Empire of Passion (1978): cast, story & where to watch
1978 · Film · ★ 7
Released in 1978, Empire of Passion is a thriller, drama, horror and mystery film directed by Nagisa Ōshima, running about 105 minutes. “The haunting of a passionate love.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. In a small Japanese village at the end of the 19th century, a rickshaw driver's wife takes on a much younger lover and the two conspire to murder him.
Who’s in it. Empire of Passion stars Kazuko Yoshiyuki as Seki, Tatsuya Fuji as Toyoji, Takahiro Tamura as Gisaburo and Takuzō Kawatani as Inspector Hotta, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.0/10, Empire of Passion has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Empire of Passion page.
If you liked it. Fans of Empire of Passion tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Empire of Passion (1978)?
- In US, Empire of Passion is available to stream on Criterion Channel. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Empire of Passion worth watching?
- Empire of Passion holds an audience score of 7.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy thriller, drama, horror and mystery. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Empire of Passion?
- Empire of Passion stars Kazuko Yoshiyuki, Tatsuya Fuji, Takahiro Tamura, Takuzō Kawatani and Akiyoshi Fujiwara.
- When was Empire of Passion released?
- Empire of Passion was released in 1978, with a runtime of about 105 minutes.