Stray Dog
Seen it?1949 | 122 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller, Mystery
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (96% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had soft box office. 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 crime-drama fans and anyone who likes to be kept guessing. If you loved Laura or Zodiac, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Tense, dark and gritty.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 2 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in Japanese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Made in 1949: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
A bad day gets worse for young detective Murakami when a pickpocket steals his gun on a hot, crowded bus. Desperate to right the wrong, he goes undercover, scavenging Tokyo’s sweltering streets for the stray dog whose desperation has led him to a life of crime. With each step, cop and criminal’s lives become more intertwined and the investigation becomes an examination of Murakami’s own dark side.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
96% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.6 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$47K worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 67K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Akira Kurosawa
- Toshirō MifuneDet. Murakami
- Takashi ShimuraDet. Sato
- Keiko AwajiHarumi Namiki
- Eiko MiyoshiHarumi's mother
- Noriko SengokuGirl
- Noriko HonmaWooden Tub Shop woman
- Reikichi Kawamura
- Chōko IidaKogetsu Hotel manager
- Eijirō Tōno
- Yasushi Nagata