The Great Killing
1964, Japanese. Directed by Eiichi Kudō.
Heaven has no swords.
A cynical samurai is left as the sole survivor to fulfill a plot to assassinate the puppet of a villain intent on usurping the shogunate in the 17th century. A Shogunate Elder connives to rule Japan by making his puppet, the Shogun's brother Tsunashige, the next Shogun. The best strategist in Japan, Yamaga, leads a plot to stop the Elder, but his cabal is betrayed and most of the conspirators are captured and tortured.
- Runtime
- 1h 58m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- Japanese
- Rated
- Check local
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Where to watch The Great Killing
The Great Killing is streaming on ARROW in India.
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Fandango At HomeAvailability in India as of 11 November 2026. Streaming data by JustWatch.
Part of a series
Kudo's Samurai Revolution Trilogy: watch order
Cast & crew
Details
- Released
- 3 June 1964
- Original title
- 大殺陣
- Country
- Japan
- Written by
- Kaneo Ikegami
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
Watch before The Great Killing
In release order. The films it follows, and anything it builds on.
After The Great Killing
What comes next in the series.
If you liked The Great Killing
13 Assassins
1963 · 7.5/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers
Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance
1972 · 7.4/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers
13 Assassins
2010 · 7.3/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers
Rurouni Kenshin: The Final
2021 · 7.7/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers
The Sword of Doom
1966 · 7.8/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers
Rurouni Kenshin Part II: Kyoto Inferno
2014 · 7.6/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers
Chûshingura
1962 · 7.1/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers
The Tale of Zatoichi
1962 · 7.3/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers
Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto
1954 · 7.2/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers
Lone Wolf and Cub: White Heaven in Hell
1974 · 7.1/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers
The Great Killing: quick answers
What should I watch before The Great Killing?
Watch 13 Assassins (1963) first.
What comes after The Great Killing?
Next in the series: Eleven Samurai (1967).
Is The Great Killing worth watching?
The Great Killing doesn’t have enough ratings for a verdict yet.
How long is The Great Killing?
The Great Killing runs 118 minutes (1h 58m).
Does The Great Killing have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for The Great Killing. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
The Great Killing parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for The Great Killing yet.
Which OTT platform is The Great Killing on?
The Great Killing is streaming on ARROW in India. (Checked 11 November 2026.)
What movies are like The Great Killing?
If you liked The Great Killing, try 13 Assassins, Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance, 13 Assassins.
Who directed The Great Killing?
The Great Killing (1964) was directed by Eiichi Kudō and stars Tōru Abe, Mikijiro Hira, Yoshio Inaba.