EntertainmentMoviesAction MoviesThe 10 best samurai movies of all time, rankedWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
EntertainmentMoviesAction MoviesThe 10 best samurai movies of all time, rankedWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Warner Bros.)
Samurai movies have long fascinated film fans since the genre first emerged from Japan in the early ’20s, and it’s pretty understandable why. It’s a genre that lends itself to a myriad of stories. As such, the best Samurai movies can tell a thrilling tale of honorable warriors teaming up to take on brutish bandits or be a more reflective Shakespearean-inspired tragedy about class and human nature. Simply put, there’s so much more to the best samurai movies than vicious duels with razor-sharp swords (although there’s plenty of action for those who prefer their movies with a little edge).
10. The Last Samurai
(Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)
Director: Edward ZwickReleased: 2003
9. 13 Assassins
(Image credit: Toei Company)
Director: Eiichi KudoReleased: 2010
8. Yojimbo
(Image credit: Toho)
Director: Akira KurosawaReleased: 1961
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7. The Sword Of Doom
(Image credit: Toho)
Director: Kihachi OkamotoReleased: 1966
6. The Hidden Fortress
(Image credit: Toho)
Director: Akira KurosawaReleased: 1958
5. Harakiri
(Image credit: Shochiku)
Director: Masaki KobayashiReleased: 1962
A revenge thriller and tragedy about the ridiculousness of putting honor above all else, Harakiri is arguably director Masaki Kobayashi’s finest film. The film tells the story of Hanshirō Tsugumo (Tatsuya Nakadai), a ronin seeking death who goes out of his way to humiliate the local feudal lord before committing seppuku (also known as harakiri). While Harakiri’s melancholy tone means it lacks the cathartic ‘oomph’ of similar revenge-driven films on this list, the human drama at the heart of its story makes it no less gripping, and its anti-authoritarian themes give it an incredible sense of timelessness.
4. Throne of Blood
(Image credit: Toho)
Director: Akira KurosawaReleased: 1957
A haunting retelling of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Throne of Blood swaps the chilly highlands of Scotland for the misty mountains of Japan. Our hero (although we use that word lightly) is Taketoki Washizu (Toshiro Mifune), an ambitious general who’s convinced to kill his master in the hopes of usurping him as Lord of Spider’s Web Castle. If you’ve seen Macbeth, you probably know things don’t work out for Washizu, but just because you know the story doesn’t mean you should skip this masterful work from director Akira Kurosawa. It’s been called one of the greatest adaptations of Shakespeare’s work ever, and it’s easy to see why. Its story about the folly of greed is undoubtedly great, but what separates this film from other adaptations are its evocative visuals, unsettling atmosphere, and Mifune’s bold performance.
3. Lady Snowblood
(Image credit: Toho)
Director: Toshiya FujitaReleased: 1973
As stylish as it is iconic, Lady Snowblood is one of the few samurai movies with a female lead, specifically Yuki (Meiko Kaji), a young woman seeking revenge on the men who murdered her family. A wildly entertaining film, Lady Snowblood’s violent action scenes are at odds with its pointed message about the cyclical nature of revenge. These themes and its non-linear narrative give Lady Snowblood an incredibly modern feel, making it one of this list’s more easily digestible films. Indeed, those familiar with the work of Quentin Tarantino will probably get a real kick out of this film, as it’s what inspired Kill Bill.
2. Ran
(Image credit: Toho)
Director: Akira KurosawaReleased: 1985
1. Seven Samurai
(Image credit: Toho)
Director: Akira KurosawaReleased: 1954
Akira Kurosawa’s best-known work and arguably his greatest film, Seven Samurai, balances the thrills of a classic adventure movie with the sweeping scale of the grandest epics. Set during the Sengoku period, the film follows Kambei Shimada (Takashi Shimura), a ronin tasked with gathering a group of samurai to defend a village from bandits. The strength of Seven Samurai lies in its simple but exciting plot and cast of memorable characters. Indeed, the film’s story is so strong that if we listed all the times, it’s been adapted, remade, and at some point blatantly ripped off, we’d run out of digital ink.
There aren’t all that manyupcoming moviesin the Samurai genre these days, but perhaps you’ll find something else to watch in our list of thebest action moviesorbest thrillers on Netflix.
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
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1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
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2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
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3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
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4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
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5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
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