Described as “an engrossing story” with “memorable characters and stunning action sequences that make it one of the most influential films ever made”, Seven Samurai stands tall even after 70 years. Boasting a flawless 100% rating on reviews website Rotten Tomatoes, this iconic war film ranks as the fourth-best film in history, trailing only behind cinematic giants The Godfather, Casablanca, and LA Confidential on the site’s ranking of the 300 best films ever.
Released in 1954 by the legendary Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, Seven Samurai tells the tale of a 16th century samurai who heeds a village’s call for protection against marauding bandits. Assembling a cohort of warriors, they then train villagers to mount a defense, culminating in an epic confrontation with the bandits threatening their way of life.
Kurosawa, responsible for 30 films over his illustrious career spanning six decades, is celebrated as one of the greatest directors in film history, wielding enormous influence over cinema. Although Seven Samurai was not the top earner of its release year — interestingly falling short of Godzilla’s box office success in 1954 — it emerged as a monumental achievement following Kurosawa’s stumble upon the captivating story while conducting research.
The filming of the monumental production was a saga in itself. Kurosawa reportedly declined to film the village scenes in a studio, demanding instead that an entirely new set be built elsewhere, stating “the quality of the set influences the quality of the actors’ performances”.
He also significantly exceeded the studio’s initial budget, leading them to halt production at least twice. Each time, Kurosawa allegedly went fishing and calmly explained that they had little choice but to let him proceed, given their substantial investment.
Clearly, the effort and expenditure paid off, as the film remains celebrated seven decades after its release. It was remade in Hollywood as The Magnificent Seven, and inspired films like The Dirty Dozen and Ocean’s Eleven.
In addition to its 100% Rotten Tomatoes review, it has five stars in Empire film magazine, the same score in The Guardian and four out of four on renowned review site Roger Ebert.
In 2021, The Guardian film critic Peter Bradshaw described it as “an epic primal myth which has pulsated in cinema ever since, through the genres of westerns, war movies and crime dramas”. He added: “The glorious vigour and strength of this film is presented with such theatrical relish and flair: its energy flashes out of the screen like a sword.”
Marjory Adams of the Boston Globe hailed the classic film, stating: “There are many excellencies in [Seven Samurai]. The acting of the men who are unknown to American audiences but whose talents are obvious; the careful building of suspense; the realism of the battle scenes… [and] the beauties of the countryside.”
Jami Bernard from the New York Daily News commented on its enduring impact: “Every major and minor action director has picked up some tricks from this granddaddy of the form, including slo-mo deaths, ‘you are there’ battle photography, incessant movement and tsunami swarms of attackers.”
Seven Samurai is available free on Amazon Prime Video with a Premium subscription. It is also available to rent on Apple TV for £3.49. It is not available on Netflix in the UK but is in the USA.
