The Idiot
1951, Japanese. Directed by Akira Kurosawa.
A gentle, war-shattered ex-soldier, Kinji Kameda, arrives in wintry Hokkaidō and is pulled into a volatile tangle of love and pity between the disgraced Taeko Nasu, the proud Ayako, and his possessive friend Akama. Kameda’s saintly compassion exposes everyone’s wounds, steering the quartet toward jealousy, violence, and inexorable tragedy. Adapted from Dostoevsky’s novel.
- Runtime
- 2h 46m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- Japanese
- Rated
- Check local
Start now and it ends at ….
Worth the Hype
Clear your evening for this.
7.0/10 from 137 TMDB viewer ratings.
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Where to watch The Idiot
The Idiot is streaming on Criterion Channel in India.
Stream
Criterion ChannelAvailability in India as of 8 November 2026. Streaming data by JustWatch.
Cast & crew
- Akira KurosawaDirector
- Setsuko HaraTaeko Nasu
- Masayuki MoriKinji Kameda
- Toshirō MifuneDenkichi Akama
- Yoshiko KugaAyako
- Takashi ShimuraOno, Ayako's father
- Chieko HigashiyamaSatoko, Ayako's mother
- Eijirō YanagiTohata
- Minoru ChiakiMutsuo Kayama, the secretary
- Noriko SengokuTakako
- Kokuten KōdōJunpei
- Bokuzen HidariKarube
- Eiko MiyoshiMadame Kayama
Details
- Released
- 23 May 1951
- Original title
- 白痴
- Country
- Japan
- Written by
- Akira Kurosawa, Eijiro Hisaita
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News & fan talk
What The Idiot is based on
The Idiot is based on The Idiot (1869) by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
1869
The Idiot
By Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Source details from Wikidata and TMDB.
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The Idiot: quick answers
Is The Idiot worth watching?
Our verdict is Worth the Hype: Clear your evening for this. It scores 7.0/10 from 137 TMDB viewer ratings.
How long is The Idiot?
The Idiot runs 166 minutes (2h 46m).
Does The Idiot have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for The Idiot. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
The Idiot parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for The Idiot yet.
Which OTT platform is The Idiot on?
The Idiot is streaming on Criterion Channel in India. (Checked 8 November 2026.)
What movies are like The Idiot?
If you liked The Idiot, try A Wife Confesses, Gate of Hell, The Lower Depths.
Who directed The Idiot?
The Idiot (1951) was directed by Akira Kurosawa and stars Setsuko Hara, Masayuki Mori, Toshirō Mifune.
What is The Idiot based on?
The Idiot is based on The Idiot (1869) by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.