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The Last Samurai

Directed by Edward Zwick · 2003 ·

Short answer

Is The Last Samurai worth watching?

Yes. The Last Samurai (2003) earns a 67% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audiences (86%) responded more warmly than critics (66%). See the 4 inputs.

67%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

66% Editorial Rating
86% Audience snapshot · excluded
55 Metascore
★★★½☆ Letterboxd 3.5
7.8 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
2h 34m
Age rating
R (US) · 15 (UK) · MA 15+ (Australia) · 14A (Canada) · 15 (South Korea)
Cast
Tom Cruise , Ken Watanabe , Timothy Spall , Tony Goldwyn , Hiroyuki Sanada , Koyuki , Shin Koyamada , Billy Connolly , Togo Igawa , Shichinosuke Nakamura
Streaming
fuboTV, HBO Max, MGM+
Language
English

Also known as El Último Samurái Le Dernier Samouraï Last Samurai O Último Samurai ラスト・サムライ 라스트 사무라이 最后的武士 末代武士

Where to watch

  • fuboTV
  • HBO Max
  • MGM+

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

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

Where to watch The Last Samurai by country

Country Streaming on
India Netflix
Japan Prime Video, Hulu, U-NEXT
Turkey Netflix, Prime Video
United Arab Emirates Shahid
United Kingdom Netflix, HBO Max, Sky Cinema, ITVX
United States fuboTV, HBO Max, MGM+

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

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is positive (66/100).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (86%).
  • Celluloid Score 67% combines 4 rating inputs; audience sentiment is shown separately. Consult the source notes for verification dates where recorded.

Best for

  • Epic-length viewers who want a big-screen experience
  • Crowd-pleaser seekers — audiences liked it more than critics

Not ideal for

  • Viewers who only watch top-tier, 90%+ rated films

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 The Last Samurai worth watching?

Yes — The Last Samurai earns a 67% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits epic-length viewers who want a big-screen experience, but viewers who only watch top-tier, 90%+ rated films may want to skip it.

Celluloid verdict

Cruise’s Civil War captain finds honor among samurai — a sweeping epics-of-empire vehicle with Ken Watanabe.

, Founder & Editor

Audiences (86%) responded more warmly than critics (66%).

What is The Last Samurai about?

Nathan Algren is an American hired to instruct the Japanese army in the ways of modern warfare, which finds him learning to respect the samurai and the honorable principles that rule them. Pressed to destroy the samurai's way of life in the name of modernization and open trade, Algren decides to become an ultimate warrior himself and to fight for their right to exist.

Watch the Trailer

The Last Samurai stills

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

The Last Samurai production still 1
The Last Samurai production still 2
The Last Samurai production still 3
The Last Samurai production still 4
The Last Samurai production still 5
The Last Samurai production still 6

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

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The Last Samurai: frequently asked questions

Is The Last Samurai worth watching?

Yes. The Last Samurai (2003) has a Celluloid Score of 67%, 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 The Last Samurai?

In the United States, The Last Samurai streams on fuboTV, HBO Max, MGM+ 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: Netflix in India; Prime Video, Hulu, U-NEXT in Japan; Netflix, Prime Video in Turkey; Shahid in the United Arab Emirates. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

How long is The Last Samurai?

The Last Samurai runs 2 hours 34 minutes (154 minutes).

What is The Last Samurai rated?

The Last Samurai is rated R in the United States, 15 in the UK, MA 15+ in Australia, 14A in Canada 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 The Last Samurai?

The Last Samurai is directed by Edward Zwick and stars Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Timothy Spall, Tony Goldwyn, Hiroyuki Sanada.

What is the Metascore for The Last Samurai?

Metacritic's Metascore for The Last Samurai is 55 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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