List of Best Samurai Movies – Mifune, Zatoichi, Kurosawa, etc.

Here is our list of the best samurai movies ever made. These samurai movies are seen as highly rated classics and/or were extremely popular box office successes. These martial arts movies focus on the famous Japanese warriors known as samurai. This list includes Kurosawa movies, Toshiro Mifune movies, Zatoichi movies and many more. Be aware that samurai movies may not be appropriate for younger children given the bloody swordplay in many of these movies.

For other popular martial arts movies, please visit Black Belt Wiki’s Best Martial Arts Movies section. Visitors can also help by voting for their favorite samurai film in our poll below that asks What is the best samurai movie of all time?

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Best Samurai Movies In alphabetical order (not rank order). These pages include movie trailers, etc.

  • Harakiri – A 1963 samurai movie that received a perfect 100 from the movie review site, Rotten Tomatoes.
  • The Hidden Fortress – This 1958 samurai movie features two greedy peasants who lust for gold. However, they do not realize that their traveling companions are a princess and general from a defeated samurai clan.
  • Kagemusha – This samurai film focuses on a thief that must impersonate a dying feudal lord in order to prevent rival clans from attacking. Kagemusha was directed by Akira Kurosawa. Kurosawa was the director for many highly-rated samurai films such as Seven Samurai, Hidden Fortress and Yojimbo.
  • The Loyal 47 Ronin – This 1958 samurai movie was one of the highest grossing Japanese movies in the 1950s. It is based on the classic Japanese story about 47 ronin who avenge their lord’s death. This story has been made into numerous movies and TV shows.
  • Ran – This very highly-rated 1985 samurai movie focuses on the chaotic aftermath resulting from a warlord dividing his kingdom between his three sons. It was directed by the legendary Akira Kurosawa.
  • Samurai 1: Musashi Miyamoto – Part one of a trilogy focused on Musashi Miyamoto, Japan’s most famous swordsman. Part 1 of this three part movie series explores how Musashi Miyamoto began his path to become a legendary swordsman. Toshiro Mifune plays Musashi Miyamoto in this samurai movie series.
  • Samurai 2: Duel at Ichijoji Temple – Part two of a trilogy focused on Musashi Miyamoto, Japan’s most famous swordsman. Part 2 of this three part movie series highlights a number of duels by Musashi Miyamoto. It also explores his search to enhance his training & knowledge in order to become a complete samurai. Toshiro Mifune plays Musashi Miyamoto in this samurai movie series.
  • Samurai 3: Duel at Ganryu Island – Part three of a trilogy focused on Musashi Miyamoto, Japan’s most famous swordsman. Part 3 of this three part movie series centers on the duel between Musashi Miyamoto and the highly skilled Sasaki Kojiro. Toshiro Mifune plays Musashi Miyamoto in this samurai movie series.
  • Samurai Assassin – A 1965 Japanese movie starring Toshiro Mifune. This plot revolves around an assassination plot against a senior Shogun official.
  • Samurai Rebellion – Another great samurai movie starring Toshiro Mifune. It received a perfect score from the movie review website Rotten Tomatoes.
  • Sanjuro – A highly rated 1962 samurai movie starring Toshiro Mifune. This movie is seen as the sequel to Yojimbo.

 

  • Seven Samurai – A 1954 Japanese martial arts movie starring Toshiro Mifune. A poor village hires seven samurai to defend them against hundreds of bandits. Many experts consider Seven Samurai as the best samurai movie ever made.
  • Shogun – This 1980 film centered around a shipwrecked English sailor who becomes a samurai. Hugely popular.
  • The Sword of Doom – A 1966 Japanese movie focused on a skilled but amoral swordsman who slowly goes insane.
  • The Tale of Zatoichi – This is a classic 1962 martial arts movie focused on a blind former samurai who is a master swordsman. The success of this movie generated numerous sequels.
  • 13 Assassins – A 2010 samurai movie. Very bloody ending.
  • Throne of Blood – This film focuses on a samurai who assassinates his lord at the urging of his ambitious wife. This movie stars Toshiro Mifune and was directed by Akira Kurosawa.
  • Twilight Samurai – A 2002 samurai movie focused on a lowly samurai who cares deeply for his young daughters. This is a very tender movie.
  • When The Last Sword Is Drawn – A 2003 samurai movie that focuses on a samurai willing to do anything for his family. This film won a best film award from the Japanese Academy Awards.
  • Yojimbo – This 1961 Japanese martial arts movie was the basis for Clint Eastwood’s “A Fistful of Dollars”. The movie starred Toshiro Mifune and was directed by Akira Kurosawa.

Other Popular & Noteworthy Samurai Movies

  • Chūshingura – Another solid samurai movie based on the classic 47 ronin story.
  • The Last Samurai – This 2003 martial arts film stars Tom Cruise as an American military officer who embraces the life of a samurai.
  • Lone Wolf and Cub – A former executioner for the Shogun seeks revenge from the death of his wife. He is accompanied by his infant son. Based on a popular comic, Lone Wolf and Cub was made into multiple movies.
  • Rashomon – This highly-rated film is a samurai physiological thriller. It looks at the murder of a samurai from a number of different perspectives (i.e. the view from the bandit, wife, woodcutter, etc.). This film was directed by Akira Kurosawa and stars Toshiro Mifune.
  • Red Sun – This was a combination Western & samurai movie that starred Charles Bronson and Toshiro Mifune.

Samurai TV Series

FYI – You can find many of these movies in Amazon’s samurai movie section. They have films such as Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, When The Last Sword Is Drawn, Zatoichi and many more. Or you can visit sections such as Akira Kurosawa films (who was the director for many famous samurai films). At no extra cost to you, we make a small commission if you buy products via the Amazon links in this section. Thank you for your support!

 

Poll – What is the Best Samurai Movie? 


Samurai Movies

Seven Samurai – Movie Trailer

Yojimbo – Movie Trailer

 

Best Samurai Movies

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