Ran | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)

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96%

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92 Reviews

95%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

At the age of seventy, after years of consolidating his empire, the Great Lord Hidetora Ichimonji (Tatsuya Nakadai) decides to abdicate and divide his domain amongst his three sons. Taro (Akira Terao), the eldest, will rule. Jiro (Jinpachi Nezu), his second son, and Saburo (Daisuke Ryu) will take command of the Second and Third Castles but are expected to obey and support their elder brother. Saburo defies the pledge of obedience and is banished.

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Ran

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Akira Kurosawa's sprawling, epic take on King Lear should be required viewing for fans of westerns, war movies, or period films in general.

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Critics Reviews

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David Robinson

Times (UK)

Ran takes film spectacle to new heights. Kurosawa continues not only to extend his own powers but to exploit new technical advances.

Jan 29, 2020

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Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

There is not a wasted second. [Here] is proof of what we seldom doubted: Kurosawa is a director who becomes godlike rather than gaga in old age.

Jan 29, 2020

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Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

Kurosawa may not be Shakespeare, but with images like these, he gets at something about the horror -- and hopelessness -- of being a man that is peculiarly his own.

Jan 3, 2018

Full Review

Ross McIndoe

The Skinny

Rereleased by StudioCanal to celebrate Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary, his breathtaking adaptation of King Lear proves, so far at least, to be as immune to the effects of time as the original

Rated: 5/5

Jul 4, 2024

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Panos Kotzathanasis

Asian Movie Pulse

“Ran” stands as a cross-cultural testament to timeless storytelling, where Kurosawa's indomitable spirit shapes a profound meditation on power, chaos, and the enduring resonance of Shakespearean influence.

Rated: 9

Mar 3, 2024

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Kurosawa is not merely true to Shakespeare’s story, he brings scenes alive with a cultural twist and a visual mastery...

Aug 19, 2023

Full Review

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Audience Reviews

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Spencer Nielsen In the same breath one of the most beautiful and bleak spectacles ever filmed. Kurosawa once again gives evidence for being one of the all-time masters of the art. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 05/31/24 Full Review Stephen C The best of Japanese cinema!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/13/25 Full Review Jay W "Ran" is Kurosawa's version of Shakespeare's "King Lear". Now, Shakespeare wrote a lot of great plays, but not many would call "King Lear" his best play. Likewise, Kurosawa directed a lot of great films, but not many would call "Ran" his best movie.The visuals are all on point. The cinematography, the colors, the sweeping landscapes and action scenes are all beautiful. Above all, Kurosawa can still artfully frame and block a shot.The problem with the film comes from the characters. Every character is in some deranged state of mind. Everyone is crazy, insane, mad or some combination of the three. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 04/14/25 Full Review Steve C Nothing like the old days. The scale of the production and film length. Real horses and massive amount of extras. Like it's title. The story line becomes chaos. That ending, poor kid ... Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/13/25 Full Review Ads T Sprawling- albeit slow moving- work of art with absolutely stunning cinematography and intense performances. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/25 Full Review Liam D Kurosawa’s second adaptation of an Shakespeare classic and his last masterpiece is a grand epic that should be watched by fans of the Japanese auteur Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 12/15/24 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

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Akira Kurosawa Director Tatsuya Nakadai Lord Hidetora Ichimonji Mieko Harada Lady Kaede Akira Terao Taro Takatora Ichimonji Jinpachi Nezu Jiro Masatora Ichimonji Daisuke Ryu Saburo Naotora Ichimonji

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Ran (1985)

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Synopsis At the age of seventy, after years of consolidating his empire, the Great Lord Hidetora Ichimonji (Tatsuya Nakadai) decides to abdicate and divide his domain amongst his three sons. Taro (Akira Terao), the eldest, will rule. Jiro (Jinpachi Nezu), his second son, and Saburo (Daisuke Ryu) will take command of the Second and Third Castles but are expected to obey and support their elder brother. Saburo defies the pledge of obedience and is banished.

Director: Akira Kurosawa
Producer: Masato Hara, Serge Silberman
Screenwriter: Masato Ide, Akira Kurosawa, Hideo Oguni, William Shakespeare
Distributor: Orion Pictures
Production Co: Herald Ace, Greenwich Film Productions, Nippon Herald Films
Rating: R
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 1, 1985, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): May 23, 2025
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 29, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $454.0K
Runtime: 2h 40m
Sound Mix: Magnetic Stereo 4 Track, Dolby Stereo, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)