It’s sort of an epicwithout having an epic runtime, clocking in at a bladder-respecting 139 minutes.

What remains is the scheming, betrayal, supernatural elements, and inevitable tragic conclusion.

Also, withoutRashomon, the world would never have been blessed withone of the funniest-everThe Simpsonsjokes.

Every-Akira-Kurosawa-Movie-from-the-1950s,-Ranked

Image by Federico Napoli

A poor village under attack by bandits recruitssevenunemployedsamuraito help them defend themselves.

NEXT:Every Akira Kurosawa Movie from the 1960s, Ranked

The Lower Depths - 1957

Image via Toho

Scandal - 1950

Image via Shochiku

I Live in Fear - 1955

Image via Toho Studios

i live in fear poster

The Idiot - 1951

Image via Shochiku

The Hidden Fortress - 1958

Image via Toho

the-hidden-fortress-1958.jpg

Lured by gold, two greedy peasants unknowingly escort a princess and her general across enemy lines.

Cast Placeholder Image

Throne of Blood Toshiro Mifune arrows

Image via Toho

throne-of-blood-1957.jpg

Tajōmaru (Toshiro Mifune), a rugged bandit, shields a woman who points over his shoulder in ‘Rashomon’ (1950).

Image via Daiei Film

Rashomon Movie Poster

Akira Kurosawa’s Ikiru (1952) starring Takashi Shimura

Image via Toho

ikiru-poster.jpg

seven samurai

A poor village under attack by bandits recruitssevenunemployedsamuraito help them defend themselves.

Movie

Rashomon