Ran (1985): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Ran is a 1985 action drama directed by Akira Kurosawa, starring Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao and Jinpachi Nezu. It is based on King Lear by William Shakespeare and Stephen Orgel. It runs 2 hours 42 minutes and earned $4.3 million worldwide on a $11.5 million budget. It won 1 Oscar, including Costume Design, and 3 awards in all. Critics gave it 97 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.2/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 42m (162 min)
- Director
- Akira Kurosawa
- Original language
-
Japanese - Studio
- Orion Classics
- Budget
- $11.5M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Ran About?
The premise of Ran without spoilers, adapted from King Lear by William Shakespeare and Stephen Orgel. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
As the aging Lord Hidetora Ichimonji prepares to retire, he divides his realm among his three sons, Taro, Jiro, and Saburo. However, when Saburo challenges the established order, he is banished, triggering a devastating conflict for control of the land. The ensuing power struggle ignites a bloody war, testing the bonds of family and ultimately leading to a tragic and violent resolution as only one heir will survive.
Ran Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- nihilism
- samurai
- castle
- sibling rivalry
- battle
- struggle for power
- abdication
- intrigue
- rivalry
- advisor
- japanese castle
- warlord
+38 more Show fewer
- power
- japanese
- horseback riding
- widow
- treachery
- sorrow
- insanity
- hunter
- hatred
- father in law daughter in law relationship
- despair
- japan
- siege
- mental breakdown
- loyalty
- cavalry
- brother brother relationship
- banishment
- feudal japan
- betrayal
- shakespeare's king lear
- father son relationship
- heir
- misanthropy
- pessimism
- hopelessness
- meddling
- power hungry
- procession
- keep
- wish for power
- surprise
- jester
- truth to power
- lord
- lady
- power transfer
- living will
Ran Cast
Tatsuya Nakadai leads the cast, with Akira Terao and Jinpachi Nezu. Directed by Akira Kurosawa; 4 actors are credited in all.
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Director Akira Kurosawa
More from Akira Kurosawa
More films directed by Akira Kurosawa, best-rated first: Seven Samurai, Rashomon, High and Low and Ikiru.
Ran Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Ran 97 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.2/10.
-
IMDb 8.2 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 97 Metascore
User score 8.6
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 81% User score
See on TMDB
Ran Plot Summary
What happens in Ran from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Tatsuya Nakadai portrays Hidetora Ichimonji, a powerful but aging warlord who makes a sweeping decision to divide his once vast kingdom among his three sons: Akira Terao as Taro, Daisuke Ryū as Jiro, and Jinpachi Nezu as Saburo. In a bid to keep the realm stable, Hidetora also retains the title of Great Lord, while he asks his elder sons to back Taro’s leadership. Yet the fragile balance shatters when Saburo openly scorns the plan, earning himself exile, and Tango, a loyal retainer, is banished for defending Saburo. The opening act settles into a tense, uneasy peace that foreshadows betrayal and tragedy on an epic scale.
Full summary
The whole story of Ran, scene by scene
Ran Box Office & Budget
Ran grossed $4.3 million worldwide on a $11.5 million budget, 38% of what it cost. $4.3 million came from the US and Canada and $28,490 (1%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$4.3M
38% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $4.3M
- International
- $28.5K
- Budget
- $11.5M
Ran Awards & Nominations
Ran won 1 Oscar, including Costume Design, and 3 awards in all. Its biggest night was the BAFTA 1987, with 2 wins from 6 nominations.
3 wins11 nominations3 ceremonies
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BAFTA 1987 2 wins · 6 nominations- Won Best Film Not in the English Language – Akira Kurosawa
- Won Best Makeup and Hair
- Nominated Best Adapted Screenplay – Akira Kurosawa
- Nominated Best Cinematography
- Nominated Best Costume Design
-
Oscars 1986 1 win · 4 nominations- Won Costume Design
- Nominated Art Direction
- Nominated Cinematography
- Nominated Directing – Akira Kurosawa
-
Spirit Awards 1986 1 nomination- Nominated Best International Film
Ran Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Ran.
How Well Do You Know Ran?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor portrays the aging warlord Hidetora Ichimonji?
Ran Also Known As
15 alternative titles, including “Revolt” and “亂”.
- Also known as
-
- Revolt
- 亂
- 亂(1985)
- Ռան
- Ран
- Ραν
- Káosz
- ראן
- 란
- Kaos
- آشوب
- Ran - Os Senhores da Guerra
+3 more Show fewer
- Nesantaika
- Lãnh Chúa Hidetora, რანი
- ศึกบัลลังก์เลือด
Seen Ran?
Movies Like Ran
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Samurai Marathon, Harakiri and Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai.
Ran FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of Ran, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Ran?
Ran runs 2 hours 42 minutes (162 minutes).
When was Ran released?
Ran was released on December 20, 1985.
Who directed Ran?
Ran was directed by Akira Kurosawa.
More films by Akira Kurosawa Who is in the cast of Ran?
Ran stars Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao and Jinpachi Nezu, among 4 credited actors.
How much did Ran make at the box office?
Ran grossed $4.3 million worldwide ($4.3 million domestic, $28,490 international) on a budget of $11.5 million.
How is Ran rated?
Ran has 8.2/10 on IMDb, 97 on Metacritic and 81% on TMDB.
Is Ran based on a book?
Yes. Ran is adapted from King Lear by William Shakespeare and Stephen Orgel.
What awards did Ran win?
Ran won 3 awards from 11 nominations, including Best Film Not in the English Language at the BAFTA 1987.
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