Sansho the Bailiff (1954)
Kernel Score: 87% · 416 ratings
Genres: Drama
Released: 1954-03-31
Runtime: 124 minutes
Where to watch Sansho the Bailiff
- Free with ads: Darkroom, Fawesome, Plex
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
In medieval Japan, a woman and her children journey to find the family's patriarch, who was exiled years earlier.
Sansho the Bailiff parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that Sansho the Bailiff is a classic Japanese drama depicting a family torn apart by exile, human trafficking, and prostitution in feudal times.
- Violence & scariness: Some — The story involves banishment, cruelty, and people trafficking, though depicted with period restraint.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Some — The plot includes a character sold into prostitution as part of the family's tragic separation.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Sansho the Bailiff
If you liked Sansho the Bailiff, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Samurai Rebellion (1967) — 90%
- Throne of Blood (1957) — 89%
- Ugetsu (1953) — 88%
- Late Spring (1949) — 89%
- Tokyo Story (1953) — 91%
- High and Low (1963) — 92%
- Sanjuro (1962) — 89%
- Macbeth (1971) — 78%
Director
Kenji Mizoguchi
Cast
- Kinuyo Tanaka as Tamaki
- Yoshiaki Hanayagi as Zushiô
- Kyōko Kagawa as Anju
- Eitarō Shindō as Sanshô dayû
- Ichirō Sugai as Minister of Justice
- Bontarō Miake as Kichiji
- Yōko Kozono as Kohagi
- Chieko Naniwa as Ubatake
- Kikue Mōri as Priestess
- Ken Mitsuda as Prime Minister Fujiwara
Sansho the Bailiff FAQ
Is Sansho the Bailiff good?
Sansho the Bailiff has an 87% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 416 audience ratings.
Where can I watch Sansho the Bailiff?
In the US you can watch it free with ads on Darkroom, Fawesome and Plex and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango At Home.
Is Sansho the Bailiff OK for kids?
Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Sansho the Bailiff is a classic Japanese drama depicting a family torn apart by exile, human trafficking, and prostitution in feudal times.
What movies are like Sansho the Bailiff?
If you liked Sansho the Bailiff, try Samurai Rebellion, Throne of Blood, Ugetsu and Late Spring.