Ran (1985): cast, story & where to watch
1985 · Film · ★ 8.1
Released in 1985, Ran is an action, drama and history film directed by Akira Kurosawa, running about 160 minutes. “In a mad world, only the mad are sane.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. With Ran, legendary director Akira Kurosawa reimagines Shakespeare's King Lear as a singular historical epic set in sixteenth-century Japan. Majestic in scope, the film is Kurosawa's late-life masterpiece, a profound examination of the folly of war and the crumbling of one family under the weight of betrayal, greed, and the insatiable thirst for power.
Who’s in it. Ran stars Tatsuya Nakadai as Lord Hidetora Ichimonji, Akira Terao as Taro Takatora Ichimonji, Jinpachi Nezu as Jiro Masatora Ichimonji and Daisuke Ryû as Saburo Naotora Ichimonji, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 8.1/10, Ran sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue. It went on to earn $11.9M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on BFI Player Amazon Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Ran page.
If you liked it. Fans of Ran 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 Ran (1985)?
- In US, Ran is available to stream on BFI Player Amazon Channel. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Ran worth watching?
- Ran holds an audience score of 8.1 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action, drama and history. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Ran?
- Ran stars Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao, Jinpachi Nezu, Daisuke Ryû and Mieko Harada.
- When was Ran released?
- Ran was released in 1985, with a runtime of about 160 minutes.