Akira Kurosawa: Every Movie Ranked Worst To Best
14. Sanjuro (1962)
Sent into production quickly following the success of its superior sequel, Sanjuro continues the story of Toshiro Mifune's titular rōnin, who in the film finds himself called to arms against a town's corrupt oppressors.
Like Yojimbo before it, Sanjuro acted as the primary inspiration for Sergio Leone's iconic Man with No Name trilogy, and Mifune's charismatic, hardened performance set the blueprint for countless Hollywood anti-heroes for years to come.
But the samurai film's brilliance doesn't just lie in its influence; it's incredible duels, bloody outbursts, sweeping cinematography and timeless story speaks for itself, and today it continues to hold up as a seriously fun slice of action gold.