Rashomon
Three parties and a witness have four versions of a rape/murder in ninth-century Japan.
Directed by Akira Kurosawa · Crime · Drama · Mystery · 88 min · 1951
Trailer
Director
Akira Kurosawa
Studio
Daiei Film
Release
26 Dec 1951
Runtime
88 min
Genres
Crime, Drama, Mystery
Full Plot
A priest, a woodcutter and another man are taking refuge from a rainstorm in the shell of a former gatehouse called Rashômon. The priest and the woodcutter are recounting the story of a murdered samurai whose body the woodcutter discovered three days earlier in a forest grove. Both were summoned to testify at the murder trial, the priest who ran into the samurai and his wife traveling through the forest just before the murder occurred. Three other people who testified at the trial are supposedly the only direct witnesses: a notorious bandit named Tajômaru, who allegedly murdered the samurai and raped his wife; the white veil cloaked wife of the samurai; and the samurai himself who testifies through the use of a medium. The three tell a similarly structured story - that Tajômaru kidnapped and bound the samurai so that he could rape the wife - but which ultimately contradict each other, the motivations and the actual killing being what differ. The woodcutter reveals at Rashômon that he knows more than he let on at the trial, thus bringing into question his own actions. But another discovery at Rashômon and the resulting actions from the discovery bring back into focus the woodcutter's own humanity or lack thereof.
Cast & Characters
Tajōmaru, the bandit
Toshirô Mifune
Masago, Kanazawa's wife
Machiko Kyô
Takehiro Kanazawa, the samurai
Masayuki Mori
the woodcutter
Takashi Shimura
the monk
Minoru Chiaki
the miko
Noriko Honma
the policeman
Daisuke Katō
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $250,000, Rashomon has grossed $117,668 worldwide — about 0.5x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
Akira Kurosawa has directed 6 films in our catalog, including Seven Samurai, High and Low.
Source: theIReview.com catalog · verified 2026-08-02
Toshirô Mifune appears in 4 films in our catalog, including Seven Samurai, High and Low.
Source: theIReview.com catalog · verified 2026-08-02
Akira Kurosawa liked silent pictures and wanted to restore some of their beauty.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
The film's production cost was initially estimated at ¥125 million, but advertising expenses brought the overall budget to approximately ¥250 million.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Kazuo Miyagawa used Fujifilm stock for Rashomon, which produced strong contrasts despite being considered inferior to Kodak film stock.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Critical Assessment
Rashomon holds 8.1/10 on IMDb (195,453 votes), 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, 98/100 on Metacritic.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of July 30, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on aggregated scores (8.1/10 on IMDb (195,453 votes), 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, 98/100 on Metacritic), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rashomon's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
Rashomon holds a 98% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is Rashomon's IMDb rating?+
Rashomon has a 8.1/10 rating on IMDb from 195,453 votes.
What is Rashomon's Metacritic score?+
Rashomon has a Metascore of 98/100 on Metacritic.
Is Rashomon good? What are critics saying?+
Rashomon holds 8.1/10 on IMDb (195,453 votes), 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, 98/100 on Metacritic.
How long is Rashomon?+
Rashomon has a runtime of 88 min.
Who directed Rashomon?+
Rashomon was directed by Akira Kurosawa.
Where can I watch Rashomon?+
Rashomon is available to stream, rent, or buy on HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, HBO Max, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, Sky Go, BFI Player, BFI Player Amazon Channel, Now TV Cinema, BFI Player Apple TV Channel.
Fan & Critic Buzz
Public reaction to "Rashomon" focuses on its depiction of human behavior, specifically its exploration of how people create their own stories about events. Critics praise the film for its originality and attention to detail, acknowledging its unique portrayal of reality. The movie has been praised by scholars and audiences alike as a groundbreaking work in Japanese cinema.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
Rashomon beguiles through the torrential downpour of fabrication. “It’s human to lie. Most of the time we can’t even be honest with ourselves”. Honesty. Deceit. Contradiction. A crucial part of human preservation is the requirement to lie. Intentional or accidental, it’s within o…
The Movie Diorama · 10/10In what seems like an endless, almost biblical, rainstorm we meet three people sheltering in the ruins of an old gatehouse. Each has their own story to tell of the rape of a woman and of the murder of her husband. It was the woodcutter (Takashi Shimura) who discovered the body an…
CinemaSerf · 7/10**A good movie.** Despite acknowledging the quality and attention to detail, I can't really enjoy Japanese cinema. Maybe because it's so different from what we have around here. But even being so different, we have to recognize the talent of those who have it. Akira Kurosawa is a…
Filipe Manuel Neto · 7/10
From the trailer's comments
The female actor, Machiko Kyo, died today of heart failure at the age of 95. RIP
@hayek218 · 312 likesI saw this on TV at age 10 and I was inthralled. The light through the trees. The clouds. The various interpretations. The drama. I knew I was watching something unique and brilliant and I never forgot it. It is a haunting movie that lingers in your imagination. He was a genius.
@mvies77 · 34 likesI was introduced to this movie in an undergrad film class, and my first viewing was a very powerful experience. I still remember all the scenes, and the story-telling was just so captivating for me.
@Duck-quack-duck · 79 likesDefinitely a film whose influence has transcended into other fields beyond film. This film was recommended viewing for a criminology class I once took.
@BlueHooloovoo · 130 likesOne of the two or three most important movies ever made. The story of human communication in a world where people live next to each other yet in completely different universes. The cynic, the idealist and the simple everyday fallible person. Who holds the hope of mankinds future…
@tasgeo · 20 likesOne of the great movies that keeps you busy long after the final scene. Which story is true? Which story has a degree of truth in it? Is everyone lying to put themselves in a better light? It's completely up to the viewer what to believe and there's no definite answer.
@Atombender · 51 likesthis movie inspired many Hollywood directors, including Tarantino
@dyniaz65 · 83 likesi love how most people are sharing that they got to know about this film in variety of degree courses- filmmaking, criminology, etc. for me it was referred by my prof. in an english literature lecture explaining the concept of 'ideation'. it requires the reader to put different p…
@piyusha3571 · 50 likes
