Skip to main content
Celluloid
ActionDramaHistory Editor's Pick

Harakiri Review (1962) — 85% Celluloid Score

Directed by Masaki Kobayashi · 1962 ·

Short answer

Is Harakiri worth watching?

Yes. Harakiri (1962) earns an 85% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

85%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

88% Editorial Rating
90% Audience snapshot · excluded
82 Metascore
★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4.1
8.6 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
2h 15m
Age rating
NR (US) · G (Japan)
Cast
Tatsuya Nakadai , Akira Ishihama , Shima Iwashita , Tetsuro Tamba , Masao Mishima , Ichirō Nakatani , Kei Satō , Yoshio Inaba , Hisashi Igawa , Toru Takeuchi
Streaming
The Criterion Channel
Country
Japan
Language
Japanese

Also known as 切腹 하라키리 Nghi Lễ Mổ Bụng هاراكيري

Where to watch

  • The Criterion Channel

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV

Where to watch Harakiri by country

Country Streaming on
Japan Hulu, U-NEXT
United States The Criterion Channel

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is positive (88/100).
  • Audiences widely enjoyed it (90%).
  • Metascore signals universal acclaim (82/100).
  • Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4.1/5).
  • IMDb users score it 8.6/10.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded action, drama, history pick

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

    Is Harakiri worth watching?

    Yes — Harakiri earns an 85% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded action, drama, history pick. Read our full review (4.5/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    IMDb Top 250 #39 (8.6/10) — Harakiri remains one of the most highly rated films of all time.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

    What is Harakiri about?

    Down-on-his-luck veteran Tsugumo Hanshirō enters the courtyard of the prosperous House of Iyi. Unemployed, and with no family, he hopes to find a place to commit seppuku—and a worthy second to deliver the coup de grâce in his suicide ritual. The senior counselor for the Iyi clan questions the ronin’s resolve and integrity, suspecting Hanshirō of seeking charity rather than an honorable end. What follows is a pair of interlocking stories which lay bare the difference between honor and respect, and promises to examine the legendary foundations of the Samurai code.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English Harakiri

    Harakiri (1962) Review: The Samurai Code on Trial

    Harakiri is Masaki Kobayashi's austere samurai masterpiece, in which a ronin's request to die becomes a devastating indictment of honour and hypocrisy.

    Yes. It is one of the greatest samurai films ever made, best for patient viewers who want a slow-burning moral drama rather than nonstop sword fights.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    Harakiri stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    Harakiri production still 1
    Harakiri production still 2
    Harakiri production still 3
    Harakiri production still 4
    Harakiri production still 5
    Harakiri production still 6

    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    Harakiri: frequently asked questions

    Is Harakiri worth watching?

    Yes. Harakiri (1962) has a Celluloid Score of 85%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

    Where can I watch Harakiri?

    In the United States, Harakiri streams on The Criterion Channel with a subscription, and you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV. Elsewhere: Hulu, U-NEXT in Japan. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is Harakiri?

    Harakiri runs 2 hours 15 minutes (135 minutes).

    What is Harakiri rated?

    Harakiri is rated NR in the United States and G in Japan. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in Harakiri?

    Harakiri is directed by Masaki Kobayashi and stars Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Ishihama, Shima Iwashita, Tetsuro Tamba, Masao Mishima.

    What is the Metascore for Harakiri?

    Metacritic's Metascore for Harakiri is 82 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

    More Like This

    Ranked by genre overlap and Celluloid Score. More movies like Harakiri →