Drunken Angel (1948)
Kernel Score: 86% · 303 ratings · Rated NR
Genres: Drama
Released: 1948-04-27
Runtime: 98 minutes
Where to watch Drunken Angel
- Stream: The Criterion Channel
- Free with ads: Fawesome, Plex
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
In postwar Tokyo, a blunt, alcohol-soaked doctor diagnoses a swaggering young yakuza with tuberculosis, forging an uneasy bond that’s tested when the gangster’s ruthless former boss returns and drags him back toward the swampy underworld he can’t escape.
Drunken Angel parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that Drunken Angel is a classic Japanese drama about an alcoholic doctor and a tuberculosis-stricken yakuza gangster.
- Violence & scariness: Moderate — Yakuza gangster activity and its threat of violence run through the story.
- Drinking, drugs & smoking: Strong — The doctor's alcoholism is central to the story, alongside depictions of tuberculosis illness.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official NR rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Drunken Angel
If you liked Drunken Angel, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Yakuza (1974) — 79%
- Red Beard (1965) — 89%
- Batman Begins (2005) — 88%
- Fireworks (1997) — 85%
- Dolls (2002) — 86%
- Why Don't You Play in Hell? (2013) — 83%
- The Phantom Carriage (1921) — 87%
- Rififi (1955) — 87%
Director
Cast
- Takashi Shimura as Sanada
- Toshirō Mifune as Matsunaga
- Reizaburo Yamamoto as Okada
- Michiyo Kogure as Nanae
- Chieko Nakakita as Miyo
- Noriko Sengoku as Gin
- Shizuko Kasagi as Singer
- Eitarō Shindō as Takahama
- Masao Shimizu as Oyabun
- Taiji Tonoyama as Shop Proprietor
Drunken Angel FAQ
Is Drunken Angel good?
Drunken Angel has an 86% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 303 audience ratings.
Where can I watch Drunken Angel?
In the US you can stream Drunken Angel on The Criterion Channel and watch it free with ads on Fawesome and Plex.
Is Drunken Angel OK for kids?
Drunken Angel is rated NR. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Drunken Angel is a classic Japanese drama about an alcoholic doctor and a tuberculosis-stricken yakuza gangster.
What movies are like Drunken Angel?
If you liked Drunken Angel, try The Yakuza, Red Beard, Batman Begins and Fireworks.