Sanjuro
“You cut well, but the best sword stays in its sheath!”
In this companion piece and sequel to "Yojimbo," jaded samurai Sanjuro helps an idealistic group of young warriors weed out their clan's evil influences, and in the process turns their image of a proper samurai on its ear.
Where to watch Sanjuro in United States
Criterion Channel
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Fandango At HomeClick a service to open Sanjuro there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is Sanjuro streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Criterion Channel | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home |
| United Kingdom | BFI Player, BFI Player Amazon Channel, BFI Player Apple TV Channel | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| Canada | Criterion Channel | Apple TV Store |
| Australia | — | Apple TV Store |
| France | — | LaCinetek |
| Spain | Filmin, Acontra Plus, Acontra Plus Amazon Channel | Acontra Plus |
| Japan | U-NEXT | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| South Korea | — | Google Play Movies |
About Sanjuro
Sanjuro is a 1962 Japanese-language drama, action and comedy film directed by Akira Kurosawa. The cast is led by Toshirō Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai, Keiju Kobayashi. It has a runtime of 1h 36m. Viewers rate it 7.9/10 across 700 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.
Sanjuro was produced by TOHO and made in Japan. It was released on January 1, 1962, and carries a NR certification.
- Director
- Akira Kurosawa
- Writers
- Ryuzo Kikushima, Akira Kurosawa, Hideo Oguni
- Release date
- January 1, 1962
- Original language
- Japanese
- Age rating
- NR
- Status
- Released
- Country
- Japan
- Production
- TOHO
Sanjuro cast & crew
Sanjuro was directed by Akira Kurosawa and written by Ryuzo Kikushima, Akira Kurosawa, and Hideo Oguni.
The cast features Toshirō Mifune as Sanjûrô Tsubaki / The ronin, Tatsuya Nakadai as Hanbei Muroto, Keiju Kobayashi as The Spy, Yūzō Kayama as Iori Izaka, Reiko Dan as Chidori, Mutsuta's daughter, and Takashi Shimura as Kurofuji.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Masaru Satō, cinematography is by Fukuzo Koizumi, and it was produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka and Ryuzo Kikushima.
Is Sanjuro worth watching?
Sanjuro holds an audience score of 7.9/10 from 721 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed drama films.
At 1h 36m, it's an easy, time-light watch.
If you enjoy drama, action, and comedy, Sanjuro is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch Sanjuro
In United States, you can stream Sanjuro on Criterion Channel, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home. Click any service above to open it directly.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
Rate & review
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Cast of Sanjuro
Toshirō Mifune
Sanjûrô Tsubaki / The ronin
Tatsuya Nakadai
Hanbei Muroto
Keiju Kobayashi
The Spy
Yūzō Kayama
Iori Izaka
Reiko Dan
Chidori, Mutsuta's daughter
Takashi Shimura
Kurofuji
Kamatari Fujiwara
Takebayashi
Takako Irie
Mutsuta's wife
Masao Shimizu
Kikui
Yūnosuke Itō
Mutsuta, the Chamberlain
Akira Kubo
Samurai
Hiroshi Tachikawa
Samurai
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Sanjuro — FAQs
▸Where can I watch Sanjuro in United States?
Sanjuro is streaming on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸Is Sanjuro on Criterion Channel?
Yes — Sanjuro is currently available on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸What language is Sanjuro in?
Sanjuro is originally in Japanese. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is Sanjuro?
Sanjuro runs 1 hours 36 minutes (96 minutes).
▸What is Sanjuro rated?
Sanjuro is rated NR. It holds a 7.9/10 audience score from 721 ratings.
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