Yojimbo

1h 50m · 1961 · Directed by Akira Kurosawa · 4.3 / 5 on Letterboxd

Yojimbo (1961) runs 1h 50m, 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.

A nameless ronin, or samurai with no master, enters a small village in feudal Japan where two rival businessmen are struggling for control of the local gambling trade. Taking the name Sanjuro Kuwabatake, the ronin convinces both silk merchant Tazaemon and sake merchant Tokuemon to hire him as a personal bodyguard, then artfully sets in motion a full-scale gang war between the two ambitious and unscrupulous men.

Genres: Drama, Thriller

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