Miyamoto Musashi: Giant Ape Extermination Scene
★ 1 · 1908 · 12m · Action · Adventure · Drama · Horror
Among the many famous 16th-century samurai who made the leap from myth and ukiyo-e to early cinema screen was sword-master Miyamoto Musashi, previously depicted in prints by Kiniyoshi Yoshitoshi and others slaying an array of grotesque creatures including giant bats, giant lizards, and the mythical tengu. This imagery informed his first screen depiction in Miyamoto Musashi Taiji No Ba, which showed him combatting the mythic white ape of the mountains.
More Like This

Rashomon
1950 · ★ 8
Four people recount different versions of the story of a man's murder and the rape of his wife.
More info →
Samurai Fiction
1998 · ★ 6.7
A warrior-in-training and his bumbling friends go in pursuit of a stolen sword.
More info →
Kagemusha
1980 · ★ 7.8
Akira Kurosawa's lauded feudal epic presents the tale of a petty thief who is recruited to impersonate Shingen, an aging warlord, in order to avoid attacks by competing clans. When Shingen dies, his generals reluctantly agree to have the impostor take over as the powerful ruler. He soon begins to appreciate life as Shingen, but his commitment to the role is tested when he must lead his troops into battle against the forces of a rival warlord.
More info →
Sanjuro
1962 · ★ 7.9
In this companion piece and sequel to "Yojimbo," jaded samurai Sanjuro helps an idealistic group of young warriors weed out their clan's evil influences, and in the process turns their image of a proper samurai on its ear.
More info →
Yojimbo
1961 · ★ 8.1
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.
More info →
Onibaba
1964 · ★ 7.7
While her son, Kichi, is away at war, a woman and her daughter-in-law survive by killing samurai who stray into their swamp, then selling whatever valuables they find. Both are devastated when they learn that Kichi has died, but his wife soon begins an affair with a neighbor who survived the war, Hachi. The mother disapproves and, when she can't steal Hachi for herself, tries to scare her daughter-in-law with a mysterious mask from a dead samurai.
More info →
Throne of Blood
1957 · ★ 7.9
Returning to their lord's castle, samurai warriors Washizu and Miki are waylaid by a spirit who predicts their futures. When the first part of the spirit's prophecy comes true, Washizu's scheming wife, Asaji, presses him to speed up the rest of the spirit's prophecy by murdering his lord and usurping his place. Director Akira Kurosawa's resetting of William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" in feudal Japan is one of his most acclaimed films.
More info →
Samurai Detective Onihei: White plum allure
2025 · ★ 9.1
A mysterious assassin cloaked in a haunting, seductive fragrance sets his sights on Heizo Hasegawa. Hanjiro Kaneko, a master swordsman, attacks with deadly precision, leaving Heizo to uncover the truth behind the strange scent of "White Plum Allure." As Heizo digs deeper, he discovers a tangled web of deception involving Hiko-no-Ichi, a blind decoy working for the notorious bandit leader Heijuro the Snake.
More info →
Samurai Detective Onihei: True Master
2024 · ★ 9.3
The story follows detective Heizo, played by Koshiro Matsumoto, who investigates Tanbei Chigashira, a notorious thief. Kumehachi, a former member of Tanbei's gang, claims that their former leader is an impostor. The real Tanbei Chigashira followed three strict rules: do not kill, do not rape women, and do not steal from the poor.
More info →
Samurai Detective Onihei: Dangerous Mercy
2024 · ★ 9.3
Juzo Ono, a subordinate of Matsumoto Heizo. (yakunin government official) Ono Juzo finds himself torn between 'emotion' and 'duty' after encountering a certain woman. While Heizo worries about Juzo, he also delves into the heart of the matter. What choices will Juzo make, and what feelings will Heizo harbor for his future? Taking on the role of Juzo Ono, who holds the key to the story, is Tokio Emoto, following his performances in 'Lawless Love' and 'Blood for Blood.' This portrayal adds another layer to the character previously played by Tokio Emoto's father, Akira.
More info →
The Last Samurai
2003 · ★ 7.6
Nathan Algren is an American hired to instruct the Japanese army in the ways of modern warfare, which finds him learning to respect the samurai and the honorable principles that rule them. Pressed to destroy the samurai's way of life in the name of modernization and open trade, Algren decides to become an ultimate warrior himself and to fight for their right to exist.
More info →
Assassins for sale
1963 · ★ 7.3
Nagasaki at the end of the Edo period had the taste of a criminal paradise, where, despite the exotic, dangerous work was always in demand. Here, three wandering samurai who earn their living by killing get to know each other. Soon they learn that government officials will be transporting a large cargo of gold and decide to steal it.
More info →