30 Samurai Movies to Watch for Swordplay, Honor, and Classic Drama
A samurai movie guide covering legendary sword fights, period drama, revenge, honor, and Japanese cinema classics. Compare ratings, story summaries, trailers, and watch-provider options.
Rank 1Movie
Seven Samurai
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.
Runner-up picks
2Movie
Yojimbo
A nameless ronin, or samurai with no master, enters a small village in feudal Japan where two rival businessmen are struggling for control of the local gambling trade. Taking the name Sanjuro Kuwabatake, the ronin convinces both silk merchant Tazaemon and sake merchant Tokuemon to hire him as a personal bodyguard, then artfully sets in motion a full-scale gang war between the two ambitious and unscrupulous men.
3Movie
Sanjuro
In this companion piece and sequel to "Yojimbo," jaded samurai Sanjuro helps an idealistic group of young warriors weed out their clan's evil influences, and in the process turns their image of a proper samurai on its ear.
More rankings
4MovieHarakiri
1962★ 8.4
5MovieThrone of Blood
1957★ 7.9
6MovieThe Sword of Doom
1966★ 7.7
7MovieSamurai Rebellion
1967★ 8.2
8MovieRan
1985★ 8.0
9MovieKagemusha
1980★ 7.8
10Movie13 Assassins
2010★ 7.3
11MovieThe Twilight Samurai
2002★ 7.8
12MovieWhen the Last Sword Is Drawn
2003★ 7.4
13MovieZatoichi
2003★ 7.2
14MovieThe Last Samurai
2003★ 7.6
15Movie47 Ronin
2013★ 6.2
16MovieRurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins
2012★ 7.5
17MovieRurouni Kenshin Part II: Kyoto Inferno
2014★ 7.6
18MovieRurouni Kenshin Part III: The Legend Ends
2014★ 7.7
19MovieRurouni Kenshin: The Final
2021★ 7.7
20MovieRurouni Kenshin: The Beginning
2021★ 7.7
21MovieBlade of the Immortal
2017★ 6.7
22MovieLady Snowblood
1973★ 7.5
23MovieLone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance
1972★ 7.4
24MovieShogun Assassin
1980★ 6.9
25MovieSamurai Marathon
2019★ 6.0
26MovieHara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai
2011★ 7.2
27MovieThe Hidden Blade
2004★ 7.4
28MovieLove and Honor
2006★ 7.5
29MovieAfter the Rain
1999★ 5.3
30MovieThe Tale of Zatoichi
1962★ 7.3
About this list
A samurai movie guide covering legendary sword fights, period drama, revenge, honor, and Japanese cinema classics. Compare ratings, story summaries, trailers, and watch-provider options.
- Type
- Curated
- Category
- Movie
- Count
- 30 titles
