74 Akira Kurosawa Movies, Ranked Best to Worst

Shichinin no samurai also known as Seven Samurai is an Akira Kurosawa directed Japanese masterpiece. The plot revolves around seven rōnin or samurais with no masters who are hired by villagers to protect them against bandits. The final battle sees the eventual victory of the Samurai but at a very high cost. 

Rashômon is a period drama that showcases four characters retelling the same story from their own perspective, often self-serving and untrue. A samurai is murdered and his wife is raped by a bandit, and the story is retold by the wife, the bandit, the dead samurai's ghost and a woodcutter.

The Kurosawa directed masterpiece tells the story of a wandering rōnin, who arrives in a small village and takes up the name of Kuwabatake Sanjuro, to pit two rival businessmen against each other. Although Sanjuro wants to reap the benefits himself, a full-scale war breaks out, leaving Sanjuro questioning his choices. 

Ikiru, which in English means ‘to live’, is a Japanese drama film, focusing on a Japanese bureaucrat, nearing his retirement. His wife is dead and his son is indifferent. A long part of bureaucratic inefficiency, he is not affected when a group ofparents wanting to turn a cesspool into a playground is endlessly harassed. Then, he is diagnosed with terminal cancer.    

After obtaining his post graduate degree in medicine, Dr Noboru looks forward to serving wealthy clients and earning lots of money.  However, he is disappointed to learn that he is being sent to a small hospital in a remote village.   

This action thriller crime drama film tells the story of a samurai named Sanjuro who helps a young man save his uncle who has been framed and imprisoned. Sanjuro also helps him and his fellow young warriors weed out evil influences in their clan.  

Throne of Blood is a historical Japanese drama film, which tells the story of a war-hardened general, who receives a prophecy that says that he would become the Lord of Spider’s Web Castle. However, his wife asks him to speed up the prophecy by murdering the current lord and usurping his place. 

In feudal Japan, two peasants returning from war meet General Rokurota Makabe and Princess Yuki of the invaded country, who must cross the enemy line to reach the friendly territory and rebuild their clan with their gold cache. Unaware of their identity, the peasants agree to help in return for gold. The general fights his way through enemies while protecting his precious responsibility, Yuki.

A petty thief having a resemblance to a samurai warlord is given two options: Either to face the death penalty, or to impersonate the warlord.     

This crime drama mystery film tells us the story of a newly-promoted homicide detective in the Tokyo police, whose colt pistol is stolen while he is riding on a crowded trolley. Although he chases the pickpocket, he fails to catch him. Eventually he is asked to conduct an investigation to find the culprit, and he eventually finds himself trying to infiltrate the illicit arms market.

After repeated terrorizing attacks from pillaging bandits led by Calvera, farmers of an oppressed Mexican village hire seven master gunmen to defend their village. The gunslingers train the villagers and help them fight off the goons. The next time, Calvera’s men capture and drive the gunmen away. The seven men decide not to run off, but to return and confront the outlaws. 

A Sengoku-period warlord, Hidetora Ichimonji, decides to step down and divides his kingdom among his three sons. The eldest two agree, while third son Saburo states that it’s unlikely that the three will stay united, displeasing Hidetora who banishes him. Later, Saburo’s warnings prove true as the eldest two fight for power and turn against Hidetora, so Saburo is his only hope. 

Sanchiro Sugata tells the story of a young man who wants to learn the new art of judo. He meets a wise teacher who tells him that judo is not merely a means of combat nor a demonstration of physical skill. However, it is an art which can help the artist reveal himself.

The film illustrates the American and Japanese perspectives about the events leading up to the Japanese air-raid on the Pearl Harbor naval base in 1941. US economic embargo results in strained relations with Japan, which leads the Japanese to plot an early morning surprise air-strike on Pearl Harbor. Though US intelligence succeeds in intercepting the Japanese messages, they are dismissed as implausible. 

Yume is a fantasy drama film directed by Akira Kurosawa, in which he portrays eight different dreams he had experienced.

This action crime drama film revolves around three bank robbers who escape the police and go hiding into the mountains. Soon, they encounter a young woman and her father, who welcome them as guests, but they have no idea that the men are criminals.

This Japanese action adventure drama film tells the story of a renowned swordsman who decides to help a young man in his quest for vengeance.

Bartholomew Bogue takes control of the American frontier town Rose Creek and forces its citizens to forced labor. When a group of locals, led by Matthew Cullen stand up to him, he has them killed. Cullen’s widow then recruits U.S. Marshal Sam Chisholm who forms a group of seven fighters to take on Bogue and his army. 

During the Prohibition Era, drifting gun-for-hire John Smith, who is on the run, reaches Jericho, Texas, a ghost town where warring Irish and Italian mobs have driven away the townsfolk. John Smith decides to take advantage of the situation and play the rival gangs against each other for his benefit. But while at it, the mercenary gunslinger learns the value of honor.