The Last Samurai (2003) poster1

Japan10 Movies Set in or About JapanStop 1 of 10

The Last Samurai

2003 · 154 min · Drama

A haunted American officer hired to modernize the Japanese army is captured by the very samurai he was meant to crush, and comes to embrace their vanishing code of honor. A sweeping historical epic.

Why it’s here

A Meiji-era Japan story built around imperial modernization and samurai myth.

Runtime
154 min
Genre
Drama · Action · War
Mood
tense · thoughtful · dark
Entry
some context
Best for
first visit

Content notes: war or political violence · violence or threat · substance use Non-exhaustive

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Part of 10 Movies Set in or About Japan

This film is stop 1 of 10 in the hand-ranked outside-view route set in or about Japan. See the complete ranking or read the selection methodology.

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