Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning Review (2021) — 81% Celluloid Score
Directed by Keishi Otomo · 2021 ·
Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning (2021) earns a 81% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.
Calculated from 4 available inputs: Celluloid editorial rating, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb. Audience sentiment is shown separately and never changes the composite. See how we calculate scores.
4-input transparent breakdown
Warner Bros. Japan Where to watch
- Netflix
Where to watch Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning by country
| Country | Streaming on |
|---|---|
| India | Netflix |
| Indonesia | Netflix |
| Japan | Netflix, Prime Video, U-NEXT |
| Malaysia | Netflix |
| Nigeria | Netflix |
| Pakistan | Netflix |
| Philippines | Netflix |
| South Africa | Netflix |
| South Korea | Netflix |
| Thailand | Netflix |
| Turkey | Netflix |
| United Arab Emirates | Netflix |
| United Kingdom | Netflix |
| United States | Netflix |
Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.
Why this score?
- Celluloid's editorial rating is exceptional (92/100).
- Audiences widely enjoyed it (91%).
- Metascore is generally favorable (76/100).
- Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4/5).
- Celluloid Score 81% combines 4 verified rating inputs; audience sentiment is shown separately.
Best for
- Viewers who want a well-regarded action, adventure, drama, romance 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 Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning worth watching?
Yes — Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning earns a 81% Celluloid Score. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.
Celluloid Verdict
A tragic, ravishing prequel — Satoh and Kasumi Arimura turn Kenshin’s assassin years into the franchise’s most emotionally devastating chapter.
Celluloid editorial verdict
Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.
What is Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning about?
Before he was a protector, Kenshin was Battosai, the feared assassin of the Bakumatsu. When he meets Tomoe Yukishiro — a gentle young woman carrying an unbearable grief — his life and blade are forever changed. The Beginning traces the love, betrayal, and blood that forged the reverse-blade wanderer audiences met in Origins.
Watch the Trailer
Critic Reviews
Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning Review — The Tragedy That Forged the Legend
★★★★★
A ravishing, devastating prequel — Satoh and Kasumi Arimura turn Kenshin’s assassin years into the franchise’s most emotionally powerful film.
The saga’s soul laid bare. Tragic, gorgeous, and unforgettable — the finest Rurouni Kenshin film.
Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning stills
Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.
Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.
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