Yojimbo (1961): cast, story & where to watch
1961 · Film · ★ 8.1
Released in 1961, Yojimbo is a thriller and drama film directed by Akira Kurosawa, running about 110 minutes. “Seven Samurai if it Was Just One Samurai!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A nameless ronin, or samurai with no master, enters a small village in feudal Japan where two rival businessmen are struggling for control of the local gambling trade. Taking the name Sanjuro Kuwabatake, the ronin convinces both silk merchant Tazaemon and sake merchant Tokuemon to hire him as a personal bodyguard, then artfully sets in motion a full-scale gang war between the two ambitious and unscrupulous men.
Who’s in it. Yojimbo stars Toshirō Mifune as Sanjuro Kuwabatake / The Samurai, Tatsuya Nakadai as Unosuke, gunfighter, Yōko Tsukasa as Nui and Isuzu Yamada as Orin, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 8.1/10, Yojimbo 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 Yojimbo page.
If you liked it. Fans of Yojimbo tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Yojimbo (1961)?
- In US, Yojimbo 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 Yojimbo worth watching?
- Yojimbo holds an audience score of 8.1 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy thriller and drama. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Yojimbo?
- Yojimbo stars Toshirō Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai, Yōko Tsukasa, Isuzu Yamada and Daisuke Katō.
- When was Yojimbo released?
- Yojimbo was released in 1961, with a runtime of about 110 minutes.