Red Sun
A Japanese samurai and a betrayed gunslinger form an uneasy alliance to recover a stolen diplomatic sword across the Wild West.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- swashbuckling
- witty
- adventurous
- classic western night
- action movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly recognize the film as an entertaining fusion of western and samurai conventions, though its execution receives mixed assessments.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Kuroda Jubei pursues a stolen katana through the American West alongside a betrayed outlaw.
The Japanese bodyguard and the abandoned gang leader cooperate despite opposing backgrounds and motives.
The ancient sword intended as a diplomatic gift motivates Jubei's pursuit of the robbers.
The train robbery and subsequent chase place the characters within broad Wild West locations and action set pieces.
Films like Red Sun, and why
The Magnificent Seven
shared western setting, outlaw partnerships, train robbery energy, and cross-cultural action-adventure premise
Yojimbo
shared samurai-western fusion, stylized duels, and culture-clash adventure
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
shared frontier action, charismatic antiheroes, and breezy outlaw camaraderie
The Mandalorian
shared east-meets-west genre hybrid, revenge-driven partnership, and martial-arts western spectacle
Movie Details
- Director
- Terence Young
- Release Date
- 1971-09-15
- Runtime
- 114 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (331)
Cast
- Charles Bronson
- Ursula Andress
- Toshirō Mifune
- Alain Delon
- Capucine
- Barta Barri
- Guido Lollobrigida
- Anthony Dawson
- Gianni Medici
- Georges Lycan
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV
- 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 Red Sun about?
- A Japanese samurai and a betrayed gunslinger form an uneasy alliance to recover a stolen diplomatic sword across the Wild West.
- What is Red Sun like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Red Sun as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Red Sun violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Red Sun as mild.
- What did critics think of Red Sun?
- Critics broadly recognize the film as an entertaining fusion of western and samurai conventions, though its execution receives mixed assessments.
- Which films are like Red Sun?
- Films with a similar feel include The Magnificent Seven, Yojimbo, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and The Mandalorian.
- How long is Red Sun?
- Red Sun runs 114 minutes.
- Where can I watch Red Sun?
- In United States, Red Sun streams on fuboTV.
