Sansho the Bailiff
“Without mercy, man is like a beast.”
In 11th-century feudal Japan, following the exile of an idealistic governor, his wife and children are separated by slave traders; the children, Zushio and Anju, are sold into brutal servitude under the cruel bailiff Sansho.
Where to watch Sansho the Bailiff in United States
Criterion Channel
Darkroom
Fawesome
Plex
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Fandango At HomeClick a service to open Sansho the Bailiff there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is Sansho the Bailiff streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Criterion Channel, Darkroom, Fawesome, Plex | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home |
| India | Plex | — |
| United Kingdom | Plex | Apple TV Store |
| Canada | Criterion Channel, Plex | Apple TV Store |
| Australia | Plex | — |
| Germany | Plex | — |
| France | Plex, Molotov TV | — |
| Spain | Filmin, Plex | — |
| Brazil | Belas Artes à La Carte, Plex | — |
| Japan | KADOKAWA channel Amazon Channel, Plex | — |
About Sansho the Bailiff
Sansho the Bailiff is a 1954 Japanese-language drama film directed by Kenji Mizoguchi. The cast is led by Kinuyo Tanaka, Yoshiaki Hanayagi, Kyōko Kagawa. It has a runtime of 2h 4m. Viewers rate it 8.1/10 across 400 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on Criterion Channel, Darkroom, Fawesome.
Sansho the Bailiff was produced by Daiei Film and made in Japan. It was released on March 31, 1954.
- Director
- Kenji Mizoguchi
- Writers
- Fuji Yahiro, Yoshikata Yoda
- Release date
- March 31, 1954
- Original language
- Japanese
- Status
- Released
- Country
- Japan
- Production
- Daiei Film
Sansho the Bailiff cast & crew
Sansho the Bailiff was directed by Kenji Mizoguchi and written by Fuji Yahiro and Yoshikata Yoda.
The cast features Kinuyo Tanaka as Tamaki, Yoshiaki Hanayagi as Zushiô, Kyōko Kagawa as Anju, Eitarō Shindō as Sanshô dayû, Ichirō Sugai as Minister of Justice, and Bontarō Miake as Kichiji.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Fumio Hayasaka, cinematography is by Kazuo Miyagawa, and it was produced by Masaichi Nagata.
Is Sansho the Bailiff worth watching?
Sansho the Bailiff holds an audience score of 8.1/10 from 423 ratings, ranking it among the most acclaimed drama films.
At 2h 4m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy drama, Sansho the Bailiff is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch Sansho the Bailiff
In United States, you can stream Sansho the Bailiff on Criterion Channel, Darkroom, Fawesome, and Plex, 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.
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Cast of Sansho the Bailiff
Kinuyo Tanaka
Tamaki
Yoshiaki Hanayagi
Zushiô
Kyōko Kagawa
Anju
Eitarō Shindō
Sanshô dayû
Ichirō Sugai
Minister of Justice
Bontarō Miake
Kichiji
Yōko Kozono
Kohagi
Chieko Naniwa
Ubatake
Kikue Mōri
Priestess
Ken Mitsuda
Prime Minister Fujiwara
Masao Shimizu
Masauji Taira
Ryōsuke Kagawa
Ritsushi Kumotake
Sansho the Bailiff — FAQs
▸Where can I watch Sansho the Bailiff in United States?
Sansho the Bailiff is streaming on Criterion Channel, Darkroom, Fawesome, Plex in United States.
▸Is Sansho the Bailiff on Criterion Channel?
Yes — Sansho the Bailiff is currently available on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸What language is Sansho the Bailiff in?
Sansho the Bailiff is originally in Japanese. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is Sansho the Bailiff?
Sansho the Bailiff runs 2 hours 4 minutes (124 minutes).
▸What is Sansho the Bailiff rated?
It holds a 8.1/10 audience score from 423 ratings.
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