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Takeshi Kitano

Takeshi Kitano

Director & actor · born 18 January 1947 · Tokyo, Japan

Takeshi Kitano (北野 武, Kitano Takeshi, born January 18, 1947), also known in Japan as Beat Takeshi (ビートたけし, Bīto Takeshi), is a Japanese comedian, actor, and filmmaker. While he is known primarily as a comedian and TV host in his native Japan, he is better known abroad for his work as a filmmaker and actor as well as TV host.

Kitano rose to prominence in the 1970s as one half of the comedy duo Two Beat, before going solo and becoming one of the three biggest comedians in the country. After several small acting roles, he made his directorial debut with 1989's Violent Cop and garnered international acclaim for Sonatine (1993). He was not widely accepted as an accomplished director in Japan until Hana-bi won the Golden Lion in 1997. In October 2017, Kitano completed his Outrage crime trilogy with the release of Outrage Coda. He is also known internationally for hosting the game show Takeshi's Castle (1986–1990) and starring in the film Battle Royale (2000).

Where to start: Fireworks (1997).

As director 25

As actor 72

TV shows 10

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Takeshi Kitano movie?

By viewer score, Fireworks (1997) at 7.7/10.

What are Takeshi Kitano’s most popular movies?

Ghost in the Shell, Battle Royale, Johnny Mnemonic.

How many movies has Takeshi Kitano made?

97 films on TMDB, 25 as director, 72 as actor.

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