Movies like Kagebōshi (1950)
The best movies like Kagebōshi (1950) are Three Outlaw Samurai (1964), The Castle of Cagliostro (1979) and Sanjuro (1962). If Kagebōshi hooked you, these 20 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedCardcaptor Sakura: The Sealed Card (2000)8.2/10 from 200 votes
- NewestBushido (2024)Released 2024
- In JapaneseThree Outlaw Samurai (1964)Also in Japanese
Three Outlaw Samurai (1964)
Shiba, a wandering ronin, encounters a band of peasants who have kidnapped the daughter of their dictatorial magistrate, in hopes of coercing from him a reduction in taxes. Shiba takes up their fight, joined by two renegades from the magistrate's guard, Sakura and Kikyo. The three outlaws find themselves in a battle to the death.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Castle of Cagliostro (1979)
After a successful robbery leaves famed thief Lupin the Third and his partner Jigen with nothing but a large amount of expertly crafted counterfeit bills, he decides to track down the forgers responsible—and steal any other treasures he may find in the Castle of Cagliostro, including the 'damsel in distress' he finds imprisoned there.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisSanjuro (1962)
In this companion piece and sequel to "Yojimbo," jaded samurai Sanjuro helps an idealistic group of young warriors weed out their clan's evil influences, and in the process turns their image of a proper samurai on its ear.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Absolute CinemaMovies like this47 Ronin (2013)
Kai—an outcast—joins Oishi, the leader of 47 outcast samurai. Together they seek vengeance upon the treacherous overlord who killed their master and banished their kind. To restore honour to their homeland, the warriors embark upon a quest that challenges them with a series of trials that would destroy ordinary warriors.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like this13 Assassins (2010)
A bravado period action film set at the end of Japan's feudal era in which a group of unemployed samurai are enlisted to bring down a sadistic lord and prevent him from ascending to the throne and plunging the country into a war-torn future.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisDetective Conan: The Last Wizard of the Century (1999)
Kaitou Kid dares to challenge the police once more, setting his sights on the Russian Imperial Easter Egg. With the date, time, and place, the Osaka police force scrambles to stop him. But this time, Kid may have bitten off more than he can chew—Conan Edogawa, Heiji Hattori, and numerous others are also trying to get their hands on the jeweled egg.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisCity Hunter: Shinjuku Private Eyes (2019)
When gorgeous model Ai Shindo finds herself stalked by mysterious men, she comes to Ryo and his crew for protection. While he tries to hunt down the potential assassins (and maybe score a little nookie in the process), he ends up catching wind of a superweapon shipment landing in Shinjuku very soon. Could the two be connected? And with City Hunter on the case, will Tokyo survive the night?!
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDetective Conan: The Million-Dollar Pentagram (2024)
A message has arrived from Kid the Phantom Thief, that he will steal a Japanese sword belonging to wealthy Onoe Family in Hakodate, Hokkaido. Conan and Heiji Hattori, who happened to be in Hakodate, are on the case to capture Kid. Coincidentally the family lawyer of Onoe is found murdered in the warehouse district, apparently slaughtered by a Japanese sword. The suspect is an investor/arms dealer who is said to be after Onoe family’s hidden treasure. In the North among cherry blossoms, the exciting hunt for treasure begins!
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisLupin the Third vs. Detective Conan: The Movie (2013)
Conan Edogawa sets out to apprehend Lupin the Third, the suspect of stealing a jewel called Cherry Sapphire.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisOne Piece: Clockwork Island Adventure (2001)
Relaxing on a cozy beach, the Straw Hat Pirates are taking a rest from their quest. Right until Luffy noticed the Going Merry has been hijacked and sailed off from the beach. This leads them to search the ship and find the thief who took it from them. They ran into a duo named the Theif Brothers, who informed them that their ship was stolen by a group of pirates called the Trump Kyoudai. When they encountered the Trump Pirates, Nami ended up getting kidnapped as well as Luffy's hat. They tracked down the pirates to their base on Clockwork Island. Now Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, and the Theif Brothers must reclaim the Going Merry, Save Nami, and get back Shank's straw hat.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisYojimbo (1961)
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.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisBushido (2024)
Kakunoshin, renowned for his skills with a sword and in the game of go, embodies the samurai code. Falsely accused of a theft, he is forced to become a lowly ronin. Years later, when a case of missing gold pulls him into a new web of intrigue, Kakunoshin uncovers the truth behind his downfall. With the real culprit exposed, the go board flips, and a hellstorm of righteous vengeance follows.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisDetective Conan: The Disappearance of Conan Edogawa - The Worst Two Days in History (2015)
Conan Edogawa comes to a bathhouse with Ran Mouri and Ai Haibara. There, he sees suspicious men in the dressing room of the men's bath. However, Conan falls down in the bathhouse and loses consciousness. The two suspicious men, Tatsu and Kondo, take him away in a car. The two belong to the underworld and seem to be working at someone's request. Meanwhile, a woman named Kanae visits the Mouri Detective Agency to request an investigation into her husband's affair. She shows them a picture, and the husband in the picture is one of the culprits who kidnapped Conan.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisOne Piece: Curse of the Sacred Sword (2004)
The Straw Hat Pirates landed at Asuka Island, home of the most valuable sword in the world: The Seven Star Sword. Which was said to curse anyone who takes it in possession. When they got back to the Going Merry, they discovered that Zoro is missing from his guard duty. Before they could plan out a search party to relocate him. Luffy and friends escape from the port as Marines were on their tail. They found a new place to dock, which is near a village. Whose job is to keep the Seven Star Sword sealed. Soon it was attacked by the Marines, and among them is Zoro. Luffy and the others don't know why he's helping out the Marines. But it all comes to conclusion when Luffy encounters Saga: Zoro's childhood friend from Swordsman training.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDetective Conan: Crossroad in the Ancient Capital (2003)
Mouri Kogoro is called to a special case in the ancient capital of Kyoto. There, Conan meets Heiji and they team up once again to solve the case, recover the stolen Healing Buddha statue, and even discover the identity of Heiji's first love.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisLupin the Third: The Fuma Conspiracy (1987)
Goemon's wedding to Murasaki Suminawa, daughter of a samurai clan's leader, is interrupted when the Fuma ninjas attack, kidnapping the bride-to-be and demanding her family's ancient treasure as ransom. Lupin, Jigen, Goemon and Fujiko work together once again to try to save Murasaki and get to the treasure before the Fuma can steal it.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisOne Piece: Chopper's Kingdom in the Strange Animal Island (2002)
As the Straw Hat Pirates sail through the Grand Line, a sudden eruption of geysers beneath the Going Merry sends the crew flying over a nearby island. In the chaos, Chopper falls overboard and becomes separated from his friends. While Luffy and the others land on the far side of the island, Chopper finds himself hailed as the new king by the local animals. However, danger looms as a group of human “horn hunters” arrives. Their leader, Count Butler, is a violin-playing man who consumes horns to gain strength, and he seeks to devour the island’s greatest treasure to inherit immense power. Can Luffy and the crew stop Count Butler’s scheme and save the island? And will they be able to show Momambi that not all pirates are the villains he believes them to be?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisCardcaptor Sakura: The Sealed Card (2000)
All of the Clow Cards have been captured, and Sakura Kinomoto, the new Master of the Cards, is preparing to play the lead in the play for the town festival. However, a new evil force is causing mysterious events all over Tomoeda, including the disappearance of Sakura's cards. With Syaoran's help, Sakura must figure out the cause of these events, and save her town.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisDetective Conan: Magician of the Silver Sky (2004)
Once again, Kaitou Kid crosses swords with Conan Edogawa in this annual installment of the Detective Conan movie franchise. After receiving a letter from the thief, famous actress Juri Maki seeks the help of private detective Kogorou Mouri to protect the Star Sapphire—the "Jewel of Destiny," said to represent faith, fate, and hope.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Worth the HypeMovies like thisShogun Assassin (1980)
A Shogun who grew paranoid as he became senile sent his ninjas to kill his samurai. They failed but did kill the samurai’s wife. The samurai swore to avenge the death of his wife and roams the countryside with his toddler son in search of vengeance.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers
Popcorn FlickMovies like this
Like Kagebōshi and something else?
Blend two favourites and we’ll find the films in between.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Kagebōshi?
The closest matches to Kagebōshi are Three Outlaw Samurai (1964), The Castle of Cagliostro (1979) and Sanjuro (1962). Below are 17 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Kagebōshi?
Start with Three Outlaw Samurai (1964), the closest match to Kagebōshi.
What is the highest-rated movie like Kagebōshi?
Cardcaptor Sakura: The Sealed Card (2000), rated 8.2/10 by 200 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Kagebōshi?
Bushido (2024) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there Japanese movies like Kagebōshi?
Yes: Three Outlaw Samurai (1964), The Castle of Cagliostro (1979) and Sanjuro (1962).
How are movies similar to Kagebōshi chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Kagebōshi, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.