Rotten Tomatoes
Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

The Samurai and the Prisoner

Play trailer The Samurai and the Prisoner 2026 2h 27m Drama Mystery & Thriller Crime Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
92% Tomatometer 13 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Ratings
When Lord Murashige Araki rises up against the tyrannical Nobunaga Oda, 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, a brilliant yet dangerous strategist held prisoner in the dungeon. Helped by his wife Chiyoho and his most loyal generals, Murashige must uncover the truth before the castle falls.

Critics Reviews

View More
Rory Doherty AV Club 3d
B+
There’s an openness to Muragishe...that Kurosawa admires, something fairly rare in his dark, disorientating filmography. It’s this admiration...that makes The Samurai And The Prisoner a delightful detour for the genre master. Go to Full Review Jessica Kiang Variety 3d
Kurosawa’s highly entertaining adaptation knows that just because you are chained does not make you a prisoner, any more than having wealth and power can reliably make you free. Go to Full Review Brian Tallerico RogerEbert.com 4d
4/4
Kurosawa has made one of his best films, a work that feels a bit like Agatha Christie, a bit like Shakespeare, and even a bit like Samurai Columbo. Go to Full Review Leonardo Goi The Film Stage 1d
Kurosawa finds in Murashige a formidable analog; anchored as it may be to a rich, illustrious cinematic lineage, The Samurai and the Prisoner feels at once retro and rebellious—a loving tribute from one disruptor to another. Go to Full Review Sean Boelman FandomWire 1d
7/10
The Samurai and the Prisoner is an impressive first outing for Kiyoshi Kurosawa into the jidaigeki genre, boasting impressive production values and Kurosawa’s characteristically excellent command of tension. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

View All

Kiyoshi Kurosawa

Director

Masahiro Motoki

Actor

Masaki Suda

Actor

Yuriko Yoshitaka

Actor

Munetaka Aoki

Actor

Ryota Miyadate

Actor
View All

The Samurai and the Prisoner

View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When Lord Murashige Araki rises up against the tyrannical Nobunaga Oda, 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, a brilliant yet dangerous strategist held prisoner in the dungeon. Helped by his wife Chiyoho and his most loyal generals, Murashige must uncover the truth before the castle falls.
Director
Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Producer
Satoko Ishida
Screenwriter
Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Production Co
Shochiku, Tokyo Broadcasting System
Genre
Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Crime
Original Language
Japanese
Runtime
2h 27m