Yojimbo (1961): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Yojimbo is a 1961 action thriller directed by Akira Kurosawa, starring Seizaburô Kawazu, Isuzu Yamada and Daisuke Katô. It is inspired by Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett and S. A. Cosby. It runs 1 hour 50 minutes and earned $68,196 worldwide. It was nominated for 1 Oscar. Critics gave it 93 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.2/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 50m (110 min)
- Director
- Akira Kurosawa
- Original language
-
Japanese - Studio
- Toho Company
- Inspired by
- Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett and S. A. Cosby
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Yojimbo About?
The premise of Yojimbo without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
During the turbulent era of feudal Japan, a mysterious ronin encounters a town fractured by conflict between rival merchants. Posing as a bodyguard named Sanjuro Kuwabatake, the lone samurai subtly influences the power struggle between silk merchant Tazaemon and sake merchant Tokuemon. He cleverly exploits their greed and ambition, orchestrating a violent and chaotic gang war as he navigates the dangerous landscape and seeks his own reward.
Yojimbo Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- samurai
- gang war
- tough guy
- revolver
- bodyguard
- small town
- mother son reunion
- rivalry
- 19th century
- ronin
- swordsman
- showdown
+38 more Show fewer
- one man army
- one against many
- man with no name
- anti hero
- double cross
- betrayal
- mercenary
- sword fight
- year 1860
- gangster
- heroic outlaw
- outlaw gang
- vigilantism
- corrupt cop
- gratitude
- husband wife reunion
- woman in jeopardy
- mistress
- corruption
- shot to death
- old man
- courage
- crime boss
- massacre
- 1860s
- gang
- japan
- fight
- arm cut off
- disarming someone
- duel
- one word title
- good versus evil
- samurai warrior
- ravaged town
- righteous rage
- kindness
- honor
Yojimbo Cast
Seizaburô Kawazu leads the cast, with Isuzu Yamada and Daisuke Katô. Directed by Akira Kurosawa; 10 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Akira Kurosawa
Also Starring in Yojimbo
· 6 moreMore from Akira Kurosawa
More films directed by Akira Kurosawa, best-rated first: Seven Samurai, Rashomon, Ran and High and Low.
Yojimbo Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Yojimbo 93 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.2/10.
-
IMDb 8.2 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 93 Metascore
User score 8.1
See on Metacritic
Yojimbo Plot Summary
What happens in Yojimbo from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the late 19th century, a wandering ronin, portrayed by Toshiro Mifune, travels along a dusty road and stumbles upon a house. Seeking a drink from the well, he encounters a man who is busy chastising his son for wanting to escape a life of “eating gruel” by joining a nearby gang of gamblers. When the son departs, the father insults the ronin, claiming that he attracts trouble when “they smell blood.”
Full summary
The whole story of Yojimbo, scene by scene
Yojimbo Box Office
Yojimbo grossed $68,196 worldwide. $46,808 came from the US and Canada and $5,474 (10%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$68.2K
- US & Canada
- $46.8K
- International
- $5.5K
Yojimbo Awards & Nominations
Yojimbo was nominated for 1 Oscar.
1 nomination1 ceremony
-
Oscars 1962 1 nomination- Nominated Costume Design (Black-and-White)
How Well Do You Know Yojimbo?
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
What is the main profession of the protagonist, Sanjuro Kuwabatake?
Yojimbo Also Known As
32 alternative titles, including “The Bodyguard” and “Yojimbo – O Guarda-Costas”.
- Also known as
-
- The Bodyguard
- Yojimbo – O Guarda-Costas
- Ochránce
- El mercenario
- Yôjinbô
- Jodžimbo
- Телесна стража
- Yojimbo, der Leibwächter
- Die Leibwache
- Yojimbo - Der Leibwächter
- Le Garde du corps
- La sfida del samurai
+20 more Show fewer
- Телохранитель
- Straż przyboczna
- Yojimbo (El mercenario)
- Tělesná stráž
- Yojimbo, o Invencível
- A testőr
- Γιοζίμπο
- יוג'ימבו
- 요짐보
- Охоронець
- Yojimbo, o Guarda-Costas
- Yojimbo - Livvakten
- Yojimbo – Onnensoturi
- یوجیمبو
- Livvagten
- Asmens sargybinis
- Телохранител
- 大鏢客, მცველი
- โยจิมโบ
- Mercenari
Seen Yojimbo?
Movies Like Yojimbo
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Sanjuro, The Yakuza and The Twilight Samurai.
-
Sanjuro 1962 -
The Yakuza 1974 -
The Twilight Samurai 2004 -
Samurai Wolf 1966 -
Samurai Assassin 1965 -
47 Ronin 2013 -
The Shogun Assassins 1979 -
Zatoichi the Outlaw 1967 -
13 Assassins 2011 -
Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman 1971 -
Three Outlaw Samurai 1964 -
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima 1973
Yojimbo FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Yojimbo, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Yojimbo?
Yojimbo runs 1 hour 50 minutes (110 minutes).
When was Yojimbo released?
Yojimbo was released on September 13, 1961.
Who directed Yojimbo?
Yojimbo was directed by Akira Kurosawa.
More films by Akira Kurosawa Who is in the cast of Yojimbo?
Yojimbo stars Seizaburô Kawazu, Isuzu Yamada and Daisuke Katô, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Yojimbo make at the box office?
Yojimbo grossed $68,196 worldwide ($46,808 domestic, $5,474 international).
How is Yojimbo rated?
Yojimbo has 8.2/10 on IMDb and 93 on Metacritic.
Was Yojimbo nominated for any awards?
Yojimbo received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.
Does Yojimbo have a post-credit scene?
No. Yojimbo has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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