The Last Samurai

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The Last Samurai

R

2003

2h 34m

Adventure

Drama

War

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

65%

Tomatometer

216 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Capt. Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) is an American military officer hired by the Emperor of Japan to train the country's first army in the art of modern warfare. As the government attempts to eradicate the ancient Samurai warrior class in preparation for more Westernized and trade-friendly policies, Algren finds himself unexpectedly affected by his encounters with the Samurai, which places him at the center of a struggle between two eras and two worlds.

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Critics Consensus

With high production values and thrilling battle scenes, The Last Samurai is a satisfying epic.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Dec 28, 2010

3/5

Outstanding action and performance; lots of blood.

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Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

Aug 25, 2008

It's easy to stand back and wax ironic about The Last Samurai. But it's not all that difficult to succumb to its full-spirited romanticism either.

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Jun 24, 2006

Competently mounted in its studiedly immersive, elongated way, Zwick's earnest costume epic dresses a knee-jerk, reactionary sensibility in exotic garb.

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Anderson Jones

E! Online

Apr 26, 2022

Is a romance really necessary, no matter how ridiculous, just to prove the two male leads aren't in love with each other?

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Tony Black

Cultural Conversation

Feb 16, 2021

4/5

The Last Samurai delivers one of the stronger historical adventure epics of recent years.

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David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

Feb 15, 2021

Zwick's film idealizes the "noble savage" and denigrates modern society not from the point of view of a serious critique of capitalism, but in a misanthropic, right-wing populist manner.

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Terry S

@RT84781810 1 hr ago

Even after all these years it has not lost its impact. Worth watching again!

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Raul R

@RT38829054 5 days ago

It perfectly portrays the atrocities committed by white Americans, maybe that’s why they didn’t like it so much but this is a master piece.

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Max M

@Househuntermax Sep 29, 2026

Top notch fight choreography and epic battle scenes with a great story behind it. It’s Braveheart in Japan. Awesome movie highly recommend.

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Kye S

@RT44448666 Sep 24, 2026

Good story nice long movie great action scenes and a amazing perform Tom cruise

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Lee J

@Wisew08 Aug 22, 2026

시작부터 끝까지 단 한 번도 몰입이 깨지지 않았다. 톰 크루즈의 압도적인 비주얼과 연기는 물론, 장면 하나하나가 너무 예뻐서 눈을 뗄 수 없었다. 미군 장교와 사무라이 문화의 참신한 결합, 거침없고 매끄러운 전개, 그리고 완벽한 결말까지 단 하나의 아쉬움도 찾을 수 없었던 완벽한 작품이다. From start to finish, the immersion never broke for even a single second. On top of Tom Cruise’s breathtaking visuals and performance, every single frame was so stunningly gorgeous that I couldn't look away. With its fresh blend of an American officer and samurai culture, fast-paced and seamless story progression, and a flawless ending, there wasn't a single shortcoming to be found. Pure perfection through and through.

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Renaldo D

@RT30888824 Aug 14, 2026

It’s a film that always sticks in everyone’s mind when the end of the samurai era is discussed.

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Edward Zwick

Director

Tom Cruise

Capt. Nathan Algren

Ken Watanabe

Katsumoto

Timothy Spall

Simon Graham

Billy Connolly

Zebulon Gant

Tony Goldwyn

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Synopsis

Capt. Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) is an American military officer hired by the Emperor of Japan to train the country's first army in the art of modern warfare. As the government attempts to eradicate the ancient Samurai warrior class in preparation for more Westernized and trade-friendly policies, Algren finds himself unexpectedly affected by his encounters with the Samurai, which places him at the center of a struggle between two eras and two worlds.

Director: Edward Zwick
Producer: Tom Cruise, Tom Engelman, Marshall Herskovitz, Scott Kroopf, Paula Wagner, Edward Zwick
Screenwriter: John Logan, Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Cruise-Wagner Productions, Radar Pictures, Bedford Falls Productions, Warner Brothers
Rating: R (Strong Violence|Battle Sequences)
Genre: Adventure, Drama, War, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 5, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $111.1M
Runtime: 2h 34m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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