The Best Akira Kurosawa Movies, Ranked
55 credits from 1943 to 2019, ranked by the Movie Echo Score — a blend of critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. The biggest box office hit is Ran (1985) with $4.33M worldwide. Below: the best films by genre and by decade, the most awarded and the newest releases.
Biggest Akira Kurosawa Box Office Hits
Akira Kurosawa's films have made $12.5M worldwide in total. Ran (1985) is the biggest hit at $4.33M, ahead of Kagemusha (1980) ($4.02M). Lifetime grosses, with each film's domestic share.
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Ran 1985 · Action $4.33M $4.29M dom. - 2
Kagemusha 1980 · Drama $4.02M $4M dom. - 3
Dreams 1990 · Drama $2.97M $1.96M dom. - 4
Rhapsody in August 1991 · Drama $518K $516K dom. - 5
Rashomon 1951 · Drama $140K $46.8K dom. - 6
Yojimbo 1961 · Action $68.2K $46.8K dom. - 7
Sanjuro 1962 · Comedy $65.1K $46.8K dom. - 8
High and Low 1963 · Drama $64.5K $46.8K dom. - 9
Throne of Blood 1957 · History $61.1K $46.8K dom. - 10
The Hidden Fortress 1958 · Drama $57.7K $46.8K dom.
The Best Akira Kurosawa Movie in Every Genre
The best-rated film in each genre Akira Kurosawa has worked in, the genres with the most films first. Drama leads with 18 films, and Kagemusha (1980) is the pick of them.
The Best Akira Kurosawa Movie of Each Decade
One pick per decade of Akira Kurosawa's career, newest decade first: the best-rated film of each ten years, from 1940s to 1990s.
Most Awarded Akira Kurosawa Movies
Akira Kurosawa's films with wins at the Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA and the other ceremonies in the awards database, the most decorated first. Ran (1985) leads with 3 wins from 11 nominations.
The Latest Akira Kurosawa Movies
The most recent films Akira Kurosawa is credited on, newest first — starting with Madadayo (2000). Open any of them for the cast, ratings, box office and where to watch.
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Madadayo 2000 · Director -
Madadayo 1993 · Director - Rhapsody in August 1991 · Director
- Dreams 1990 · Director
- Ran 1985 · Director
- Kagemusha 1980 · Director
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Song of the Horse 1971 · Director -
Dodes’ka-den 1970 · Director -
Red Beard 1968 · Director - High and Low 1963 · Director
- Sanjuro 1962 · Director
- Yojimbo 1961 · Director
The Best Akira Kurosawa Movies: Questions & Answers
The best-rated, highest-grossing, most awarded and newest Akira Kurosawa films, answered from the rankings on this page.
What is the highest-grossing Akira Kurosawa movie?
Ran (1985) made the most at the box office, with $4.33M worldwide, followed by Kagemusha (1980) with $4.02M. Together, Akira Kurosawa's films with box office figures have made $12.5M.
Which Akira Kurosawa movie won the most awards?
Ran (1985) is the most decorated Akira Kurosawa film, with 3 wins from 11 nominations across the Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA and the other ceremonies in the awards database.
What is the best Akira Kurosawa drama movie?
Kagemusha (1980) is the best-rated of Akira Kurosawa's drama films. In other genres: Ran (action), The Bad Sleep Well (thriller) and Sanjuro (comedy).
What is the newest Akira Kurosawa movie?
The newest film on Akira Kurosawa's filmography is Babenco: Tell Me When I Die (2019), with Akira Kurosawa as Self (archive footage).
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