The Bad Sleep Well
In this loose adaptation of "Hamlet," illegitimate son Kôichi Nishi climbs to a high position within a Japanese corporation and marries the crippled daughter of company vice president Iwabuchi. At the reception, the wedding cake is a replica of their corporate headquarters, but an aspect of the design reminds the party of the hushed-up death of Nishi's father. It is then that Nishi unleashes his plan to avenge his father's death.
Where to watch The Bad Sleep Well in United States
Criterion ChannelClick a service to open The Bad Sleep Well there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is The Bad Sleep Well streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Criterion Channel | — |
| United Kingdom | BFI Player | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| Canada | Criterion Channel | — |
| France | — | Canal VOD, Sooner |
| Spain | Filmin | — |
| Japan | U-NEXT | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
About The Bad Sleep Well
The Bad Sleep Well is a 1960 Japanese-language crime, drama and thriller film directed by Akira Kurosawa. The cast is led by Toshirō Mifune, Masayuki Mori, Kamatari Fujiwara. It has a runtime of 2h 30m. Viewers rate it 7.7/10 across 300 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.
The Bad Sleep Well was produced by TOHO and Kurosawa Production and made in Japan. It was released on September 19, 1960. Made on a budget of about $0 million, it went on to gross $0 million worldwide.
- Director
- Akira Kurosawa
- Writers
- Hideo Oguni, Akira Kurosawa, Ryuzo Kikushima
- Release date
- September 19, 1960
- Original language
- Japanese
- Status
- Released
- Country
- Japan
- Budget
- $0 million
- Box office
- $0 million
- Production
- TOHO, Kurosawa Production
The Bad Sleep Well cast & crew
The Bad Sleep Well was directed by Akira Kurosawa and written by Hideo Oguni, Akira Kurosawa, and Ryuzo Kikushima.
The cast features Toshirō Mifune as Kôichi Nishi, Masayuki Mori as Public Corporation Vice President Iwabuchi, Kamatari Fujiwara as Assistant-to-the-Chief Wada, Takeshi Katō as Itakura, Kyōko Kagawa as Yoshiko Nishi, and Tatsuya Mihashi as Tatsuo Iwabuchi.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Masaru Satō, cinematography is by Yuzuru Aizawa, and it was produced by Akira Kurosawa and Tomoyuki Tanaka.
Is The Bad Sleep Well worth watching?
The Bad Sleep Well holds an audience score of 7.7/10 from 283 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed crime films.
At 2h 30m, it's a full-evening commitment.
If you enjoy crime, drama, and thriller, The Bad Sleep Well is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch The Bad Sleep Well
In United States, you can stream The Bad Sleep Well 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.
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Cast of The Bad Sleep Well
Toshirō Mifune
Kôichi Nishi
Masayuki Mori
Public Corporation Vice President Iwabuchi
Kamatari Fujiwara
Assistant-to-the-Chief Wada
Takeshi Katō
Itakura
Kyōko Kagawa
Yoshiko Nishi
Tatsuya Mihashi
Tatsuo Iwabuchi
Takashi Shimura
Administrative Officer Moriyama
Kō Nishimura
Contract Officer Shirai
Kyū Sazanka
Construction Company Executive Director Kaneko
Someshō Matsumoto
Construction Company President Hatano
Gen Shimizu
Managing Director Miura
Atsuko Ichinomiya
Mrs. Ariyama
The Bad Sleep Well — FAQs
▸Where can I watch The Bad Sleep Well in United States?
The Bad Sleep Well is streaming on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸Is The Bad Sleep Well on Criterion Channel?
Yes — The Bad Sleep Well is currently available on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸What language is The Bad Sleep Well in?
The Bad Sleep Well is originally in Japanese. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is The Bad Sleep Well?
The Bad Sleep Well runs 2 hours 30 minutes (150 minutes).
▸What is The Bad Sleep Well rated?
It holds a 7.7/10 audience score from 283 ratings.
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