Seven Samurai

Play trailer

1:37

Seven Samurai

1956

3h 28m

Action

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

104 Reviews

97%

Popcornmeter

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.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Oct 27, 2021

5/5

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.

Go to Full Review

Marjory Adams

Boston Globe

May 4, 2021

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.

Go to Full Review

Helen Bower

Detroit Free Press

May 4, 2021

[Seven Samurai ] rates my unqualified whoops of approval.

Go to Full Review

Patrick Marlborough

The Saturday Paper

Sep 17, 2026

You mutter "How on earth?" because of Kurosawa’s humanism, which emerges as you spend two-and-a-half hours watching the film’s comic relief shift to its shattered moral centre.

Go to Full Review

Marcelo Paredes

Cinencuentro

Oct 6, 2025

... Seven Samurai is a monumental work not only because Akira Kurosawa demonstrates technical mastery in handling so many characters on a grand scale,...but also because it presents a profound human drama. [Full review in Spanish]

Go to Full Review

Pat Padua

Washington City Paper

Apr 30, 2025

For three and a half hours, this epic immerses you in a tradition that passes on its wisdom to the modern world through sheer entertainment.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Tom B

Apr 2, 2025

Epic film. Phenomenal cinematography and story telling, especially given that it was done in 1954 -- 70+ years ago.

See more

Advik

Nov 7, 2024

I like long movies, but this was one of the few where I felt exhausted throughout. However, the direction and acting are so compelling that you cannot help but to feel inspired by its efforts.

See more

Rose A

Oct 15, 2024

A true classic, amazing

See more

Jack

Sep 22, 2024

It’s literally one of the most influential movies ever. Just go watch it.

See more

Dan B

Jul 31, 2024

Everything. The greatest film ever made.

See more

Jacob W

@RT17896586 16 hrs ago

This is a glorious epic picture with sweeping landscapes. There is no special effects or CGI this film fans is classic original cinema choreograph to perfection to deliver an epic sweeping narrative. This became you might say the benchmark for all martial art films that have been since but most importantly this film became the inspiration for the classic Western The magnificent seven which in itself became a classic all star epic all I am not a big fan of remakes this is the exception and despite being filmed in black-and-white it still holds up as one of the greatest films of the early 20th century enjoy.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Akira Kurosawa

Director

Toshiro Mifune

Kikuchiyo

Takashi Shimura

Kambei Shimada

Yoshio Inaba

Gorobei Katayama

Seiji Miyaguchi

Kyuzo

Minoru Chiaki

Heihachi Hayashida

Seven Samurai: 4K Restoration Trailer - 70th Anniversary

1:37

Now Playing

Seven Samurai: Trailer 1

3:58

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

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): $487.3K
Runtime: 3h 28m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings