Zatoichi (2003): cast, story & where to watch
2003 · Film · ★ 7.2
Released in 2003, Zatoichi is an action, drama and adventure film directed by Takeshi Kitano, running about 111 minutes. “His sword made him a hero... his courage made him a legend.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Blind traveler Zatoichi is a master swordsman and a masseur with a fondness for gambling on dice games. When he arrives in a village torn apart by warring gangs, he sets out to protect the townspeople.
Who’s in it. Zatoichi stars Takeshi Kitano as Zatoichi / Ichi, Tadanobu Asano as Hattori Genosuke, Michiyo Yasuda as Tante Oume and Gadarukanaru Taka as Shinkichi, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.2/10, Zatoichi has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $34.2M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Zatoichi page.
If you liked it. Fans of Zatoichi tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Zatoichi (2003)?
- In US, Zatoichi is available to rent or buy from JustWatch TV, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Zatoichi worth watching?
- Zatoichi holds an audience score of 7.2 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action, drama and adventure. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Zatoichi?
- Zatoichi stars Takeshi Kitano, Tadanobu Asano, Michiyo Yasuda, Gadarukanaru Taka and Yui Natsukawa.
- When was Zatoichi released?
- Zatoichi was released in 2003, with a runtime of about 111 minutes.