The Twilight Samurai (2002)
Kernel Score: 86% · 351 ratings
Genres: Drama, Romance
Released: 2002-11-02
Runtime: 129 minutes
Overview
Seibei Iguchi leads a difficult life as a low ranking samurai at the turn of the nineteenth century. A widower with a meager income, Seibei struggles to take care of his two daughters and senile mother. New prospects seem to open up when the beautiful Tomoe, a childhood friend, comes back into he and his daughters' life, but as the Japanese feudal system unravels, Seibei is still bound by the code of honor of the samurai and by his own sense of social precedence. How can he find a way to do what is best for those he loves?
The Twilight Samurai parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that The Twilight Samurai is a Japanese period drama about a low-ranking samurai balancing duty, honor, and family responsibility.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Includes samurai sword fighting and a mission of murder, though restrained for the genre.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Twilight Samurai
If you liked The Twilight Samurai, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning (2021) — 86%
- Rurouni Kenshin Part II: Kyoto Inferno (2014) — 85%
- Harakiri (1962) — 90%
- Rurouni Kenshin: The Final (2021) — 88%
- Samurai Rebellion (1967) — 90%
- 13 Assassins (2010) — 84%
- Sanjuro (1962) — 89%
- Zatoichi (2003) — 81%
Director
Yoji Yamada
Cast
- Hiroyuki Sanada as Seibei Iguchi
- Rie Miyazawa as Tomoe Iinuma
- Nenji Kobayashi as Choubei Kusaka
- Mitsuru Fukikoshi as Michinojo Iinuma
- Min Tanaka as Zenemon Yogo
- Ren Osugi as Toyotaro Koda
- Hiroshi Kanbe as Naota
- Miki Ito as Kayano Iguchi
- Ito Senba as Ito Iguchi
- Keiko Kishi as Older Ito Iguchi
The Twilight Samurai FAQ
Is The Twilight Samurai good?
The Twilight Samurai has an 86% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 351 audience ratings.
Is The Twilight Samurai OK for kids?
Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that The Twilight Samurai is a Japanese period drama about a low-ranking samurai balancing duty, honor, and family responsibility.
What movies are like The Twilight Samurai?
If you liked The Twilight Samurai, try Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning, Rurouni Kenshin Part II: Kyoto Inferno, Harakiri and Rurouni Kenshin: The Final.