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Wasabi

Play trailer Poster for Wasabi R 2001 1h 39m Action Comedy Drama Mystery & Thriller Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
44% Tomatometer 41 Reviews 69% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
When his former lover dies, a French policeman (Jean Reno) travels to Tokyo to take care of his estranged daughter (Ryôko Hirosue).
Wasabi

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Jean Reno's efforts aren't enough to add dramatic ballast to Wasabi's bursts of kinetic -- yet frustratingly hollow -- action.

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Critics Reviews

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Judith Prescott The Hollywood Reporter Feb 5, 2003
The movie fails to live up to the sum of its parts. Go to Full Review
Matt Weitz Dallas Morning News Nov 14, 2002
B
The film is a contrivance, as artificial as the video games Japanese teens play in a nightclub sequence, but it's an enjoyable one. Go to Full Review
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Oct 20, 2002
1.5/4
Reno does what he can in a thankless situation, the film ricochets from humor to violence and back again, and Ryoko Hirosue makes us wonder if she is always like that. Go to Full Review
Michael Dequina TheMovieReport.com Dec 28, 2008
1/4
There's little tension as Reno's character is one of those invincible heroes that we haven't seen much of since the '80s. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jul 17, 2005
2/5
Oz eFilmCritic.com May 26, 2004
2/5
I keep renting Jean Reno films and I'm beginning to forget why I started doing so. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Peter W @RT12077588 22 hrs ago Wasabi is a playful comedy-action film that requires very little thought and is packed with cringeworthy moments, once again played for laughs. I can completely understand why many viewers would enjoy the silliness and downright wackiness of some of the fight scenes and gags. It is great to see Jean Reno clearly having a great time, even if not every joke lands. The plot outline is simple. Watching a man fall from one bad situation into another is not entirely new, but it remains entertaining, especially with the vibrant Japanese setting surrounding the story. Ultimately, the biggest letdown is the film’s villains, particularly the central antagonist and the thriller elements woven into the narrative, which feel underdeveloped and largely forgettable even as the credits roll. See more Geoff G @GGinFla Jul 4, 2026 Not great, but still very enjoyable. An action comedy that goes over the top. I laughed a lot. Seeing the streets of Japan and an arcade was pretty cool too. See more thiago s @Thiagostone Jul 10, 2025 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more Megan T @RT27819977 Mar 21, 2025 One of my families favorite movies See more olive r @RT47059699 Jun 2, 2024 a bit confusing at parts but overall a good movie, cried a little, and absolutely adored yumi See more Antihrist P @RT18184099 Nov 8, 2023 Pure fun from the golden age of Luc Besson. Great action comedy. See more Read all reviews
Wasabi

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Movie Info

Synopsis When his former lover dies, a French policeman (Jean Reno) travels to Tokyo to take care of his estranged daughter (Ryôko Hirosue).
Director
Gérard Krawczyk
Producer
Luc Besson
Screenwriter
Luc Besson
Distributor
Europa Diffusion [fr], LK-TEL, BMG Video, New Films International, 01 Distribuzione, TriStar Pictures, Hollywood Classics, EuropaCorp
Production Co
Victor Company of Japan Ltd. (JVC) [jp], TF1 Films Productions, Canal+, EuropaCorp, Destiny [jp], Samitose Productions
Rating
R (Some Violence)
Genre
Action, Comedy, Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Adventure
Original Language
Canadian French
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 31, 2001, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Feb 11, 2003
Box Office (Gross USA)
$81.5K
Runtime
1h 39m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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