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The Samurai and the Prisoner

Play trailer 2:09 Poster for The Samurai and the Prisoner Now Playing 2h 27m Mystery & Thriller Drama Crime Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 36 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
When Lord Murashige Araki (Masahiro Motoki) rises up against the tyrannical Nobunaga Oda (Bando Shingo), he finds himself besieged within the walls of his own castle. Isolated, he is confronted with a series of mysterious crimes that shatter the fragile order of his court, plunging the fortress into fear and suspicion. With Oda's army closing in and a traitor hiding among his ranks, Murashige is forced into an uneasy alliance with Kanbei Kuroda (Masaki Suda), a brilliant yet dangerous strategist held prisoner in the dungeon. Helped by his wife Chiyoho (Yuriko Yoshitaka) and his most loyal generals, Murashige must uncover the truth before the castle falls.
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The Samurai and the Prisoner

Critics Reviews

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Ben Kenigsberg New York Times 12h
What emerges is a samurai picture that feels simultaneously classical and modern, austere and capacious, familiar and surprising. Go to Full Review Tim Grierson Los Angeles Times 12h
And to be sure, “The Samurai and the Prisoner” can be a bit languid as its stretches to nearly two-and-a-half hours. But the film connects to his oeuvre in its recognition of humanity’s limitations. Go to Full Review Nick Schager The Daily Beast 23h
Intricate, enthralling, and as psychologically rich as his best work, it’s another feather in the illustrious artist’s cap. Go to Full Review Jeanne Kaplan Kaplan vs. Kaplan 6h
THE SAMURAI AND THE PRISONER is definitely performance driven with Masahiro Motoki leading the cast. For those who are ardent fans of this period in Japanese history, Kurosawa’s film should not be missed. Go to Full Review David Kaplan Kaplan vs. Kaplan 6h
Kiyoshi Kurosawa has crafted an intriguing film that international audiences will find fascinating. The film’s appeal will certainly generate comparisons to modern wartime strategies. Go to Full Review Robert Denerstein Denerstein Unleashed 13h
The Samurai and the Prisoner boasts fine performances, an unwavering commitment to dialogue, and what appears to be careful period detailing. But as the movie wore on, I wondered whether Yonezawa's book...might have worked better on the page. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
The Samurai and the Prisoner

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Cast & Crew

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Kiyoshi Kurosawa

Director

Masahiro Motoki

Murashige Araki

Masaki Suda

Kambee Kuroda

Yuriko Yoshitaka

Chiyoho

Munetaka Aoki

Kyuzaemon Araki

Shingo Bando

Nobunaga Oda
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The Samurai and the Prisoner

The Samurai and the Prisoner: Trailer 1 The Samurai and the Prisoner: Trailer 1 2:09 View more videos
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The Samurai and the Prisoner

The Samurai and the Prisoner (2026) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When Lord Murashige Araki (Masahiro Motoki) rises up against the tyrannical Nobunaga Oda (Bando Shingo), he finds himself besieged within the walls of his own castle. Isolated, he is confronted with a series of mysterious crimes that shatter the fragile order of his court, plunging the fortress into fear and suspicion. With Oda's army closing in and a traitor hiding among his ranks, Murashige is forced into an uneasy alliance with Kanbei Kuroda (Masaki Suda), a brilliant yet dangerous strategist held prisoner in the dungeon. Helped by his wife Chiyoho (Yuriko Yoshitaka) and his most loyal generals, Murashige must uncover the truth before the castle falls.
Director
Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Producer
Satoko Ishida
Screenwriter
Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Distributor
Janus Films
Production Co
Shochiku, Tokyo Broadcasting System
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Drama, Crime
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 31, 2026, Limited
Runtime
2h 27m