Sanjuro
Toho | Release Date: May 7, 1963 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
83
METASCORE
Universal acclaim based on 15 Critic Reviews
Positive:
15
Mixed:
0
Negative:
0

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
Chicago TribuneMichael Wilmington
The thrilling sequel-return of Mifune's hip samurai from Yojimbo. [01 Nov 2002, p.C9]
90
The Observer (UK)Philip French
A minor masterpiece. [05 Nov 1995, p.11]
90
The IndependentLaurence Phalan
Cool and witty action cinema of the highest order. [26 Jun 2014, p.50]
88
USA TodayMike Clark
Jaded samurai Toshiro Mifune shows younger warriors the ropes, just as John Wayne used to toughen up tenderfoots on the range. [21 Apr 1995, p.3D]
83
ColliderJeremy Urquhart
It's a surprisingly funny movie at times, even though it deals with serious themes, deconstructing the samurai mythos while also having a solid amount of gritty sword-fighting action. Read full review
80
EmpireDavid Parkinson
Satirical Samurai action of the highest order. Read full review
80
The New York TimesBosley Crowther
This is a mischievous, sly, good-humored presentation of a crusty old samurai caught between two groups of plain incompetents, with a playful satiric point. Read full review
80
Time OutStaff (Not Credited)
Kurosawa plays most of it for laughs by expertly parodying the conventions of Japanese period action movies, but the tone switches to a magnificent vehemence in the heart-stopping finale. Read full review
80
VarietyStaff (Not Credited)
The charm of this fascinating Toho production, stylishly directed by Akira Kurosawa, is the personality of the hero, powerfully played by Toshiro Mifune. Read full review
80
The GuardianRob Mackie
Mifune's slob is deceptive, and the film builds slowly to a shattering ending. Read full review
80
Paste MagazineOktay Ege Kozak
It’s an endlessly fun romp with spectacular widescreen black and white cinematography. The fact that it contains the greatest—and perhaps bloodiest—samurai duel in film history is certainly a big plus. Read full review
80
SlashfilmLisa Laman
Fortunately, the film doesn't attempt to turn "Yojimbo" into the first piece of an epic saga but aims to deliver another satisfying standalone samurai adventure. Read full review
75
Slant MagazineChuck Bowen
Sanjuro is still a lesson from a master in mounting choreography and sustaining momentum, though it remains more of an exercise rather than a work of flesh and blood. Read full review
75
Film ThreatBrad Cook
Sanjuro doesn’t offer as much complexity and nuance as its predecessor, but it’s still a fun ride that shows Kurosawa’s consummate skills, even when he was simply satisfying Toho’s constant demands that he make more commercially-appealing films. Read full review
70
Chicago ReaderDave Kehr
This is fun but, compared with Kurosawa’s other 60s efforts, relatively slight. Read full review
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