Rotten Tomatoes
Suggestions will appear as you start typing. Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Ran

Play trailer Poster for Ran R 1985 2h 40m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
96% Tomatometer 90 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
At the age of seventy, after years of consolidating his empire, the Great Lord Hidetora Ichimonji (Tatsuya Nakadai) decides to abdicate and divide his domain amongst his three sons. Taro (Akira Terao), the eldest, will rule. Jiro (Jinpachi Nezu), his second son, and Saburo (Daisuke Ryu) will take command of the Second and Third Castles but are expected to obey and support their elder brother. Saburo defies the pledge of obedience and is banished.
Ran

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Akira Kurosawa's sprawling, epic take on King Lear should be required viewing for fans of westerns, war movies, or period films in general.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Sergio Burstein Los Angeles Times Jun 9, 2025
A level of spectacularity that continues to surprise to this day. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review David Robinson The Times (UK) Jan 29, 2020
Ran takes film spectacle to new heights. Kurosawa continues not only to extend his own powers but to exploit new technical advances. Go to Full Review Nigel Andrews Financial Times Jan 29, 2020
There is not a wasted second. [Here] is proof of what we seldom doubted: Kurosawa is a director who becomes godlike rather than gaga in old age. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Nov 29, 2025
4/4
Kurosawa managed to fashion a movie that embodies that most overriding of cinematic oxymorons: an intimate epic. Go to Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Jul 25, 2025
4/5
…Ran means turmoil, and feudal dispute is at the heart of this stunning-looking film…Kurosawa’s swan song is a triumphant final curtain on one of cinema’s key figures for spectacle and story alike… Go to Full Review Ross McIndoe The Skinny Jul 4, 2024
5/5
Rereleased by StudioCanal to celebrate Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary, his breathtaking adaptation of King Lear proves, so far at least, to be as immune to the effects of time as the original Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Brad Jun 3, 2025 Akira Kurosawas brilliant direction makes this retelling of King Lear one of the best films made in the 80s! See more Wenders F Jun 1, 2025 Great film as I have seen it before but never on a large screen before. Unfortunately we only saw half the film today as the power went out to the theater See more Spencer Nielsen May 31, 2024 In the same breath one of the most beautiful and bleak spectacles ever filmed. Kurosawa once again gives evidence for being one of the all-time masters of the art. See more Thiago R @FlashTommy96 Oct 21, 2026 What a masterpiece! A true cinema masterclass. After the warlord decides to hand everything over to his three sons, each reveals their true colors once power is within reach. Manipulation, betrayal, ingratitude, envy, and ego: all the worst human emotions surface when total control is on the line. An incredible story about the agony of living with guilt and regret, turning life on Earth into a self-made hell where blaming the gods is useless. The action scenes are breathtaking in their sheer scale on screen. The performances might feel a bit unusual or theatrical, but I thought it was just a stylized Japanese approach. On the technical side, the cinematography delivers bold color compositions, the soundtrack steps in only at key moments, and the direction isn't afraid to linger on every scene. The only thing I didn't care for was the abrupt ending; I really would have preferred a more conclusive payoff. See more Lin C @RT06040595 Aug 26, 2026 Japanese King Lear,with the amazing scenes See more Avi P @RT68872000 Aug 11, 2026 One of the greatest films ever made! King Lear meets Feudal Japan in this exploration of family, politics, and war. See more Read all reviews
Ran

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

Akira Kurosawa

Director

Tatsuya Nakadai

Lord Hidetora Ichimonji

Mieko Harada

Lady Kaede

Akira Terao

Taro Takatora Ichimonji

Jinpachi Nezu

Jiro Masatora Ichimonji

Daisuke Ryu

Saburo Naotora Ichimonji

More Like This

View All
Tai-Pan 14% 38% Tai-Pan Watchlist Queen Margot 82% 88% Queen Margot Watchlist Mountains of the Moon 71% 77% Mountains of the Moon Watchlist Schindler's List 98% 97% Schindler's List Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

Ran

Poster Art Ran (1985) Ran (1985) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis At the age of seventy, after years of consolidating his empire, the Great Lord Hidetora Ichimonji (Tatsuya Nakadai) decides to abdicate and divide his domain amongst his three sons. Taro (Akira Terao), the eldest, will rule. Jiro (Jinpachi Nezu), his second son, and Saburo (Daisuke Ryu) will take command of the Second and Third Castles but are expected to obey and support their elder brother. Saburo defies the pledge of obedience and is banished.
Director
Akira Kurosawa
Producer
Masato Hara, Serge Silberman
Screenwriter
Masato Ide, Akira Kurosawa, Hideo Oguni, William Shakespeare
Distributor
Orion Pictures
Production Co
Herald Ace, Greenwich Film Productions, Nippon Herald Films
Rating
R
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 1, 1985, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
May 23, 2025
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 29, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA)
$352.1K
Runtime
2h 40m
Sound Mix
Magnetic Stereo 4 Track, Dolby Stereo, Surround
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings