Yojimbo (1961)
Audiences and critics agree.
The FilmyChill Score combines audience ratings and critics' reception, and updates twice a day. No studio or platform can pay for a score. How the score works
Yojimbo is streaming in Japan on U-NEXT.
What the audience says
Yojimbo has pulled the kind of numbers most Japanese films never see. It's sitting at 8.1/10 on TMDB across 1,776 ratings, which puts it comfortably above average. The 110-minute runtime sits in the comfortable middle. In Japan you can stream it on U-NEXT.
Should you spend 1h 50m on it?
1h 50m of Japanese drama with thriller threaded through. Standard length — a normal evening's watch, nothing to plan around.
- Why
- It rates 8.1/10 on 1,776 ratings so far — a strong early showing.
- Skip if
- you want plot momentum over character work
- Best for
- A quiet evening at home
Story
A nameless ronin, or samurai with no master, enters a small village in feudal Japan where two rival businessmen are struggling for control of the local gambling trade. Taking the name Sanjuro Kuwabatake, the ronin convinces both silk merchant Tazaemon and sake merchant Tokuemon to hire him as a personal bodyguard, then artfully sets in motion a full-scale gang war between the two ambitious and unscrupulous men.
Good to know
| Runtime | 1h 50m |
| Genre | Drama / Thriller |
| 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 4 Oct 2026 — platforms may change over time.
More: All U-NEXT titles in Japan
Trailer
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