Ghost Of Tsushima: 10 Samurai Films You NEED To Watch First

The samurai film genre, also known as chanbara, is home to some of the greatest masterpieces of cinema. It has gone to influence filmmaking giants such as George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, Sergio Leone, Jean-Pierre Melville and many others.

Its influence in the action genre is felt to this day and set the standard of what an action movie is. The genre was also a perfect device in exploring the human condition; reflecting on tradition in the face of a changing world while tackling existential themes, moral ethics, injustice, and questioning authority.

It comes as a surprise, then, for a genre with such rich material to only have a modest amount of samurai games created over the years. On top of that, the world has yet to see a Red Dead Redemption or GTA open-world game take place in the time of the shōgun.

While the Way Of The Samurai series was the closest thing to seeing this realized, Sucker Punch's Ghost Of Tsushima promises to create a true immersive and realized experience for the first time.

With the release of Ghost Of Tsushima lurking around the corner, here are some samurai films to watch before following the way of the bushido.

13 Assassins does everything classic samurai films did well and checks-off every box: stunning choreography, political intrigue, and cathartic gore leading up to showy displays of violence. Takishi Miike is no stranger to grand action sequences and this stands as one of his greatest achievements as a filmmaker in this stylish and well-executed remake.

The film's story revolves around psychopathic and sadistic ruler Lord Matsudaira Naritsugu of the Akashi Clan. He enacts cruelty and wanton violence towards the innocent for his own pleasure. His acts of injustice go unquestioned since his half-brother is the Shōgunate and is able to do as he pleases. To make matters worse, Naritsugu is to be appointed on the Shōgunate Council, alarming Shōgun Justice Minister Sir Doi Toshitura.

If his appointment were to carry on, it would jeopardize the stability of the region and war would surely breakout. To prevent this chaos, Toshitsura enlists veteran samurai Shimada Shinzaemon and his band of ronin to carry out a covert assassination plan.

The plotting and stakes are immediate as the film crescendoes towards one of the greatest cinematic showdowns that runs for nearly 45 minutes long. Nothing in the film feels wasted nor carries on for more than what's needed. This is all aided by the stunning cast and the amazing portrayal of madness from the main villain. There is no reasoning or motive behind his inhumane actions towards raping, murdering, and torturing nobles. Sometimes evil doesn't have a logical explanation and is as simple as Naritsugu's shallow persona: hollow and vain.