The Invisible Man (1954): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1954, The Invisible Man is a thriller, mystery and science fiction film directed by Motoyoshi Oda, running about 70 minutes.

What it’s about. A car strikes an unseen object; blood spreads from an invisible source which becomes visible as the bleeding man dies. He carries with him a suicide note dedicated to his only friend, who is also an invisible man. An eager young reporter tracks down Takemitsu Nanjo, a war veteran who makes his living visibly, painting his face like a clown's and carrying advertising signs. His favorite neighbor is a little blind girl whose mother is running afoul of local gangsters. The gangsters have been terrorizing the city as "the invisible gang," wrapping themselves up in scarves and trenchcoats so as to be visible to their victims, even though they are supposed to be invisible underneath. Once they discover Nanjo, who is defending his only friends, they beat him and leave him for dead.

Who’s in it. The Invisible Man stars Seizaburō Kawazu as Takamitsu Nanjô / Invisible Man Nanjô, Miki Sanjō as Michiyo, the singer, Minoru Takada as Yajima, gang boss and Yoshio Tsuchiya as Komatsu, reporter, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.7/10, The Invisible Man has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Invisible Man page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Invisible Man tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.