Kagemusha (1980): cast, story & where to watch
1980 · Film · ★ 7.8
Released in 1980, Kagemusha is an action, drama, war and history film directed by Akira Kurosawa, running about 180 minutes. “The Shadow of a man can never stand up and walk on its own” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Akira Kurosawa's lauded feudal epic presents the tale of a petty thief who is recruited to impersonate Shingen, an aging warlord, in order to avoid attacks by competing clans. When Shingen dies, his generals reluctantly agree to have the impostor take over as the powerful ruler. He soon begins to appreciate life as Shingen, but his commitment to the role is tested when he must lead his troops into battle against the forces of a rival warlord.
Who’s in it. Kagemusha stars Tatsuya Nakadai as Shingen Takeda / Kagemusha, Tsutomu Yamazaki as Nobukado Takeda, Kenichi Hagiwara as Katsuyori Takeda and Jinpachi Nezu as Sohachiro Tsuchiya, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.8/10, Kagemusha has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $4M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Google Play Movies, YouTube and Apple TV Store. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Kagemusha page.
If you liked it. Fans of Kagemusha 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 Kagemusha (1980)?
- In US, Kagemusha is available to rent or buy from Google Play Movies, YouTube and Apple TV Store. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Kagemusha worth watching?
- Kagemusha holds an audience score of 7.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action, drama, war and history. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Kagemusha?
- Kagemusha stars Tatsuya Nakadai, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kenichi Hagiwara, Jinpachi Nezu and Hideji Ōtaki.
- When was Kagemusha released?
- Kagemusha was released in 1980, with a runtime of about 180 minutes.