High and Low (1963): cast, story & where to watch
1963 · Film · ★ 8.3
Released in 1963, High and Low is a thriller, drama, crime and mystery film directed by Akira Kurosawa, running about 142 minutes. “From Akira Kurosawa, director of "Yojimbo" and "Sanjuro" comes a tense, taut film of a modern "perfect crime" with more excitement than even Hitchcock could create.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A shoe company executive who has mortgaged everything he has becomes a victim of extortion when his chauffeur's son is kidnapped and is conflicted over whether he should pay the ransom.
Who’s in it. High and Low stars Toshirō Mifune as Kingo Gondo, Tatsuya Nakadai as Chief Detective Tokura, Kyōko Kagawa as Reiko Gondo and Tatsuya Mihashi as Kawanishi, Gondo's secretary, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 8.3/10, High and Low 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 High and Low page.
If you liked it. Fans of High and Low tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch High and Low (1963)?
- In US, High and Low 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 High and Low worth watching?
- High and Low holds an audience score of 8.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy thriller, drama, crime and mystery. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in High and Low?
- High and Low stars Toshirō Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai, Kyōko Kagawa, Tatsuya Mihashi and Isao Kimura.
- When was High and Low released?
- High and Low was released in 1963, with a runtime of about 142 minutes.