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Celluloid
Drama

Ikiru

Directed by Akira Kurosawa · 1952 ·

Short answer

Is Ikiru worth watching?

Yes. Ikiru (1952) earns an 82% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

82%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

85% Editorial Rating
87% Audience snapshot · excluded
79 Metascore
★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4
8.3 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
2h 23m
Age rating
NR (US) · 12 (UK) · PG (Australia) · 15 (South Korea)
Cast
Takashi Shimura , Haruo Tanaka , Nobuo Kaneko , Bokuzen Hidari , Miki Odagiri , Shinichi Himori , Minoru Chiaki , Minosuke Yamada , Kamatari Fujiwara , Makoto Kobori
Streaming
HBO Max, The Criterion Channel
Country
Japan
Language
Japanese

Also known as 生きる Vivir Vivre Ikiru - Einmal wirklich leben Viver 이키루 生之欲 生之慾

Where to watch

  • HBO Max
  • The Criterion Channel

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Where to watch Ikiru by country

Country Streaming on
Japan U-NEXT
United Kingdom BFI Player
United States HBO Max, The Criterion Channel

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

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is positive (85/100).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (87%).
  • Metascore is generally favorable (79/100).
  • Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4/5).
  • IMDb users score it 8.3/10.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded drama 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 Ikiru worth watching?

    Yes — Ikiru earns an 82% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded drama pick. Read our full review (4/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    IMDb Top 250 #95 (8.3/10) — Ikiru remains one of the most highly rated films of all time.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

    What is Ikiru about?

    Kanji Watanabe is a middle-aged man who has worked in the same monotonous bureaucratic position for decades. Learning he has cancer, he starts to look for the meaning of his life.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    In-depth 5 min read English Ikiru

    Ikiru (1952) Review: What Makes a Life Useful?

    Takashi Shimura's quiet performance gives Akira Kurosawa's drama its force. A spoiler-free review of bureaucratic routine, mortality and the difficult search for a useful life.

    A moving, demanding drama about finding purpose in ordinary work. Ikiru rewards viewers who welcome moral questions and patient performances; its illness narrative may be difficult if loss is close to home.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    Ikiru stills

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

    Ikiru production still 1
    Ikiru production still 2
    Ikiru production still 3
    Ikiru production still 4
    Ikiru production still 5
    Ikiru 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.

    Ikiru: frequently asked questions

    Is Ikiru worth watching?

    Yes. Ikiru (1952) has a Celluloid Score of 82%, 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 Ikiru?

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

    How long is Ikiru?

    Ikiru runs 2 hours 23 minutes (143 minutes).

    What is Ikiru rated?

    Ikiru is rated NR in the United States, 12 in the UK, PG in Australia and 15 in South Korea. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in Ikiru?

    Ikiru is directed by Akira Kurosawa and stars Takashi Shimura, Haruo Tanaka, Nobuo Kaneko, Bokuzen Hidari, Miki Odagiri.

    What is the Metascore for Ikiru?

    Metacritic's Metascore for Ikiru is 79 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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