Sonatine (1993): cast, story & where to watch
1993 · Film · ★ 7.5
Released in 1993, Sonatine is an action, thriller and crime film directed by Takeshi Kitano, running about 94 minutes. “A ferocious man sleeps here.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Murakawa, an aging Tokyo yakuza tiring of gangster life, is sent by his boss to Okinawa along with a few of his henchmen to help end a gang war, supposedly as mediators between two warring clans. He finds that the dispute between the clans is insignificant and whilst wondering why he was sent to Okinawa at all, his group is attacked in an ambush. The survivors flee and make a decision to lay low at the beach while they await further instructions.
Who’s in it. Sonatine stars Takeshi Kitano as Aniki Murakawa, Aya Kokumai as Miyuki, Tetsu Watanabe as Uechi and Masanobu Katsumura as Ryoji, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.5/10, Sonatine has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In GB you can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store and Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Sonatine page.
If you liked it. Fans of Sonatine 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 Sonatine (1993)?
- In GB, Sonatine is available to rent or buy from Apple TV Store and Amazon Video. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Sonatine worth watching?
- Sonatine holds an audience score of 7.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action, thriller and crime. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Sonatine?
- Sonatine stars Takeshi Kitano, Aya Kokumai, Tetsu Watanabe, Masanobu Katsumura and Susumu Terajima.
- When was Sonatine released?
- Sonatine was released in 1993, with a runtime of about 94 minutes.