Best 20 Japanese Action Movies

By Vlad Zakh · February 12, 2026

Japan Action intense

Japanese action runs from samurai showdowns and martial arts to crime thrillers, valuing precision, choreography and intensity. Seven Samurai hires seven warriors to protect a village from bandits, Sonatine sends yakuza to Okinawa to end a gang war, Full Contact ties two friends to violent criminals, and Battle Royale forces a class of students to fight on an island. Three Outlaw Samurai, Shin Godzilla, Ichi the Killer, Oldboy, Crows Zero, 13 Assassins and Lady Snowblood round out the list.

Seven Samurai (Shichinin no samurai) (1954) 01

Seven Samurai (Shichinin no samurai) (1954)

IMDb ★ 8.6 RT 100% Metacritic 98

A village hires seven samurai to protect it from marauding bandits, in Akira Kurosawa's epic.

"This is the nature of war. By protecting others, you save yourself."

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 Amazon Prime VideoHBO MaxYoutubeTV
Sonatine (Sonachine) (1993) 02

Sonatine (Sonachine) (1993)

IMDb ★ 7.4 RT 93% Metacritic 73

Several yakuza from Tokyo are sent to Okinawa to help end a gang war, and the war escalates against them.

"You're tough. I love tough guys. Aniki Murakawa : I wouldn't carry a gun if I were tough."

Directed by Takeshi Kitano · 1h 34m · Rated R

4 wins & 2 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video
Full Contact (Hap do Ko Fei) (1992) 03

Full Contact (Hap do Ko Fei) (1992)

TMDB ★ 6.8

Two disreputable friends get tied up with a group of criminals who turn out to be far too violent.

"Take me one minute to break you. Scared?"

Directed by Ringo Lam Ling-Tung · 1h 38m

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video
Battle Royale (Batoru rowaiaru) (2000) 04

Battle Royale (Batoru rowaiaru) (2000)

IMDb ★ 7.5 RT 90% Metacritic 81

In a dystopian future, a class of students is sent to an island, armed, and forced to fight until only one is left.

"Life is a game. So fight for survival and see if you're worth it."

Directed by Kinji Fukasaku · 1h 53m · Rated R

7 wins & 8 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, BFI Player Amazon Channel, MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd NetflixAmazon Prime VideoYoutubeTV
Three Outlaw Samurai (Sanbiki no samurai) (1964) 05

Three Outlaw Samurai (Sanbiki no samurai) (1964)

IMDb ★ 7.6 RT 80%

When poor peasants kidnap a magistrate's daughter to force him to cut their taxes, three wandering samurai step in.

"Let the lord see you in disgrace. Let the peasants see you in disgrace."

Directed by Hideo Gosha · 1h 33m

Where to watch

Stream: Criterion Channel

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video
Shin Godzilla (Shin Gojira) (2016) 06

Shin Godzilla (Shin Gojira) (2016)

IMDb ★ 6.9 RT 87% Metacritic 66

Japan faces the sudden emergence of a giant monster, prompting government officials to scramble for a response.

"The sadness of the people who perished. Their cries. Their anger. Their prayers. Our regret at being unable to save them. All of it."

Directed by Shinji Higuchi & Hideaki Anno · 2h 00m · Rated PG-13

13 wins & 10 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 Amazon Prime VideoHBO MaxYoutubeTV
Ichi the Killer (Koroshiya 1) (2001) 07

Ichi the Killer (Koroshiya 1) (2001)

TMDB ★ 7.0

A sadomasochistic yakuza enforcer searches for his boss and encounters a disturbed killer.

"I want you to hit me until I can't stand up."

Directed by Takashi Miike · 2h 09m

Where to watch

Stream: Philo, MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel, Fandor Amazon Channel, Screambox Amazon Channel, Hi-YAH · Rent or buy: Apple TV Store

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime VideoYoutubeTV
Oldboy (Oldeuboi) (2003) 08

Oldboy (Oldeuboi) (2003)

IMDb ★ 8.3 RT 82% Metacritic 78

A man is inexplicably imprisoned for 15 years and then released, embarking on a mission to discover why.

"Laugh and the world laughs with you. Weep and you weep alone."

Directed by Park Chan-wook · 2h 00m · Rated R

46 wins & 28 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd NetflixAmazon Prime VideoYoutubeTV
Crows Zero (Kurôzu zero) (2007) 09

Crows Zero (Kurôzu zero) (2007)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A transfer student sets out to rule his new high school, famous for its delinquents, in a story of gang conflict and teenage bravado.

"The strongest delinquent is the one who stands alone."

Directed by Takashi Miike · 2h 10m · Rated PG-13

▶ Trailer Letterboxd NetflixAmazon Prime Video
13 Assassins (Jūsannin no Shikaku) (2010) 10

13 Assassins (Jūsannin no Shikaku) (2010)

IMDb ★ 7.5 RT 95% Metacritic 84

A band of samurai is gathered to kill a sadistic lord, and the film builds to an enormous battle.

"Our enemy is formidable. Yet, this mission is possible."

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 Amazon Prime VideoHulu
Lady Snowblood (Shurayukihime) (1973) 11

Lady Snowblood (Shurayukihime) (1973)

IMDb ★ 7.6 RT 100% Metacritic 80

A woman seeks vengeance against those who assaulted her mother and framed her family.

"My mother was violated. My mother was flogged. My mother was disgraced."

Directed by Toshiya Fujita · 1h 37m · Rated NR

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 Amazon Prime VideoHBO MaxYoutubeTV
The Raid: Redemption (Serbuan maut) (2011) 12

The Raid: Redemption (Serbuan maut) (2011)

IMDb ★ 7.6 RT 87% Metacritic 73

A SWAT team becomes trapped in a tenement run by a ruthless mobster, in one of the most celebrated martial arts films of its decade.

"Pulling a trigger is like ordering takeout."

Directed by Gareth Evans · 1h 41m · Rated R

9 wins & 23 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd NetflixAmazon Prime VideoYoutubeTV
Outrage (Autoreiji) (2010) 13

Outrage (Autoreiji) (2010)

TMDB ★ 6.9

Yakuza clans clash in a crime drama about loyalty, betrayal and power struggles.

"Fear is what protects you from the inside."

Directed by Takeshi Kitano · 1h 49m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime VideoHulu
Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai (Ichimei) (2011) 14

Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai (Ichimei) (2011)

IMDb ★ 7.3 RT 76% Metacritic 76

A remake of the classic that explores honour and justice in feudal Japan.

"I will die with purpose. I have decided."

Directed by Takashi Miike · 2h 08m · Rated NR

6 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel, ARROW · Rent: Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime VideoYoutubeTV
Versus (Vāsasu) (2000) 15

Versus (Vāsasu) (2000)

TMDB ★ 6.2

Two escaped convicts stumble upon an ancient forest where the dead are resurrected, in a film mixing yakuza, samurai and zombies.

"This forest is the gateway to Hell."

Directed by Ryuhei Kitamura · 2h 00m

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime VideoYoutubeTV
Samurai Rebellion (Jôi-uchi: Hairyô tsuma shimatsu) (1967) 16

Samurai Rebellion (Jôi-uchi: Hairyô tsuma shimatsu) (1967)

IMDb ★ 8.3 RT 100% Metacritic 90

A retired samurai is forced to defend his family's honour against his own clan.

"My feelings for this woman are none of your business."

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

7 wins & 1 nomination

Where to watch

Stream: Criterion Channel

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video
The Sword of Doom (Dai-bosatsu tôge) (1966) 17

The Sword of Doom (Dai-bosatsu tôge) (1966)

IMDb ★ 7.9 RT 80%

A wandering samurai befriends a young boy and gets embroiled in a conflict he can't escape.

"I don't want to die, so I'll live."

Directed by Kihachi Okamoto · 2h 02m · Rated NR

1 win & 1 nomination

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video
Tokyo Drifter (Tōkyō nagaremono) (1966) 18

Tokyo Drifter (Tōkyō nagaremono) (1966)

TMDB ★ 7.1

After his gang disbands, a yakuza enforcer looks forward to life outside of organised crime.

"Kill me! Get it over with!"

Directed by Seijun Suzuki · 1h 23m

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video
High and Low (Tengoku to jigoku) (1963) 19

High and Low (Tengoku to jigoku) (1963)

IMDb ★ 8.4 RT 97% Metacritic 90

A businessman's life is turned upside down when his son is kidnapped, in a gripping two-part crime story.

"The worst thing that can happen to a parent is to lose a child."

Directed by Akira Kurosawa · 2h 22m · Rated NR

3 wins & 3 nominations

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd NetflixAmazon Prime Video
Branded to Kill (Koroshi no rakuin) (1967) 20

Branded to Kill (Koroshi no rakuin) (1967)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A hitman becomes a target himself in Seijun Suzuki's surreal, stylish crime film.

"Life is like a revolver. The bullets represent time. And when the bullets run out, so does your time."

Directed by Seijun Suzuki · 1h 31m

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime Video

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

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Vlad Zakh

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.