Yojimbo
1961, Japanese. Directed by Akira Kurosawa.
Kill one or a hundred... you only hang once
A nameless ronin, or samurai with no master, enters a small village in feudal Japan where two rival businessmen are struggling for control of the local gambling trade. Taking the name Sanjuro Kuwabatake, the ronin convinces both silk merchant Tazaemon and sake merchant Tokuemon to hire him as a personal bodyguard, then artfully sets in motion a full-scale gang war between the two ambitious and unscrupulous men.
- Runtime
- 1h 50m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- Japanese
- Rated
- NR
Start now and it ends at ….
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8.1/10 from 1,787 TMDB viewer ratings.
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Where to watch Yojimbo
Yojimbo is streaming on HBO Max in India.
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Fandango At HomeAvailability in India as of 9 November 2026. Streaming data by JustWatch.
Part of a series
Sanjuro: watch order
Cast & crew
- Akira KurosawaDirector
- Toshirō MifuneSanjuro Kuwabatake / The Samurai
- Tatsuya NakadaiUnosuke, gunfighter
- Yōko TsukasaNui
- Isuzu YamadaOrin
- Daisuke KatōInokichi
- Seizaburō KawazuSeibê - brothel operator
- Takashi ShimuraTokuemon, sake brewer
- Hiroshi TachikawaYoichiro
- Yōsuke NatsukiKohei's Son
- Eijirō TōnoGonji, Tavern Keeper
- Kamatari FujiwaraTazaemon
- Ikio SawamuraHansuke
Details
- Released
- 25 April 1961
- Original title
- 用心棒
- Country
- Japan
- Written by
- Ryuzo Kikushima, Akira Kurosawa
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News & fan talk
What Yojimbo is based on
Yojimbo is based on Red Harvest (1927) by Dashiell Hammett.
1927
Red Harvest
By Dashiell Hammett
Source details from Wikidata and TMDB.
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Yojimbo: quick answers
What comes after Yojimbo?
Next in the series: Sanjuro (1962).
Is Yojimbo worth watching?
Our verdict is Absolute Cinema: Drop everything and watch it. It scores 8.1/10 from 1,787 TMDB viewer ratings.
How long is Yojimbo?
Yojimbo runs 110 minutes (1h 50m).
Does Yojimbo have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for Yojimbo. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
Yojimbo parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
Yojimbo is rated NR in India. Check the rating guidance before watching with young children.
Which OTT platform is Yojimbo on?
Yojimbo is streaming on HBO Max in India. (Checked 9 November 2026.)
What movies are like Yojimbo?
If you liked Yojimbo, try The Sword of Doom, Seven Samurai, The Twilight Samurai.
Who directed Yojimbo?
Yojimbo (1961) was directed by Akira Kurosawa and stars Toshirō Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai, Yōko Tsukasa.
What is Yojimbo based on?
Yojimbo is based on Red Harvest (1927) by Dashiell Hammett.