively counts successive occurrences of identical images as a successive occurrence count, if the noted image is not determined as corresponding to a break; a pattern determining section that determines whether or not the successive occurrence count and a set count match, if the noted image is determined as corresponding to a break; a matching counting section that counts up a matching count if it is determined that the successive occurrence count and the set count match; and a pull-down pattern detecting section that detects a predetermined pull-down pattern if the matching count exceeds a predetermined count.