Overview
A gripping tale of ambition and betrayal set against the backdrop of feudal Japan.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- foreboding
- austere
- oppressive
- classic cinema night
- arthouse film night
What critics said
Critics broadly regard Kurosawa's highly cinematic, visually austere adaptation of Macbeth as a masterpiece and one of the strongest Shakespeare films.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The spirit-like seer predicts Washizu's rise and Miki's son's future rule, shaping the characters' actions.
Washizu's promotion and his wife's pressure transform battlefield success into a destructive pursuit of power.
Fog, wind, trees, and mist dominate the Spider's Web forest and castle environments in expressive black-and-white compositions.
Kurosawa adapts Macbeth into feudal Japan while drawing on the severe stylization and movement associated with Noh theater.
Films like Throne of Blood, and why
Macbeth
feudal power struggle, tragic ambition, supernatural prophecy, and stark visual composition
Harakiri
samurai drama, moral collapse, betrayal, and severe black-and-white formalism
Ran
warrior honor, doomed ambition, and monumental Japanese period filmmaking
The Seventh Seal
fatalistic supernatural atmosphere, psychological deterioration, and austere historical drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Akira Kurosawa
- Release Date
- 1957-01-15
- Runtime
- 108 min
- Rating
- 7.9 / 10 (1022)
Cast
- Toshirō Mifune
- Isuzu Yamada
- Takashi Shimura
- Akira Kubo
- Hiroshi Tachikawa
- Minoru Chiaki
- Takamaru Sasaki
- Gen Shimizu
- Kokuten Kōdō
- Kichijirō Ueda
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, HBO Max
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Throne of Blood about?
- A victorious samurai and his fiercely ambitious wife become ensnared in a prophecy that turns power into a fatal trap.
- What is Throne of Blood like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Throne of Blood as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Throne of Blood violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Throne of Blood as brutal.
- What did critics think of Throne of Blood?
- Critics broadly regard Kurosawa's highly cinematic, visually austere adaptation of Macbeth as a masterpiece and one of the strongest Shakespeare films.
- Which films are like Throne of Blood?
- Films with a similar feel include Macbeth, Harakiri, Ran, and The Seventh Seal.
- How long is Throne of Blood?
- Throne of Blood runs 108 minutes.
- Where can I watch Throne of Blood?
- In United States, Throne of Blood streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, HBO Max.
