Throne of Blood
Seen it?1957 | 108 min | Drama, History
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
Critics loved it (96% on Rotten Tomatoes), audiences rate it highly (7.9 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 history buffs. If you loved Batman Begins, start here. 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 48 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in Japanese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Made in 1957: an older pace and style.
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.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
96% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesStrong
7.9 out of 10
- AwardsBelow par
Nominated for 1 Venice award.
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$350K worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 147K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Akira Kurosawa
- Toshirō MifuneTaketoki Washizu
- Isuzu YamadaLady Asaji Washizu
- Takashi ShimuraNoriyasu Odagura
- Akira KuboYoshiteru Miki
- Hiroshi TachikawaKunimaru Tsuzuki
- Minoru ChiakiYoshiaki Miki
- Takamaru SasakiKuniharu Tsuzuki
- Gen ShimizuWashizu samurai
- Kokuten KōdōMilitary Commander
- Kichijirō UedaWashizu's workman