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Poster for The Hidden Fortress

The Hidden Fortress

Seen it?

1958 | 139 min | Drama, Action, Adventure

Friday Night Flick

Why it’s a Friday Night Flick

Critics loved it (96% on Rotten Tomatoes), audiences rate it highly (8.0 out of 10) and it's still drawing plenty of interest. Make plans for this one.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for action fans. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Exciting.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 19 min.
What might put you off
  • It's in Japanese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Made in 1958: an older pace and style.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

In feudal Japan, during a bloody war between clans, two cowardly and greedy peasants, soldiers of a defeated army, stumble upon a mysterious man who guides them to a fortress hidden in the mountains.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    96% on Rotten Tomatoes, 89 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesStrong

    8.0 out of 10

  • AwardsBelow par

    Won 2 Berlin awards: Silver Bear for Best Director, FIPRESCI Prize at Berlinale.

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $58K worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactStrong

    About 140K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Akira Kurosawa

  • Toshirō MifuneGeneral Rokurota Makabe
  • Minoru ChiakiTahei
  • Kamatari FujiwaraMatashichi
  • Misa UeharaPrincess Yuki
  • Susumu FujitaGeneral Hyoe Tadokoro
  • Takashi ShimuraGeneral Izumi Nagakura
  • Ikio SawamuraGambler (uncredited)
  • Kōji MitsuiGuard (uncredited)
  • Takeo OikawaGuard (uncredited)
  • Yū FujikiGuard (uncredited)