The Hidden Fortress (1958): cast, story & where to watch
1958 · Film · ★ 8
Released in 1958, The Hidden Fortress is an action, comedy, drama and adventure film directed by Akira Kurosawa, running about 139 minutes.
What it’s about. Japanese peasants Matashichi and Tahei try and fail to make a profit from a tribal war. They find a man and woman whom they believe are simple tribe members hiding in a fortress. Although the peasants don't know that Rokurota is a general and Yuki is a princess, the peasants agree to accompany the pair to safety in return for gold. Along the way, the general must prove his expertise in battle while also hiding his identity.
Who’s in it. The Hidden Fortress stars Toshirō Mifune as General Rokurota Makabe, Minoru Chiaki as Tahei, Kamatari Fujiwara as Matashichi and Misa Uehara as Princess Yuki, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 8.0/10, The Hidden Fortress sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Criterion Channel and HBO Max and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Hidden Fortress page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Hidden Fortress tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Hidden Fortress (1958)?
- In US, The Hidden Fortress is available to stream on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and Criterion Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Hidden Fortress worth watching?
- The Hidden Fortress holds an audience score of 8.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action, comedy, drama and adventure. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Hidden Fortress?
- The Hidden Fortress stars Toshirō Mifune, Minoru Chiaki, Kamatari Fujiwara, Misa Uehara and Susumu Fujita.
- When was The Hidden Fortress released?
- The Hidden Fortress was released in 1958, with a runtime of about 139 minutes.