
Drunken Angel
Seen it?1948 | 98 min | Drama
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
More like this
Batman BeginsSaturday SpecialAnother drama, and a Saturday Special.
The NaturalSaturday SpecialAnother drama, and a Saturday Special.
47 RoninMonday Morning MaybeAnother drama. Fair warning: it's a Monday Morning Maybe.
RememberWeeknight WatchAnother drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Black RainSunday Safe BetAnother mob drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
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