Seven Samurai (1954)
Seven Samurai is streaming in Japan on U-NEXT.
The verdict
Seven Samurai has pulled the kind of numbers most Japanese films never see. It's sitting at 8.5/10 on TMDB across 4,369 ratings, which puts it comfortably above average. Budget a full evening — it runs a hefty 207 minutes. In Japan you can stream it on U-NEXT.
Should you spend 3h 27m on it?
3h 27m of Japanese action with drama threaded through. Past two and a half hours, it needs a proper evening rather than a weeknight.
- Why
- It rates 8.5/10 on 4,369 ratings so far — a strong early showing.
- Skip if
- you don't have a clear three hours
- Best for
- A free weekend evening
Story
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.
Good to know
| Runtime | 3h 27m — long |
| Genre | Action / Drama |
| Language | Japanese |
| Best screen | Stream at home |
Director
Akira Kurosawa
Cast
Where to watch in Japan
Included with a subscription — no extra charge on these platforms.
Availability as of 2026-09-20 — platforms may change over time.
Trailer
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