The Idiot (1951): cast, story & where to watch
1951 · Film · ★ 7
Released in 1951, The Idiot is a drama and romance film directed by Akira Kurosawa, running about 166 minutes.
What it’s about. Kameda, who has been in an asylum on Okinawa, travels to Hokkaido. There he becomes involved with two women, Taeko and Ayako. Taeko comes to love Kameda, but is loved in turn by Akama. When Akama realizes that he will never have Taeko, his thoughts turn to murder, and great tragedy ensues.
Who’s in it. The Idiot stars Setsuko Hara as Taeko Nasu, Masayuki Mori as Kinji Kameda, Toshirō Mifune as Denkichi Akama and Yoshiko Kuga as Ayako, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.0/10, The Idiot has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Idiot page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Idiot tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Idiot (1951)?
- In US, The Idiot is available to stream on Criterion Channel. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Idiot worth watching?
- The Idiot holds an audience score of 7.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and romance. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Idiot?
- The Idiot stars Setsuko Hara, Masayuki Mori, Toshirō Mifune, Yoshiko Kuga and Takashi Shimura.
- When was The Idiot released?
- The Idiot was released in 1951, with a runtime of about 166 minutes.