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Poster for Drunken Angel

Drunken Angel

Seen it?

1948 | 98 min | Drama

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (94% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office flop. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

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

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Thoughtful and character-driven.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 38 min.
What might put you off
  • It's in Japanese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Made in 1948: an older pace and style.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

In postwar Tokyo, a blunt, alcohol-soaked doctor diagnoses a swaggering young yakuza with tuberculosis, forging an uneasy bond that’s tested when the gangster’s ruthless former boss returns and drags him back toward the swampy underworld he can’t escape.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    94% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.6 out of 10

  • AwardsBelow par

    2 wins and 0 nominations from smaller awards and festivals

  • Box office & staying powerWeak

    $562K worldwide

  • Buzz & cultural impactSolid

    About 73K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Akira Kurosawa

  • Takashi ShimuraSanada
  • Toshirō MifuneMatsunaga
  • Reizaburo YamamotoOkada
  • Michiyo KogureNanae
  • Chieko NakakitaMiyo
  • Noriko SengokuGin
  • Shizuko KasagiSinger
  • Eitarō ShindōTakahama
  • Masao ShimizuOyabun
  • Taiji TonoyamaShop Proprietor