Overview
A gripping portrayal of a pivotal moment in history, revealing the complexities of war and diplomacy.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Slow
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- sober
- foreboding
- clinical
- historical film night
- aviation movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly recognize the film's painstaking historical recreation, production scale, and vivid action sequences while finding its clinical, slow-moving approach emotionally distant.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film follows Japanese strike planning and American intelligence and command deliberations in parallel.
Japanese and American personnel receive substantial, comparatively balanced narrative space.
The Pearl Harbor attack and aviation sequences are presented through detailed period reconstruction and extensive practical production work.
Communications warnings and escalating tensions are shown against the audience's awareness that the attack is approaching.
Films like Tora! Tora! Tora!, and why
The Longest Day
large-scale, meticulously reconstructed World War II operations presented through multiple military perspectives
Midway
historical war drama focused on strategic decisions and command failures preceding a major Pacific conflict
A Bridge Too Far
serious ensemble war film balancing military planning with spectacular combat set pieces
Movie Details
- Directors
- Toshio Masuda, Kinji Fukasaku, Richard Fleischer
- Release Date
- 1970-01-26
- Runtime
- 144 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (628)
Cast
- Martin Balsam
- So Yamamura
- Jason Robards
- Joseph Cotten
- Tatsuya Mihashi
- E.G. Marshall
- Takahiro Tamura
- James Whitmore
- Eijirō Tōno
- Wesley Addy
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Tora! Tora! Tora! about?
- A meticulously reconstructed, dual-perspective war drama examines the strategic misjudgments and mounting tensions that culminate in the attack on Pearl Harbor.
- What is Tora! Tora! Tora! like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Tora! Tora! Tora! as slow, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Tora! Tora! Tora! violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Tora! Tora! Tora! as moderate.
- What did critics think of Tora! Tora! Tora!?
- Critics broadly recognize the film's painstaking historical recreation, production scale, and vivid action sequences while finding its clinical, slow-moving approach emotionally distant.
- Which films are like Tora! Tora! Tora!?
- Films with a similar feel include The Longest Day, Midway, and A Bridge Too Far.
- How long is Tora! Tora! Tora!?
- Tora! Tora! Tora! runs 144 minutes.
- Where can I watch Tora! Tora! Tora!?
- In United States, Tora! Tora! Tora! is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
