Throne of Blood

1h 48m · 1957 · Directed by Akira Kurosawa · 4.3 / 5 on Letterboxd

Throne of Blood (1957) runs 1h 48m, directed by Akira Kurosawa. It is one of 3,647 films in the 100 Minute Movies catalog — every one rated 3.0 or higher by Letterboxd members and short enough to finish in an evening.

Returning to their lord's castle, samurai warriors Washizu and Miki are waylaid by a spirit who predicts their futures. When the first part of the spirit's prophecy comes true, Washizu's scheming wife, Asaji, presses him to speed up the rest of the spirit's prophecy by murdering his lord and usurping his place. Director Akira Kurosawa's resetting of William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" in feudal Japan is one of his most acclaimed films.

Genres: Drama, History

Where to watch: HBO Max (US, checked 9 July 2026)