6 Best Samurai and Feudal Japan Movies

By Vlad Zakh · February 20, 2026

Samurai films run on rigid codes of honor and breathtaking swordplay. 13 Assassins has samurai plotting to kill a sadistic lord, The Twilight Samurai has a widowed clerk reluctantly drawn back to the sword, and Samurai Rebellion has a retainer defying his lord’s unjust demand. Lone Wolf and Cub, Harakiri and Seven Samurai round out the six.

13 Assassins (2010)

IMDb ★ 7.5 RT 95% Metacritic 84

A group of samurai plots to kill a sadistic lord before he seizes even more power.

Directed by Takashi Miike · 2h 21m · Rated R

15 wins & 28 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo, Brew, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Brew, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Brew, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Twilight Samurai (2002)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A low-ranking, widowed samurai clerk is reluctantly drawn back into swordsmanship to protect his family.

Directed by Yoji Yamada · 2h 09m

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance (1972)

TMDB ★ 7.3

A disgraced shogun's executioner travels feudal Japan as an assassin for hire, pushing his infant son in a cart.

Directed by Kenji Misumi · 1h 24m

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Samurai Rebellion (1967)

IMDb ★ 8.3 RT 100% Metacritic 90

A retainer's forced compliance with his lord's cruel order finally reaches its breaking point.

Directed by Masaki Kobayashi · 2h 01m · Rated NR

7 wins & 1 nomination

Where to watch

Stream: Criterion Channel

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Harakiri (1962)

IMDb ★ 8.6 RT 100% Metacritic 85

A ronin's request to commit ritual suicide at a feudal estate unravels a tale of institutional cruelty.

Directed by Masaki Kobayashi · 2h 15m · Rated NR

9 wins & 3 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Criterion Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Seven Samurai (1954)

IMDb ★ 8.6 RT 100% Metacritic 98

A poor village hires seven masterless samurai to defend it from a band of marauding bandits.

Directed by Akira Kurosawa · 3h 27m · Rated NR

Nominated for 2 Oscars5 wins & 9 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Samurai and Feudal Japan Movies

13 Assassins (2010)

The Twilight Samurai (2002)

Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance (1972)

Samurai Rebellion (1967)

Harakiri (1962)

Seven Samurai (1954)

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