Seven Samurai

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Seven Samurai

1956,

3h 28m,

Action

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100%

104 Reviews

Tomatometer

97%

50,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

104 Reviews

97%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

A samurai answers a village's request for protection after he falls on hard times. The town needs protection from bandits, so the samurai gathers six others to help him teach the people how to defend themselves, and the villagers provide the soldiers with food. A giant battle occurs when 40 bandits attack the village.

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Critics Consensus

Arguably Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece, The Seven Samurai is an epic adventure classic with an engrossing story, memorable characters, and stunning action sequences that make it one of the most influential films ever made.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Oct 27, 2021

5/5

The glorious vigour and strength of this film is presented with such theatrical relish and flair: its energy flashes out of the screen like a sword.

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Marjory Adams

Boston Globe

May 4, 2021

There are many excellencies in [Seven Samurai]. The acting of the men who are unknown to American audiences but whose talents are obvious; the careful building of suspense; the realism of the battle scenes... [and] the beauties of the countryside.

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Helen Bower

Detroit Free Press

May 4, 2021

[Seven Samurai ] rates my unqualified whoops of approval.

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Patrick Marlborough

The Saturday Paper

Sep 17, 2026

You mutter "How on earth?" because of Kurosawa’s humanism, which emerges as you spend two-and-a-half hours watching the film’s comic relief shift to its shattered moral centre.

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Marcelo Paredes

Cinencuentro

Oct 6, 2025

... Seven Samurai is a monumental work not only because Akira Kurosawa demonstrates technical mastery in handling so many characters on a grand scale,...but also because it presents a profound human drama. [Full review in Spanish]

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Pat Padua

Washington City Paper

Apr 30, 2025

For three and a half hours, this epic immerses you in a tradition that passes on its wisdom to the modern world through sheer entertainment.

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Luke P

Apr 21, 2019

At the end, the victory wasn't ours.

Han W

Apr 8, 2019

Kurosawa's ageless masterpiece is over three hours full awesomeness, featuring brilliantly written characters and story, memorable acting and revolutionary action scenes - very impressive for a movie made in post-War Japan

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Harry S

Apr 7, 2019

An epic tale filled with comedy, intensity and a stellar direction from Kurosawa.

Albus M

Mar 20, 2019

Awesome movie, a tsunami of emotions. It kept me always interested in the development of the story

Draco W

Mar 13, 2019

A Masterpiece on all levels of quality and entertainment, Akira Kurosawa's "Seven Samurai" is the greatest adventure/action flick ever to be brought upon the screen. With powerful acting and characters and the most wonderfully performed action sequences ever put to screen.

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Kylo L

Feb 22, 2019

One of the first Kurosawa films I ever saw and always finds a spot in any list of films I might recommend to someone else. Kurosawa was truly on fire during the production of this samurai epic. The heroes are a band of misfit samurai, pulled together by chance for a job with little reward, what a concept for a film. If you ever have a chance to see this on a big screen, do it, it is a treat.

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Kambei Shimada

Yoshio Inaba

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Seven Samurai: 4K Restoration Trailer - 70th Anniversary

1:37

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Seven Samurai: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

A samurai answers a village's request for protection after he falls on hard times. The town needs protection from bandits, so the samurai gathers six others to help him teach the people how to defend themselves, and the villagers provide the soldiers with food. A giant battle occurs when 40 bandits attack the village.

Director: Akira Kurosawa
Producer: Sojiro Motoki
Screenwriter: Shinobu Hashimoto, Akira Kurosawa, Hideo Oguni
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Toho Company
Genre: Action
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 19, 1956, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jul 5, 2024
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 29, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $487.3K
Runtime: 3h 28m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

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