Actor

Masatoshi Nagase: Movies & Box Office

films: 84
as director: 1
on screen: 1983–2025
box office: $186M
average score: 82

Born: July 15, 1966 (age 60)
Birthplace: Miyakonojō, Miyazaki, Japan
Citizenship: Japan
Occupations: Actor, Singer
Years active: 1983-present
Spouses: Kyōko Koizumi

Known for

The Best Masatoshi Nagase Movies

The highest-rated films Masatoshi Nagase is credited on, by the Movie Echo Score that blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. They Say Nothing Stays the Same (2019) scores highest, at 88. The full ranking adds the biggest box office hits and the most awarded films.

Full ranking

Career at a glance

Masatoshi Nagase's Career in Numbers

Masatoshi Nagase's films in numbers — as an actor, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Masatoshi Nagase works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from P. P. Rider (1983) to The Box Man (2025), and the 2000s were the busiest decade.

Masatoshi Nagase Movies by Decade

1980s 3
1990s 14
2000s 24
2010s 22
2020s 21

The 2000s were Masatoshi Nagase's busiest decade, with 24 films.

Masatoshi Nagase Movies by Genre

Drama 49
Comedy 10
Romance 6
Crime 4
History 4
Mystery 2
Thriller 2
Action 2
Music 1
Fantasy 1

Drama is the genre Masatoshi Nagase has worked in most, with 49 films, ahead of comedy (10).

Masatoshi Nagase Career Milestones

First film: P. P. Rider 1983
Biggest box office hit: Kokuho $135M worldwide
Best-rated film: They Say Nothing Stays the Same Movie Echo Score 88
Newest film: The Box Man 2025

84 credits

Masatoshi Nagase Filmography: Every Movie

Every film Masatoshi Nagase is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. 1 as director and 83 as actor. Rated films average a score of 82. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.

Movies Directed by Masatoshi Nagase

2004 The Thirsty Flower: Four by Four Equals One

Masatoshi Nagase Movies as an Actor

Biography

Who Is Masatoshi Nagase?

Masatoshi Nagase was born in Miyakonojō, Miyazaki, Japan in 1966 and is 60 years old. Credited on films since 1983, as an actor. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.

Masatoshi Nagase (born July 15, 1966) is a well-recognized Japanese actor and singer, credited with a wealth of roles in both Japanese film and International productions. He first rose to prominence in the West largely due to his performances in Friðrik Þór Friðriksson's Cold Fever and Jim Jarmusch's Mystery Train. With a career kicking off in 1983, Nagase has been in the limelight for more than three decades and is still currently active. Insightful film critic Todd Brown aptly described him as one of the 'great unsung heroes of Japanese film'- a testament to Nagase's extensive and rich contributions to cinema.

Nagase's remarkable filmography spans myriad genres and styles - from co-starring in Mystery Train alongside Youki Kudoh, to leading roles in films like Sion Sono's Suicide Club, Yoji Yamada's The Hidden Blade, and Shinji Aoyama's Mike Yokohama: A Forest with No Name. An exceptional testament to his acting dynamics and versatility. Masatoshi Nagase has bagged multiple awards and accolades for his acting prowess across his career, including Best Actor at the 37th Yokohama Film Festival, the 1992 Japanese Academy Awards, amongst others.

Works with

Who Masatoshi Nagase Makes Movies With

The actors and directors Masatoshi Nagase shares the most films with. Tadanobu Asano comes first, with 10 films together, followed by Akira Emoto (7).

FAQ

Masatoshi Nagase: Questions & Answers

How many movies Masatoshi Nagase has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.

How many movies has Masatoshi Nagase been in?

Masatoshi Nagase is credited on 84 films, from 1983 to 2025. 83 of them as an actor and 1 as a director. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.

What is Masatoshi Nagase's highest-grossing movie?

Kokuho (2025) is Masatoshi Nagase's biggest box office hit, with $135M worldwide, ahead of 64: Part 2 (2016) ($15.6M). Across every film with box office figures, Masatoshi Nagase's movies have made $186M.

Masatoshi Nagase's biggest hits

What is the best Masatoshi Nagase movie?

By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, Masatoshi Nagase's best-rated film is They Say Nothing Stays the Same (2019) with a score of 88, followed by They Say Nothing Stays the Same (2021) (87).

Best Masatoshi Nagase movies, ranked

How old is Masatoshi Nagase?

Masatoshi Nagase is 60 years old, born on July 15, 1966 in Miyakonojō, Miyazaki, Japan.

What is Masatoshi Nagase's newest movie?

The most recent film on Masatoshi Nagase's filmography is Kokuho (2025), in the role of Gongoro Tachibana.

Who does Masatoshi Nagase work with most often?

Masatoshi Nagase shares the most films with Tadanobu Asano (10 films), Akira Emoto (7 films) and Jun Kunimura (5 films).

The Best Masatoshi Nagase Movies, Ranked

Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 84 credits.

See the ranking

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