Seven Samurai | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

100% Tomatometer 98 Reviews 97% Audience Score 50,000+ Ratings A samurai answers a village's request for protection after he falls on hard times. The town needs protection from bandits, so the samurai gathers six others to help him teach the people how to defend themselves, and the villagers provide the soldiers with food. A giant battle occurs when 40 bandits attack the village. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

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Seven Samurai

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Seven Samurai

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Arguably Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece, The Seven Samurai is an epic adventure classic with an engrossing story, memorable characters, and stunning action sequences that make it one of the most influential films ever made.

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Critics Reviews

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Seven Samurai | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Peter Bradshaw Guardian The glorious vigour and strength of this film is presented with such theatrical relish and flair: its energy flashes out of the screen like a sword. Rated: 5/5 Oct 27, 2021 Full Review Seven Samurai | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Marjory Adams Boston Globe There are many excellencies in [Seven Samurai]. The acting of the men who are unknown to American audiences but whose talents are obvious; the careful building of suspense; the realism of the battle scenes... [and] the beauties of the countryside. May 4, 2021 Full Review Seven Samurai | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Helen Bower Detroit Free Press [Seven Samurai ] rates my unqualified whoops of approval. May 4, 2021 Full Review Seven Samurai | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Siddhant Adlakha JoySauce.com Few filmmakers have Kurosawa's ability to make the frame feel so vast. Jul 12, 2024 Full Review Seven Samurai | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Panos Kotzathanasis Asian Movie Pulse Seven Samurai” remains a timeless masterpiece. Kurosawa's editing prowess, evident in the climactic sequence, cemented the film's status as a timeless classic, echoing the eternal struggle for justice and sacrifice in feudal Japan Rated: 10 Mar 3, 2024 Full Review Seven Samurai | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Howard Waldstein CBR If Akira Kurosawa's entire body of work is full of forays into different types of stories, then Seven Samurai marks the moment where all of his most pertinent themes coalesce into a single, three-and-a-half-hour film. Jun 27, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Danny H Amazing, classic, and inspirational. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/12/24 Full Review Ulley T A masterpiece for all time Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/24/24 Full Review Daniel D If you love Akira Kurosawa's Films then this is a Match watch movie. The Story and art of Direction and the Cinematography during those of times was simple amazing to see. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/20/24 Full Review william s This rating might get me murdered by the film police.... but I just don't understand how this is so widely revered/praised. The film is painfully long and an absolute slog to get through. I see how the story has inspired cinema, with many other films being based on the general concept/premise. But there's plenty of "cool premise" films out there that fail in their execution... And that's basically my takeaway. An A+ premise hamstrung by a bloated run time and sub optimal pacing. Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 06/19/24 Full Review Jason S Simply one of the best films of all time, in my opinion. This is one of the rare movies that offers more each time I watch it. Hmm absolute masterpiece! Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/18/24 Full Review Audience Member Que película tan genial, me encanto la historia, los personajes la disfrute muchísimo. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/17/24 Full Review Read all reviews

Seven Samurai

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Cast & Crew

Akira Kurosawa Director Toshiro Mifune Kikuchiyo Takashi Shimura Kambei Shimada Yoshio Inaba Gorobei Katayama Seiji Miyaguchi Kyuzo Minoru Chiaki Heihachi Hayashida
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Seven Samurai

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Seven Samurai

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Movie Info

Synopsis A samurai answers a village's request for protection after he falls on hard times. The town needs protection from bandits, so the samurai gathers six others to help him teach the people how to defend themselves, and the villagers provide the soldiers with food. A giant battle occurs when 40 bandits attack the village.

Director
Akira Kurosawa

Producer
Sojiro Motoki

Screenwriter
Shinobu Hashimoto, Akira Kurosawa, Hideo Oguni

Distributor
Columbia Pictures

Production Co
Toho Company

Genre
Action

Original Language
Japanese

Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 19, 1956, Wide

Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Jul 5, 2024

Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 29, 2011

Box Office (Gross USA)
$291.0K

Runtime
3h 28m

Sound Mix
Mono

Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)
Most Popular at Home Now
Seven Samurai | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

FAQs

What is so special about Seven Samurai? ›

Despite its daunting length, Seven Samurai is a remarkably fast-paced movie—a series of picture-perfect visuals that manifest Kurosawa's unyielding devotion to its story and characters. Collective viewing may be an exhilarating experience, with students laughing and crying with the film's characters.

Where is Seven Samurai available? ›

Currently you are able to watch "Seven Samurai" streaming on Max, Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel.

Where can I watch Seven Rotten Tomatoes? ›

Rent Seven on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

What is the message in Seven Samurai? ›

The film is violent, even gory, but in the end, what is annihilated is not only the threat to the village, but, in some ways the heart of the samurai force itself, for Kurosawa warns us that war breeds itself again and again, and the samurai, like all warriors, are doomed to a world in which survival is a kind of death ...

Is Seven Samurai popular in Japan? ›

Shot in 148 days spread out over an entire year, Seven Samurai was at its time the most expensive Japanese film ever made, and one of the most popular domestically.

Is Seven Samurai for kids? ›

This classic of the samurai film genre will appeal to teens and older who love action. Young viewers may find the human deaths disturbing, as many of the most sympathetic characters meet their demise while protecting the village. For those who can deal with the emotion of loss, Seven Samurai offers substantial rewards.

Is Magnificent Seven based on Seven Samurai? ›

The Magnificent Seven, American western film, released in 1960, that—although not as acclaimed as Kurosawa Akira's Seven Samurai (1954), on which it was based—proved to be a popular and influential entry in the genre. A Mexican village is being terrorized by the bandit Calvera (played by Eli Wallach) and his gang.

What is the name of the American remake of Seven Samurai? ›

In 1954, legendary Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa released what will turn to be one of the most famous and influential films of all time: Seven Samurai. Six years later, in 1960, the American version of that film was released, but with a twist to its name – called The Magnificent Seven.

Which show has 100 Rotten Tomatoes? ›

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Is there a movie with 100 Rotten Tomatoes? ›

To date, Leave No Trace holds the site's record, with a rating of 100% and 252 positive reviews.

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What made the samurai so unique? ›

Samurai were expected to live according to Bushido ("The Way of the Warrior"), a strict ethical code influenced by Confucianism that stressed loyalty to one's master, respect for one's superior, ethical behavior in all aspects of life and complete self-discipline. Girls also received martial arts training.

Is Samurai 7 anime worth watching? ›

Samurai 7, while taking some generous liberties with the original film (obviously there weren't giant mechs raiding villages back in any 30's film) stands on its own as an engaging story that uses top-notch animation and clever translation/writing to keep itself intriguing.

Why is Akira Kurosawa so famous? ›

Kurosawa is best known today as the filmmaking warrior behind such masterful swordplay spectacles as The Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, and Sanjuro, which electrified art screens throughout the 1950s and early '60s.

Why are samurai so special? ›

It is also deeply ingrained in the psyche of the Japanese people. The basis of samurai conduct is bushido, "the way of the warrior". This unique philosophy valued honour, reckless bravery and selflessness, as well as duty to the warrior's master with the purpose of giving up one's life and embracing death.

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