poster

Yojimbo (1961)

A nameless ronin, or samurai with no master, enters a small village in feudal Japan where two rival businessmen are struggling for control of the local gambling trade. Taking the name Sanjuro Kuwabatake, the ronin convinces both silk merchant Tazaemon and sake merchant Tokuemon to hire him as a personal bodyguard, then artfully sets in motion a full-scale gang war between the two ambitious and unscrupulous men.

Released April 25, 1961 110 min 11+

Genres: Drama, Thriller

Keywords: tmdb.japan, tmdb.gambling, tmdb.swordplay, tmdb.samurai, tmdb.sword, tmdb.bodyguard, tmdb.fighting + 227 more, tmdb.family, tmdb.intrigue, tmdb.ronin, tmdb.revolver, tmdb.edo-period, tmdb.feudal-japan, tmdb.19th-century, tmdb.asian-western, mdblist.belongs-to-collection, mdblist.certified-fresh, mdblist.metacritic-must-see, mdblist.has-trailer, imdb.mother-son-reunion, imdb.tough-guy, imdb.one-against-many, imdb.man-with-no-name, imdb.year-1860, imdb.heroic-outlaw, imdb.gratitude, imdb.husband-wife-reunion, imdb.woman-in-jeopardy, imdb.arm-cut-off, imdb.disarming-someone, imdb.one-word-title, imdb.samurai-warrior, imdb.ravaged-town, imdb.righteous-rage, imdb.1860s, imdb.samurai, imdb.gang-war, imdb.revolver, imdb.bodyguard, imdb.small-town, imdb.rivalry, imdb.ronin, imdb.swordsman, imdb.showdown, imdb.one-man-army, imdb.anti-hero, imdb.double-cross, imdb.betrayal, imdb.mercenary, imdb.sword-fight, imdb.gangster, imdb.outlaw-gang, imdb.vigilantism, imdb.corrupt-cop, imdb.mistress, imdb.corruption, imdb.shot-to-death, imdb.old-man, imdb.courage, imdb.crime-boss, imdb.massacre, imdb.japan, imdb.fight, imdb.duel, imdb.good-versus-evil, imdb.kindness, imdb.honor, mdblist.ext.2k-blu-ray, mdblist.ext.4k-blu-ray, tmdb.jidaigeki, imdb.19th-century, tmdb.black-and-white, imdb.gang, awards.oscar-nominated, mdblist.ext.dolby-vision, imdb.rescue, imdb.katana-sword, imdb.murder, imdb.torture, imdb.prisoner-exchange, imdb.severed-arm, imdb.violence, imdb.tokugawa-shogunate, imdb.edo-period, imdb.comic-relief, imdb.funeral, imdb.village, imdb.father-son-relationship, imdb.prayer-drum, imdb.sake, imdb.held-at-gunpoint, imdb.henchman, imdb.breaking-a-bottle-over-someone-s-head, imdb.captive, imdb.coward, imdb.cuckold, imdb.dying-man, imdb.hiding-in-a-trunk, imdb.leaf, imdb.blood-splatter, imdb.drunkenness, imdb.tattoo, imdb.battle, imdb.insanity, imdb.quick-draw, imdb.brother-brother-relationship, imdb.boy, imdb.kidnapped-wife, imdb.female-tied-up, imdb.damsel-in-distress, imdb.producer-writer-director-editor, imdb.crime-lord, imdb.kimono, imdb.blood-pool, imdb.constable, imdb.silk-merchant, imdb.mulberry-plantation, imdb.inspector, imdb.farmer, imdb.gambling-debt, imdb.safe-house, imdb.chattel-slavery, imdb.warehouse-fire, imdb.brewery, imdb.hiding-in-a-coffin, imdb.samurai-outfit, imdb.innkeeper, imdb.street-fight, imdb.nervous-twitch, imdb.wakizashi, imdb.crime-ridden-city, imdb.palanquin, imdb.thank-you-note, imdb.temple, imdb.hanging-by-arms, imdb.dying-wish, imdb.one-person-army-action, imdb.period-drama, imdb.allegory, imdb.reference-to-reincarnation, imdb.dog-carries-a-severed-hand, imdb.disc-jockey, imdb.house-on-fire, imdb.wipe-the-editing-effect, imdb.kurosawa-and-mifune, imdb.dog, imdb.feud, imdb.scam, imdb.coffin, imdb.big-man, imdb.blade, imdb.beaten-up, imdb.satire, imdb.satirical-comedy, imdb.loner, imdb.rural-setting, imdb.conflict, imdb.clan, imdb.immoral-man, imdb.reluctant-hero, imdb.hiding, imdb.class-system, imdb.toothpick, imdb.criminal, imdb.samurai-action, imdb.profit, imdb.small-community, imdb.heroic-act, imdb.home, imdb.armed-combat, imdb.historical-setting, imdb.combat, imdb.man-with-a-beard, imdb.husband, imdb.black-humor, imdb.isolated-town, imdb.skills, imdb.long-hair, imdb.scheme, imdb.coffin-maker, imdb.money, imdb.drifter, imdb.deception, imdb.living-in-fear, imdb.enemy, imdb.family-relationships, imdb.samurai-sword, imdb.wife, imdb.beaten, imdb.hierarchy, imdb.medieval-japan, imdb.weapon, imdb.escape, imdb.martial-arts, imdb.shootout, imdb.warrior, imdb.friendship, imdb.compassion, imdb.severed-hand, imdb.rainstorm, imdb.hostage, imdb.crossroads, imdb.brothel, imdb.jidai-geki, imdb.knife-throwing, imdb.cemetery, imdb.kidnapping, imdb.eavesdropping, imdb.tavern, imdb.arson, imdb.death-of-father, imdb.death-of-mother, imdb.based-on-novel, mdblist.first-in-collection, tmdb.business-rivalry, tmdb.middleman, tmdb.rivals, tmdb.pitting-ones-enemy-s-against-each-other, imdb.asia, imdb.small-town-corruption, imdb.hit-on-the-head, imdb.pistol, imdb.gun, imdb.hit-with-a-bottle, imdb.tied-up, imdb.woman-tied-up, imdb.hand-cut-off, imdb.man-tied-up, imdb.strappado, release.dvd, release.4k-ultra-hd, release.blu-ray, tmdb.grand, imdb.kurosawa-and-nakadai

Watch Providers: Criterion Channel, HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max

Production Companies: Toho Company, Ltd.

Country: Japan
Production Country: Japan
Languages: Japanese

90
8.2
/141034/
80
/2326/
81
/1603/
4.3
/162000/
96
/51/
96
/2271/
93
/17/
trailer
Runtime: 110 min.
Released: April 25, 1961
Digital Release: June 26, 2025
Status: Released
Certification: NR / 11+

REFRESH DATA
Updated: 2 weeks ago
Next update: 3 months, 4 weeks from now
JustWatch