Sword of the Beast
Legendary swordplay filmmaker Hideo Gosha's Sword of the Beast chronicles the flight of the low-level swordsman Gennosuke, who kills one of his ministers as part of a reform plot. His former comrades then turn on him, and this betrayal so shakes his sense of honor that he decides to live in the wild, like an animal. There he joins up with a motley group who are illegally mining the shogun’s gold, and, with the aid of another swordsman, gets a chance not just at survival but to recover his name and honor.
Where to watch Sword of the Beast in United States
Criterion ChannelClick a service to open Sword of the Beast there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is Sword of the Beast streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Criterion Channel | — |
| Canada | Criterion Channel | — |
| Germany | AVA VOBB, AVA HBZ | — |
| Japan | Hulu, FOD Channel Amazon Channel, Plus Shochiku Amazon Channel, FOD | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
About Sword of the Beast
Sword of the Beast is a 1965 Japanese-language action and drama film directed by Hideo Gosha. The cast is led by Mikijiro Hira, Gō Katō, Shima Iwashita. It has a runtime of 1h 25m. Viewers rate it 7.5/10 across 100 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.
Sword of the Beast was produced by Haiyuza Theater Company and Shochiku and made in Japan. It was released on September 18, 1965.
- Director
- Hideo Gosha
- Writers
- Hideo Gosha, Eizaburo Shiba
- Release date
- September 18, 1965
- Original language
- Japanese
- Status
- Released
- Country
- Japan
- Production
- Haiyuza Theater Company, Shochiku
Sword of the Beast cast & crew
Sword of the Beast was directed by Hideo Gosha and written by Hideo Gosha and Eizaburo Shiba.
The cast features Mikijiro Hira as Yuuki Gennosuke, Gō Katō as Jurata Yamane, Shima Iwashita as Taka, Kunie Tanaka as Tanji, Eijirō Tōno as Minister, and Toshie Kimura as Misa.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Toshiaki Tsushima and it was produced by Gin'ichi Kishimoto and Masayuki Satō.
Is Sword of the Beast worth watching?
Sword of the Beast holds an audience score of 7.5/10 from 75 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed action films.
At 1h 25m, it's an easy, time-light watch.
If you enjoy action and drama, Sword of the Beast is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch Sword of the Beast
In United States, you can stream Sword of the Beast on Criterion Channel. 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 Sword of the Beast
Mikijiro Hira
Yuuki Gennosuke
Gō Katō
Jurata Yamane
Shima Iwashita
Taka
Kunie Tanaka
Tanji
Eijirō Tōno
Minister
Toshie Kimura
Misa
Kantarō Suga
Daizaburo
Yōko Mihara
Osen
Shigeru Amachi
Vice-Counselor
Torahiko Hamada
Hajime Araki
Tsuyoshi Date
Sword of the Beast — FAQs
▸Where can I watch Sword of the Beast in United States?
Sword of the Beast is streaming on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸Is Sword of the Beast on Criterion Channel?
Yes — Sword of the Beast is currently available on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸What language is Sword of the Beast in?
Sword of the Beast is originally in Japanese. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is Sword of the Beast?
Sword of the Beast runs 1 hours 25 minutes (85 minutes).
▸What is Sword of the Beast rated?
It holds a 7.5/10 audience score from 75 ratings.
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