Throne of Blood (1957)

Kernel Score: 89% · 960 ratings

Genres: Drama, History

Released: 1957-01-15

Runtime: 108 minutes

Where to watch Throne of Blood

Stream: The Criterion Channel, HBO Max
Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

Returning to their lord's castle, samurai warriors Washizu and Miki are waylaid by a spirit who predicts their futures. When the first part of the spirit's prophecy comes true, Washizu's scheming wife, Asaji, presses him to speed up the rest of the spirit's prophecy by murdering his lord and usurping his place. Director Akira Kurosawa's resetting of William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" in feudal Japan is one of his most acclaimed films.

Throne of Blood parents' guide: ages 11+

Parents need to know that Throne of Blood is a classic samurai adaptation of Macbeth dealing with betrayal, ambition, and murder.

Violence & scariness: Moderate — Includes murder, betrayal, and warfare in a feudal Japan setting, with a notable violent death scene.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Movies like Throne of Blood

If you liked Throne of Blood, these are the movies we'd watch next.

Ugetsu (1953) — 88%
The Hidden Fortress (1958) — 89%
Kagemusha (1980) — 88%
Samurai Rebellion (1967) — 90%
Sanjuro (1962) — 89%
Ran (1985) — 89%
Yojimbo (1961) — 90%
Harakiri (1962) — 90%

Director

Akira Kurosawa

Cast

Toshirō Mifune as Taketoki Washizu
Isuzu Yamada as Lady Asaji Washizu
Takashi Shimura as Noriyasu Odagura
Akira Kubo as Yoshiteru Miki
Hiroshi Tachikawa as Kunimaru Tsuzuki
Minoru Chiaki as Yoshiaki Miki
Takamaru Sasaki as Kuniharu Tsuzuki
Gen Shimizu as Washizu samurai
Kokuten Kōdō as Military Commander
Kichijirō Ueda as Washizu's workman

Throne of Blood FAQ

Is Throne of Blood good?

Throne of Blood has an 89% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 960 audience ratings.

Where can I watch Throne of Blood?

In the US you can stream Throne of Blood on The Criterion Channel and HBO Max and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango At Home.

Is Throne of Blood OK for kids?

Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Throne of Blood is a classic samurai adaptation of Macbeth dealing with betrayal, ambition, and murder.

What movies are like Throne of Blood?

If you liked Throne of Blood, try Ugetsu, The Hidden Fortress, Kagemusha and Samurai Rebellion.