Sanjuro (Tsubaki Sanjûrô)

Sanjuro (Tsubaki Sanjûrô) (1962)

  • 100% of critics liked it
    (21 reviews)

  • 94% of users liked it
    (13,597 ratings)

Set in the mid-19th century when the disintegration of a rigid social structure was turning the once wealthy into paupers, or vice-versa, this kinetic drama by acclaimed Akira Kurosawa features the hero Sanjuro (Toshiro Mifune), one of many samurai whose once traditional positions were fast… More

PG-13,
Directed By
Written By
Ryuzo Kikushima, Akira Kurosawa
Genres
Art House & International, Action & Adventure
In Theaters
Jan 1, 1962 Wide
Criterion Collection

Critic Reviews

  • Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

    This is fun but, compared with Kurosawa's other 60s efforts, relatively slight.

  • Variety Staff, Variety

    The charm of this fascinating Toho production, stylishly directed by Akira Kurosawa, is the personality of the hero, powerfully played by Toshiro Mifune.

  • , Time Out

    Kurosawa was pressured by his producers into directing this sequel to Yojimbo, and rose to the occasion by making his funniest and least overtly didactic film

  • Bosley Crowther, New York Times

    A surprising, fetching, beautifully made film that fitly propounds the lesson of his own professionalism: 'Never send a boy to do a man's work.'

  • , TV Guide's Movie Guide

    Technically, the film is one of Kurosawa's most impressive, featuring some superbly staged sword battles and exceptional use of complex widescreen compositions.

Read all 16 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • xGary X


    Toshiro Mifune's wayward samurai returns to help out in the kidnapping of a statesman by a corrupt official intent on discrediting him to cover up his own crimes. Sanjuro was made hot on the heels of Yojimbo, and is obvious proof that a studio trying to cash in on the commercial… More

  • Anthony L


    Sunjuro is not as good as Yojimbo but it's pretty close. Toshiro Mifune plays it with a little more sensitivity but is just as cool a character. I though visually it was a much tidier film too, the scene with the flowers floating down the stream was very beautiful. The addition… More

  • Devon B


    Akira Kurosawa's sequel (of sorts) to Yojimbo finds the hero (Toshiro Mifune) once again coming to the aid of hapless ineffectuals. This time it's a clan of samurai who suspect there are traitors in their rank. The nine men on the side of justice are bungling greenhorns… More

  • Chris W


    It may be lighter in tone, a little funnier, and not as good as its predecessor Yojimbo, but Sanjuro is still a very good and highly entertaining film. Parts of it seem a little muddled, but all in all, it's a fun samurai film with a great message and cool characters. I've… More

  • Cassandra M


    Akira Kurosawa is probably the best Director in the entire History of film-making. He has not been that prolific given the amount of time he has spent making films, but many of these have subsequently been remade - Seven Samurai became the magnificent seven. Yoijimbo (the prequel to… More

Read all 15 featured audience ratings

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Cast

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