10 spectacular samurai movies that fans of the Shogun series will definitely appreciate

After the release of the first two episodes, the project was called the new “Game of Thrones”. And indeed – both viewers and critics received the series more than favorably. Recently, the genre of samurai films undeservedly forgotten, and “Shogun” – a successful and spectacular attempt to return the former interest.

“Shogun,” USA, 2024.

Genre: adventure, drama.

Directed by: Fred Tua, Jonathan van Tulleken, Charlotte Brandstrom.

Main actors: Hiroyuki Sanada, Cosmo Jarvis, Anna Sawai, Tadanobu Asano.

Age limit: 18+

The story of English navigator John Blackthorne, whose ship is wrecked off the coast of Japan, is told over the course of 10 episodes. He goes from prisoner to the first foreigner to be initiated as a samurai.

The second adaptation of James Clavell’s novel of the same name turned out to be spectacular and quite violent. Political intrigue, conspiracies, executions (be prepared for the fact that at that time the Japanese were famous for sophisticated methods of torture, and the series shows everything quite naturalistic).

“Shogun”, USA, Japan, 1980.

Genre: drama.

Director: Jerry London.

Main actors: Richard Chamberlain, Toshiro Mifune, Yoko Shimada.

Age limit: 16+

The first film adaptation of James Clavell’s novel. John Blackthorne’s character had a real-life prototype – English navigator William Adams. But his ship was not wrecked, he voluntarily visited the Land of the Rising Sun. However, the Japanese government did not allow Adams to return to his homeland. Here the Englishman wasted no time, over time he served as an advisor to Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, engaged in the construction of ships that could overcome long distances. For his services Adams, who received the name Miura Anjin, was initiated into the samurai. The former navigator never returned to England.

“47 Ronin,” USA, UK, Japan, Hungary, 2013.

Genre: fantasy.

Director: Carl Rinsch.

Main actors: Keanu Reeves, Hiroyuki Sanada, Ko Shibasaki, Tadanobu Asano.

Age Limit: 12+

The movie is based on a famous Japanese legend. According to this legend, 47 samurai swore to avenge the death of their lord daimyo Asano Takumi-no-Kami Naganori, who was executed by false denunciation. The 47 warriors spent several years plotting revenge against their sworn enemy, the aristocrat Kira Yoshinaka. In Japan, this legend is considered a symbol of loyalty. Thousands of Japanese visit the graves of the samurai every year on March 20.

Of course, there are many liberties in the screen adaptation. For example, the main character – the orphan Kai, played by Keanu Reeves, in the legend is not in the past. As well as witches, witchcraft and dragons. But still, these are the main decorations of the movie, which turned it into a fantasy. Despite the fact that critics did not speak very flatteringly about the picture, the movie found recognition among the audience. Just as in the legend, Asano finds himself betrayed by his rival. Bewitched by the charms of a witch – the henchwoman of his enemies, Asano rashly makes an attempt on Kira.

The Supreme Court, represented by the Shogun, sentences the samurai to execution and discharges his 47 ronin guards. But the warriors will not forgive the enemy for the death of their lord. A year later, the samurai gather together to take revenge on Kira. By the way, in 2022, the movie “Blade of 47 ronin” was released. The action takes place already in the modern world, 300 years later. Previous actors in the cast is not, but there is Mark Dakaskos. But, alas, even he could not generate interest in the sequel.

“The Last Samurai”, USA, New Zealand, Japan, 2003.

Genre: action, drama.

Director: Edward Zwick.

Main actors: Ken Watanabe, Tom Cruise, Koyuki, William Etherton.

Age limit: 18+

The movie is set in Japan in 1868-1889 during the Meiji Revolution. In fact, the Emperor of Japan did not have full power, the country was ruled by warlords – the Shoguns. Then the imperial rule made an attempt to abandon the samurai system and the shogunates in order to gain full power over the country. The reforms angered the shoguns, leading to a civil war called the War of the Earth Dragon Year.

American Captain Nathan Algren is sent to train peasants who are to become soldiers in the Japanese Imperial Army and fight back against the rebel samurai. But the former field workers are not ready for war, and during the first battle Algren’s squad is defeated, and the captain himself is taken prisoner by the samurai. Here the American not only learns the culture and charter of the samurai, but also takes the side of his former enemies. The rebel infantry is opposed by the Imperial army armed with howitzers and buckshot guns. But the samurai are ready to fight to the last man.

“Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai”, France, Germany, USA, Japan, 1999.

Genre: drama, action.

Director: Jim Jarmusch.

Main actors: Forest Whitaker, John Tormey, Isaac De Bankole.

Age Limit: 18+

A mysterious hitman named Ghost Dog (played by Forest Whitaker) was once rescued by an Italian mobster. In gratitude, the assassin becomes his handmaiden, unconditionally carrying out all his assignments. Ghost Dog considers himself a true samurai and lives according to bushido – the code of warriors. One day, performing another assignment of the mafia, Ghost Dog makes a mistake, and now he becomes the main target.

“Zatoichi”, Japan, 2003.

Genre: action film.

Director: Takeshi Kitano.

Main actors: Takeshi Kitano, Tadanobu Asano, Michiyo Ookusu.

Age limit: 16+

In the original, the main character’s name is Zatoichi. For the Japanese, he is a kind of mythical folk hero, a fighter for the rights of the disadvantaged and the savior of the wronged. However, the character is fictional – he was invented by the writer and historian Kan Shimozawa back in 1948.

Zatoichi is a blind masseur, a beggar who travels around the country, earning a living by singing, acupuncture, and playing dice. He is always carrying a meagre traveling bag and a walking stick. But no one realizes that the harmless cripple is actually a skilled swordsman, and his cane is a sharp blade. With the help of it Zatoichi brings justice, saves people and kills villains. By the way, the movie version of Takeshi Kitano about the blind hero is not the first. Famous Japanese actor Shintaro Katsu played in 26 movies about Zatoichi in the period from 1962 to 1989!

“Red Sun”, France, Italy, Spain, 1971.

Genre: action film.

Director: Terence Young.

Main actors: Charles Bronson, Toshiro Mifune, Ursula Andress, Alain Delon.

Age Limit: 16+

A first-class western with a great cast. During a train robbery, a valuable samurai sword is stolen as a gift to the American president. Samurai Kuroda has only a week to get the jewel back, otherwise by the shogun’s command the warrior must make harakiri in case of failure. Partner samurai becomes a gangster Link Stewart (Charles Bronson) – he has his own scores with the gang leader Gosh (played by Alain Delon).

“Red Sun” was a success in many countries around the world, and on Toshiro Mifune sprinkled offers from Hollywood directors. George Lucas saw him as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the fourth episode of Star Wars. But Mifune was diagnosed with a heart condition, so he was forced to give up his acting career.

“Seven Samurai”, Japan, 1954.

Genre: action, drama.

Director: Akira Kurosawa.

Main actors: Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Keiko Tsushima.

Age limit: 16+

Akira Kurosawa nurtured the idea for this movie for several years. The script was changed more than once, and the final version stretched to four hours. The director cut some scenes during editing. But still divided the movie into two parts.

It was “Seven Samurai” became a template for many remakes: the most famous of them – this is “The Magnificent Seven”. In the story, poor peasants, tired of ruinous raids by bandits, hire seven brave samurai as defenders. They give battle to brutal thugs and at the cost of their own lives protect a small village.

“13 Assassins”, Japan, 2010.

Genre: action film.

Director: Takashi Miike.

Main actors: Koji Yakusho, Takayuki Yamada, Yusuke Iseya.

Age limit: 18+

This is a remake of the 1964 Japanese film of the same name, but the modern version is not inferior in any way and, on the contrary, is even more spectacular and tense. Takashi Miike’s picture (and he became famous first of all for horror movies, having made the scandalous and very bloody “Film Trial” and the creepy “One Missed Call”) won a lot of movie awards and was included in the top ten of the best samurai movies.

The action takes place in 1844. The cruel brother of the shogun has practically taken all the power in the country. Japan is on the verge of chaos and ruin. Then the Shogun’s advisor hires 12 samurai – together they make a plan to overthrow the tyrant ruler and establish peace.

“The Shogun’s Assassin”, Japan, 1980.

Genre: action film.

Directed by: Robert Huston, Kenji Misumi.

Main actors: Tomisaburo Wakayama, Akihiro Tomikawa, Kayo Matsuo.

Age Limit: 12+

This movie was inspired by Quentin Tarantino himself when he made the cult film “Kill Bill”. A samurai betrayed by his master loses his wife and his home. His very young son miraculously survives. The samurai arms himself with a sword, puts the kid in a spiked stroller and sets out to avenge his killers. His main target is the traitorous Shogun.

The movie is based on the famous manga “Lone Wolf and His Child”, there were six parts about the wanderings of an outcast samurai. The main role was played by Tomisaburo Wakayama, a Japanese actor and martial artist. Despite the distant 80’s and the lack of special effects, the fight scenes are filmed very spectacularly, and the amount of blood the action movie can safely compete with the no less bloody “Kill Bill”.