Highest-Rated Movies about 'Samurai'

The Hidden Fortress (1958), Kuroneko (1968), Batman: Soul of the Dragon (2021), InuYasha the Movie 3: Swords of an Honorable Ruler (2003), Zatoichi (2003), Harakiri (1962), Seven Samurai (1954), Kurosawa (2001) ... Let's take a look at the ranked list of the best Samurai movies.

#2. Kuroneko (1968)

Storyline: In this ghost story based on a folk tale of feudal Japan, a group of samurai mercenaries led by Raiko Minamoto (Kei Satô) storm the home of Yone (Nobuko Otowa) and her daughter, Shigei (Kiwako Taichi), pillaging their food before raping and murdering the pair and finally burning the house down. When the samurai are set upon by vengeful vampire-like ghosts, it falls to the warrior Gintoki (Kichiemon Nakamura) to slay the malicious spirits, but his connection to the victims leads to conflict.

Plot Keywords: horror, supernatural, folklore, ghost story, black-and-white, period drama, 1960s ...

Movie Details Click Here !

#3. Batman: Soul of the Dragon (2021)

Storyline: Set in the midst of the swinging 1970s, this Elseworlds adventure finds Bruce Wayne training under a master sensei. It is here that Bruce, along with other elite students, is forged in the fire of the martial arts discipline. The lifelong bonds they form will be put to the test when a deadly menace arises from their past. It will take the combined efforts of Batman and world-renowned martial artists Richard Dragon, Ben Turner and Lady Shiva to battle the monsters of this world and beyond!

Plot Keywords: action, animation, adventure, superhero, dc comics, martial arts, 1970s ...

Movie Details Click Here !

#6. Harakiri (1962)

Storyline: Peace in 17th-century Japan causes the Shogunate's breakup of warrior clans, throwing thousands of samurai out of work and into poverty. An honorable end to such fate under the samurai code is ritual suicide, or hara-kiri (self-inflicted disembowelment). An elder warrior, Hanshiro Tsugumo (Tatsuya Nakadai) seeks admittance to the house of a feudal lord to commit the act. There, he learns of the fate of his son-in-law, a young samurai who sought work at the house but was instead barbarically forced to commit traditional hara-kiri in an excruciating manner with a dull bamboo blade. In flashbacks the samurai tells the tragic story of his son-in-law, and how he was forced to sell his real sword to support his sick wife and child. Tsugumo thus sets in motion a tense showdown of revenge against the house.

Plot Keywords: honor, revenge, moral dilemma, ritual, tragedy, sacrifice, social criticism ...

Movie Details Click Here !

#7. Seven Samurai (1954)

Storyline: A veteran samurai, who has fallen on hard times, answers a village's request for protection from bandits. He gathers 6 other samurai to help him, and they teach the townspeople how to defend themselves, and they supply the samurai with three small meals a day. The film culminates in a giant battle when 40 bandits attack the village.

Plot Keywords: action, adventure, drama, historical, war, swordplay, classic ...

Movie Details Click Here !

#8. Kurosawa (2001)

Storyline: Director Adam Low explores the life and work of Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, who is widely considered one of the greatest and most influential film directors of all-time. Low begins with Kurosawa's childhood in Tokyo and chronicles his ascent following the release of such masterpieces as "Rashomon," "Seven Samurai" and "Throne of Blood." The film also includes interviews with figures Kurosawa has influenced, including such film icons as Clint Eastwood and George Lucas.

Plot Keywords: historical drama, war, human nature, honor, loyalty, betrayal, art film ...

Movie Details Click Here !

#10. Ugetsu (1953)

Storyline: In the beginning of the springtime in the period of the Japanese Civil Wars of the Sixteenth Century in Lake Biwa in the Province of Omi, the family man farmer and craftsman Genjurô travels to Nagahama to sell his wares and makes a small fortune. His neighbor Tobei that is a fool man dreams on becoming a samurai, but he can not afford to buy the necessary outfit. The greedy Genjurô and Tobei work together manufacturing clay potteries, expecting to sell the pieces and enrich; however, their wives Miyage and Ohama are worried about the army of the cruel Shibata that is coming to their village and they warn their ambitious husbands. Their village is looted but the families flee and survive; Genjurô and Tobei decide to travel by boat with their wives and baby to sell the wares in a bigger town. When they meet another boat that was attacked by pirates, Genjurô decides to leave his wife and son on the bank of the river, promising to return in ten days. Genjurô, Tobei and Ohama raise a large...

Plot Keywords: classic film, period drama, ghost story, black and white, tragedy, fantasy, historical drama ...

Movie Details Click Here !

#11. Yojimbo (1961)

Storyline: Sanjuro, a wandering samurai enters a rural town in nineteenth century Japan. After learning from the innkeeper that the town is divided between two gangsters, he plays one side off against the other. His efforts are complicated by the arrival of the wily Unosuke, the son of one of the gangsters, who owns a revolver. Unosuke has Sanjuro beaten after he reunites an abducted woman with her husband and son, then massacres his father's opponents. During the slaughter, the samurai escapes with the help of the innkeeper; but while recuperating at a nearby temple, he learns of innkeeper's abduction by Unosuke, and returns to the town to confront him.

Plot Keywords: violence, moral ambiguity, black comedy, lone hero, human nature, power struggle, betrayal ...

Movie Details Click Here !

#12. Rashômon (1950)

Storyline: A priest, a woodcutter and another man are taking refuge from a rainstorm in the shell of a former gatehouse called Rashômon. The priest and the woodcutter are recounting the story of a murdered samurai whose body the woodcutter discovered three days earlier in a forest grove. Both were summoned to testify at the murder trial, the priest who ran into the samurai and his wife traveling through the forest just before the murder occurred. Three other people who testified at the trial are supposedly the only direct witnesses: a notorious bandit named Tajômaru, who allegedly murdered the samurai and raped his wife; the white veil cloaked wife of the samurai; and the samurai himself who testifies through the use of a medium. The three tell a similarly structured story - that Tajômaru kidnapped and bound the samurai so that he could rape the wife - but which ultimately contradict each other, the motivations and the actual killing being what differ. The woodcutter reveals at Rashômon that he ...

Plot Keywords: mystery, crime, drama, human nature, classic, psychological, moral dilemma ...

Movie Details Click Here !

#13. Ran (1985)

Storyline: Japanese warlord Hidetori Ichimonji decides the time has come to retire and divide his fiefdom among his three sons. His eldest and middle sons - Taro and Jiro - agree with his decision and promise to support him for his remaining days. The youngest son Saburo disagrees with all of them arguing that there is little likelihood the three brothers will remain united. Insulted by his son's brashness, the warlord banishes Saburo. As the warlord begins his retirement, he quickly realizes that his two eldest sons selfish and have no intention of keeping their promises. It leads to war and only banished Saburo can possibly save him.

Plot Keywords: war, shakespeare, japan, epic, tragedy, power struggle, betrayal ...

Movie Details Click Here !

#15. Sanjuro (1962)

Storyline: A wandering samurai, Sanjuro, is drawn into local politics. The Superintendent of a clan is plotting to take over the clan by implicating the Chamberlain in corrupt activities (activities the Superintendent is actually responsible for). Part of the plan involves killing off the Chamberlain's staff and, in protecting them, Sanjuro sides with them. The supporters are massively outnumbered so it will require all of Sanjuro's cunning and swordcraft to ensure the Superintendent does not succeed in his evil plan.

Plot Keywords: period drama, sequel, humor, action, mystery, loyalty, betrayal ...

Movie Details Click Here !