Overview
A blind swordsman navigates a treacherous town filled with danger and intrigue, where his true skills are put to the test.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Brutal
- kinetic
- witty
- stylized
- martial arts movie night
- cult film night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a colorful, richly stylized samurai action work with exhilarating choreography and Takeshi Kitano's distinctive cinematic flair.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Takeshi Kitano combines sword-fighting adventure with deadpan wit, colorful visual flair, and unconventional cinematic rhythms.
Zatoichi appears to be a blind gambler and masseur while possessing lightning-fast sword skills.
Two geishas pursue vengeance for their parents' murder while the town is controlled by sinister gangs and a powerful samurai.
The film foregrounds breathtakingly precise draws and strokes alongside brilliantly choreographed duels.
Films like Zatoichi, and why
Yojimbo
stylized samurai action, morally complex outlaws, terse wit, and a wandering swordsman confronting corrupt power
Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance
period swordplay, revenge-driven violence, and a visually distinctive anti-heroic martial arts tradition
Sanjuro
eccentric samurai adventure, inventive choreography, and a sharp blend of action, humor, and drama
The Twilight Samurai
Japanese period action centered on a highly skilled outsider dismantling criminal and feudal authority
Movie Details
- Director
- Takeshi Kitano
- Release Date
- 2003-09-06
- Runtime
- 116 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (997)
Cast
- Takeshi Kitano
- Tadanobu Asano
- Michiyo Yasuda
- Yui Natsukawa
- Guadalcanal Taka
- Daigorô Tachibana
- Yuko Daike
- Ittoku Kishibe
- Saburo Ishikura
- Akira Emoto
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Zatoichi about?
- A blind gambler and secret swordsman brings kinetic justice, sly humor, and dazzling precision to a gang-controlled Japanese town.
- What is Zatoichi like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Zatoichi as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Zatoichi violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Zatoichi as brutal.
- What did critics think of Zatoichi?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a colorful, richly stylized samurai action work with exhilarating choreography and Takeshi Kitano's distinctive cinematic flair.
- Which films are like Zatoichi?
- Films with a similar feel include Yojimbo, Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance, Sanjuro, and The Twilight Samurai.
- How long is Zatoichi?
- Zatoichi runs 116 minutes.
- Where can I watch Zatoichi?
- In United States, Zatoichi is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube.
