Samaritan Zatoichi (1968): cast, story & where to watch
1968 · Film · ★ 6.4
Released in 1968, Samaritan Zatoichi is an action, drama and adventure film directed by Kenji Misumi, running about 84 minutes.
What it’s about. Zatoichi is forced to kill a young man who owes a debt to a yakuza boss. Moments later, his sister Osode arrives with the money she earned (prostituting herself) to pay his debts. The bosses true motives are revealed and he attempts to steal Osode even though the debt is paid. Zatoichi realizes his grievous error and protects the girl from the gang. Osode and Zatoichi are caught in a dilemma as she must rely on her brother's killer for protection and Zatoichi wrestles with the injustice he has caused.
Who’s in it. Samaritan Zatoichi stars Shintarō Katsu as Zatoichi, Yoshiko Mita as Osode, Makoto Satō as Yasaburo Kashiwazaki and Kō Nishimura as Sosuke Saruya, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.4/10, Samaritan Zatoichi has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel 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 Samaritan Zatoichi page.
If you liked it. Fans of Samaritan Zatoichi 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 Samaritan Zatoichi (1968)?
- In US, Samaritan Zatoichi is available to stream on 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 Samaritan Zatoichi worth watching?
- Samaritan Zatoichi holds an audience score of 6.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action, drama and adventure. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Samaritan Zatoichi?
- Samaritan Zatoichi stars Shintarō Katsu, Yoshiko Mita, Makoto Satō, Kō Nishimura and Takuya Fujioka.
- When was Samaritan Zatoichi released?
- Samaritan Zatoichi was released in 1968, with a runtime of about 84 minutes.