8 Best Toshiro Mifune Movies

By Vlad Zakh · January 14, 2026

Toshiro Mifune’s ferocious physicality and long collaboration with director Akira Kurosawa produced some of the most influential performances in world cinema. Seven Samurai, Rashomon and Throne of Blood are among the best known, Yojimbo plays two criminal gangs against each other, Sanjuro mentors naive young warriors, The Hidden Fortress escorts a princess and gold, and Red Beard transforms an arrogant young doctor. Drunken Angel rounds out the list.

Red Beard (1965)

TMDB ★ 8.3

A young, arrogant doctor is transformed by his mentorship under a gruff, compassionate clinic director, played by Toshiro Mifune.

Directed by Akira Kurosawa · 3h 05m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, HBO Max

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Sanjuro (1962)

TMDB ★ 8.0

A cynical ronin reluctantly helps a group of naive young samurai expose corruption within their clan.

Directed by Akira Kurosawa · 1h 36m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Yojimbo (1961)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 96% Metacritic 93

A wandering samurai plays two rival gangs against each other to liberate a terrorised town.

Directed by Akira Kurosawa · 1h 50m · Rated NR

Nominated for 1 Oscar5 wins & 2 nominations

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Hidden Fortress (1958)

TMDB ★ 7.8

Toshiro Mifune plays a general who escorts a princess and hidden gold across enemy territory.

Directed by Akira Kurosawa · 2h 19m

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Throne of Blood (1957)

TMDB ★ 8.1

A feudal Japanese warlord's ambition, fuelled by a witch's prophecy, drives him toward ruin.

Directed by Akira Kurosawa · 1h 48m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ 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

Rashomon (1950)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 98% Metacritic 98

Four witnesses recount the same crime with four completely irreconcilable versions of events.

Directed by Akira Kurosawa · 1h 28m · Rated NR

Nominated for 1 Oscar9 wins & 5 nominations

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Drunken Angel (1948)

TMDB ★ 7.8

An alcoholic doctor tries to save a tubercular gangster from both his illness and his own criminal life.

Directed by Akira Kurosawa · 1h 38m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: Criterion Channel

▶ 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.

8 Best Toshiro Mifune Movies

Red Beard (1965)

Sanjuro (1962)

Yojimbo (1961)

The Hidden Fortress (1958)

Throne of Blood (1957)

Seven Samurai (1954)

Rashomon (1950)

Drunken Angel (1948)

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