Yojimbo (1961)

Drama Thriller
→ Influenced 8 films ← Inspired by 3 films

A nameless ronin, or samurai with no master, enters a small village in feudal Japan where two rival businessmen are struggling for control of the local gambling trade. Taking the name Sanjuro Kuwabatake, the ronin convinces both silk merchant Tazaemon and sake merchant Tokuemon to hire him as a personal bodyguard, then artfully sets in motion a full-scale gang war between the two ambitious and unscrupulous men.

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Connections

← Inspired By

The Glass Key
The Glass Key (1942)1
 Red Harvest
Red Harvest (1929)2
 Humanity and Paper Balloons
Humanity and Paper Balloons (1937)3

→ Influenced

Django
Django (1966)4
 The Warrior and the Sorceress
The Warrior and the Sorceress (1984)5
 Last Man Standing
Last Man Standing (1995)6
 Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)7
 Princess Mononoke
Princess Mononoke (1997)8
 The Warriors
The Warriors (1979)9
 A Fistful of Dollars
A Fistful of Dollars (1964)10
 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)11

Sources

Influenced By

  1. The Glass Key (1942)
    "Kurosawa acknowledged this film noir adaptation of Dashiell Hammett's novel as a significant influence on *Yojimbo*, with certain scenes closely mirroring those in *The Glass Key*." Yojimbo Akira Kurosawa info
  2. Red Harvest (1929)
    "While Kurosawa did not explicitly cite this Dashiell Hammett novel, scholars have noted strong similarities between its plot and that of *Yojimbo*." Red Harvest Wikipedia
  3. Humanity and Paper Balloons (1937)
    "This pre-war Japanese film by Sadao Yamanaka is considered an influence on *Yojimbo*, particularly in its portrayal of samurai and ronin characters." Yojimbo Akira Kurosawa info

Influenced

  1. Django (1966)
    "Directed by Sergio Corbucci, this film is another Spaghetti Western that draws inspiration from *Yojimbo*. While it deviates more from Kurosawa's script than *A Fistful of Dollars*, the character of Django closely resembles the masterless samurai from *Yojimbo*." Star Wars And 9 Other Hollywood Movies Inspired By Japanese Cinema Shaurya Thapa ScreenRant
  2. The Warrior and the Sorceress (1984)
    "This fantasy film, starring David Carradine, is a retelling of *Yojimbo* set in a fantasy world. The film's plot closely mirrors that of Kurosawa's original, with the protagonist playing two rival factions against each other." The Warrior and the Sorceress Wikipedia
  3. Last Man Standing (1995)
    "Directed by Walter Hill and starring Bruce Willis, this film is a credited remake of *Yojimbo*. Set during the Prohibition era, it transposes the story of a lone warrior manipulating rival gangs to 1920s America." Last Man Standing %281996 film%29 Wikipedia
  4. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)
    "George Lucas's iconic film pays homage to *Yojimbo* during the cantina scene. In this scene, Obi-Wan Kenobi intervenes when Luke Skywalker is threatened, mirroring a similar sequence in *Yojimbo* where the protagonist confronts gamblers." Yojimbo Wikipedia
  5. Princess Mononoke (1997)
    "Directed by Akira Kurosawa, this jidaigeki (period drama) film influenced Miyazaki's exploration of historical Japanese settings and complex character dynamics in "Princess Mononoke." The film's themes of moral ambiguity and conflict resonate with Miyazaki's narrative." Wiki source
  6. The Warriors (1979)
    "The stylized action and themes of honor and survival in Akira Kurosawa's "Yojimbo" influenced the narrative and visual style of "The Warriors."" "The Warriors" fights on Allen Barra Salon.com
  7. A Fistful of Dollars (1964)
    "Akira Kurosawa's samurai film about a ronin who manipulates two rival factions in a small town closely mirrors the plot of "A Fistful of Dollars." Leone's film is widely regarded as an unofficial remake of "Yojimbo."" A Fistful of Dollars Wikipedia
  8. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
    "Akira Kurosawa's samurai film about a ronin who manipulates two rival factions in a small town. Leone's earlier film, "A Fistful of Dollars," was an unlicensed remake of "Yojimbo," leading to a lawsuit from Kurosawa's production company." A Fistful of Dollars Wikipedia