20 best movies like The Twilight Samurai (2002)

List of the best movies like The Twilight Samurai (2002): Unforgiven, Samurai Assassin, Harakiri, Sekigahara, Tenchu!, Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning, Ironclad 2: Battle for Blood, Samurai Marathon, The Fall of Ako Castle, Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island.

Tags: movies similar to The Twilight Samurai (2002) - full list

Markimdb: 7
Genreaction, thriller, drama, crime, history
CountryJapan
Duration02:15

Set in Hokkaido, Japan in the 1880s. Jubei Kamata (Ken Watanabe), who is on the side of the Edo shogunate government, kills many people. His name is infamous in Kyoto. When the battle at Goryoukaku is about to be finished, Jubei disappears. 10 years later, Jubei lives with his kid in relative peace. He is barely able to make a living. Protecting his dead wife's grave, Jubei has decided to never pick up a sword again, but due to poverty he has no choice but to pick the sword again. Jubei becomes a bounty hunter.

Markimdb: 7.4
Genreaction, drama, adventure, history
CountryJapan

Japan, 1860. The men of the Mito clan, victims of the Ansei purge, anxiously prowl around the Sakurada Gate of Edo Castle with the intention of assassinating Naosuke Ii of Hikone, tairō of the Tokugawa shogunate and responsible for their misfortune.

Markimdb: 8.6
Genreaction, drama, history
CountryJapan
Duration02:13

An unusual request for ritual suicide on a feudal lord's property leads to the unwinding of a greater mystery that challenges the clan's integrity.

Markimdb: 6.3
Genreaction, drama, military, history
CountryJapan

The background to and depiction of a watershed battle in Japanese history, at Sekigahara in 1600, when Tokugawa Ieyasu's Army of the East defeated the Army of the West of Ishida Mitsunari. The story includes the intrigues and shifting loyalties of the various retainers, family members, and samurai.

Markimdb: 7.5
Genreaction, drama, history
CountryJapan

A ronin desperately seeks a way out of financial straits; he allies with the Tosa clan under the ruthless leader Takechi, who quickly takes advantage.

Markimdb: 7.4
Genreaction, melodrama, drama
CountryJapan

Before he was a protector, Kenshin was a fearsome assassin known as Battosai. But when he meets the gentle Tomoe Yukishiro, a beautiful young woman who carries a huge burden in her heart which would change the life of Battosai forever.

Markimdb: 4.3
Genreaction, melodrama, drama, adventure, military, history
CountryUnited Kingdom, Luxembourg, USA, Germany, Serbia
Duration01:40

A survivor of the Great Siege of Rochester Castle fights to save his clan from from Celtic raiders. A sequel to the 2011 film, "Ironclad."

Markimdb: 6.1
Genredrama, history
CountryJapan, United Kingdom

When feudal lord Itakura Katsuakira decides to prepare his samurai troops for the onslaught of modernization by having them compete in a marathon, his independent-minded daughter Yuki secretly joins the race.

Markimdb: 7.1
Genreaction, drama, adventure, history
CountryJapan

This is the story of "The Forty-Seven Ronin." Based on historical events in 1701-2, the movie tells the tale of the Asano clan's downfall and the revenge of its former samurai on the perpetrator of the catastrophe. Lord Asano was goaded, or tricked, into drawing his sword inside the Shogun's palace -- a crime which carried the death penalty. The newly installed Shogun was furious at Asano and ordered all his clan's assets seized, meaning some 20,000 samurai and commoners were unemployed and landless at a stroke. Forty-seven of these ronin (masterless samurai) banded together to take attempt revenge on Lord Kira, who had goaded Asano into drawing his sword.

Markimdb: 7.6
Genreaction, melodrama, drama, adventure, biography, history
CountryJapan

A humble and simple Takezo abandons his life as a knight errant. He's sought as a teacher and vassal by Shogun, Japan's most powerful clan leader. He's also challenged to fight by the supremely confident and skillful Sasaki Kojiro. Takezo agrees to fight Kojiro in a year's time but rejects Shogun's patronage, choosing instead to live on the edge of a village, raising vegetables. He's followed there by Otsu and later by Akemi, both in love with him. The year ends as Takezo assists the villagers against a band of brigands. He seeks Otsu's forgiveness and accepts her love, then sets off across the water to Ganryu Island for his final contest.

Markimdb: 5.8
Genreaction, melodrama, drama, history
CountryHong Kong, China

After the death of her father, a woman is forced to take over as empress and fight to save her kingdom.

Markimdb: 7.2
Genreaction, melodrama, drama, history
CountryUSA, Malta, United Kingdom
Duration02:43

In year 1250 B.C. during the late Bronze age, two emerging nations begin to clash. Paris, the Trojan prince, convinces Helen, Queen of Sparta, to leave her husband Menelaus, and sail with him back to Troy. After Menelaus finds out that his wife was taken by the Trojans, he asks his brother Agamemnom to help him get her back. Agamemnon sees this as an opportunity for power. So they set off with 1,000 ships holding 50,000 Greeks to Troy. With the help of Achilles, the Greeks are able to fight the never before defeated Trojans.

Markimdb: 7
Genreaction, melodrama, drama, adventure, military, history
CountryHong Kong, China
Duration02:06

A heroic tale of three blood brothers and their struggle in the midst of war and political upheaval. It is based on "The Assassination of Ma," a Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) story about the killing of general Ma Xinyi.

Markimdb: 6.8
Genreaction, thriller, comedy, melodrama, drama
CountryJapan

A detective probes the brutal murder of a woman in a red light district while a housewife hides her double life as a prostitute from her husband.

Markimdb: 6.6
Genreaction, melodrama, drama, adventure, western, military, biography, history
CountryUSA

A story of love, friendship, survival and triumph spanning five decades from the Texas Revolution through the Civil War, Reconstruction and beyond.

Markimdb: 6.8
Genreaction, melodrama, drama, western, history
CountryUSA
Duration02:01

Union officer Kerry Bradford escapes from a Confederate prison and races to intercept $5 million in gold destined for Confederate coffers. A Confederate sympathizer and a Mexican bandit, each with their own stake in the loot, stand in his way.

Markimdb: 6.6
Genreaction, drama, history
CountryJapan
Duration02:08

Follow the infamous ninja bandit named Ishikawa Goemon (Yosuke Eguchi) in an epic story. One night while looting treasure from Nanban (Southern Barbarians), Goemon finds a mysterious box hidden inside a secret grave. A forgotten relic from the past containing untold powers.

Markimdb: 5.6
Genreaction, melodrama, drama, adventure, military, biography, history
CountryUSA, United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, France, Italy, Morocco, Thailand
Duration02:55

    Alexander, the King of Macedonia, leads his legions against the giant Persian Empire. After defeating the Persians, he leads his army across the then known world, venturing farther than any westerner had ever gone, all the way to India.

    Markimdb: 7
    Genreaction, drama, history
    CountryJapan

    Iemitsu, Tokugawa Shogun III, hates his eldest son Takechiyo; all his love is given to his younger son Tokumatsu. One day, he orders Takechiyo to an initiation rite in Yedo (today's Tokio). Takechiyo lives far away under the surveillance of Hotta Masamori, head of the Skura clan, where he was also raised. Hotta does suspect some kind of treachery, but he can not ignore the direct command of the Shogun. Therefore, he starts on his travel with Takechiyo and seven accompanying samurais. A large army under the command of Iba Shoemon, a vassal of the Shogun, attacks their night camp in the vicinity of a copper mine. Hotta dies in this first battle, but Takechiyo and the samurai manage to escape. They are chased by the army, and several skirmishes between the small force and the larger army follow.

    Markimdb: 6.3
    Genreaction, fantasy, drama
    CountryUSA, United Kingdom, Japan, Hungary
    Duration01:59

    Based on the original 1941 movie from Japan, and from ancient Japan’s most enduring tale, the epic 3D fantasy-adventure 47 Ronin is born. Keanu Reeves leads the cast as Kai, an outcast who joins Oishi (Hiroyuki Sanada), the leader of the 47 outcast samurai. Together they seek vengeance upon the treacherous overlord who killed their master and banished their kind. To restore honor to their homeland, the warriors embark upon a quest that challenges them with a series of trials that would destroy ordinary warriors.

    Markimdb: 6.9
    Genreaction, drama, western, military, biography, history
    CountryUSA
    Duration02:49

    In 1863, Mississippi farmer Newt Knight serves as a medic for the Confederate Army. Opposed to slavery, Knight would rather help the wounded than fight the Union. After his nephew dies in battle, Newt returns home to Jones County to safeguard his family but is soon branded an outlaw deserter. Forced to flee, he finds refuge with a group of runaway slaves hiding out in the swamps. Forging an alliance with the slaves and other farmers, Knight leads a rebellion that would forever change history.

    Markimdb: 7
    Genreaction, melodrama
    CountryJapan

    Raised suckling poison arrows among the sparring Iga ninja factions, Mumon (Satoshi Ohno, of idol group Arashi) is a carefree 16th-century mercenary. When the ninja council makes a power play to defeat the young Nobukatsu Oda struggling to step into his father’s warlord shoes as they expand rule across the country, Mumon jumps into the fray to satisfy his new bride Okuni’s (Satomi Ishihara of Shin Godzilla, Attack on Titan) demand that he make good on his promises of wealth. Yet Mumon soon finds what is worth fighting for beyond money or nation. A longtime JAPAN CUTS favorite known for his offbeat dramas, Yoshihiro Nakamura (Fish Story, Golden Slumber) takes on the jidaigeki epic with his signature sense of play featuring a jazzy soundtrack and fantastical ninja tricks. -JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film

    Markimdb: 7.6
    Genremelodrama, drama, musical, military, history
    CountryUnited Kingdom, USA
    Duration02:38

      An adaptation of the successful stage musical based on Victor Hugo's classic novel set in 19th-century France, in which a paroled prisoner named Jean Valjean seeks redemption.

      Markimdb: 6.4
      Genreaction, melodrama, drama, adventure, western, history
      CountryUSA
      Duration02:06

      Texas Ranger Dusty Rivers ("Isn't that a contradiction in terms?", another character asks him) travels to Canada in the 1880s in search of Jacques Corbeau, who is wanted for murder. He wanders into the midst of the Riel Rebellion, in which Métis (people of French and Native heritage) and Natives want a separate nation. Dusty falls for nurse April Logan, who is also loved by Mountie Jim Brett. April's brother is involved with Courbeau's daughter Louvette, which leads to trouble during the battles between the rebels and the Mounties. Through it all Dusty is determined to bring Corbeau back to Texas (and April, too, if he can manage it.)

      Markimdb: 7.6
      Genreaction, drama, history
      CountryJapan
      Duration03:24

      The story tells of a group of samurai who were left leaderless (becoming ronin) after their daimyo (feudal lord) was forced to commit seppuku (ritual suicide) for assaulting a court official named Kira Yoshinaka, whose title was Kōzuke no suke. The ronin avenged their master's honor after patiently waiting and planning for over a year to kill Kira. In turn, the ronin were themselves forced to commit seppuku for committing the crime of murder.

      Markimdb: 5.6
      Genreaction, melodrama, drama, military, history
      CountryIndia

      Julia travels to the Indo-Burma border to perform for the troops during the World War II, on the insistence of Billimoria, her lover. She finds herself in love with Jemadar Malik, a soldier there.

      Markimdb: 6.2
      Genreaction, melodrama, drama, military, history
      CountryUSA
      Duration03:03

      The lifelong friendship between Rafe McCawley and Danny Walker is put to the ultimate test when the two ace fighter pilots become entangled in a love triangle with beautiful Naval nurse Evelyn Johnson. But the rivalry between the friends-turned-foes is immediately put on hold when they find themselves at the center of Japan's devastating attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

      Markimdb: 7.6
      Genreaction, drama, adventure
      CountryJapan

      A guilt-haunted samurai warrior attempts to stop a massacre taking place.

      Markimdb: 5.1
      Genreaction, drama
      CountryJapan, France

      A blind master swordsman attempts to lead a quiet life with his wife but he is provoked back into battle.

      Markimdb: 7.7
      Genreaction, drama
      CountryUSA, New Zealand, Japan
      Duration02:34

      Nathan Algren is an American hired to instruct the Japanese army in the ways of modern warfare, which finds him learning to respect the samurai and the honorable principles that rule them. Pressed to destroy the samurai's way of life in the name of modernization and open trade, Algren decides to become an ultimate warrior himself and to fight for their right to exist.

      Markimdb: 6.5
      Genreaction, melodrama, drama, military, history
      CountryUnited Kingdom, USA
      Duration02:20

      The adventures of the Lafayette Escadrille, young Americans who volunteered for the French military before the U.S. entered World War I, and became the country's first fighter pilots.

      Markimdb: 6.1
      Genreaction, thriller, melodrama, drama, adventure, military, history
      CountrySpain
      Duration02:25

      In 17th century Spain Diego Alatriste, a brave and heroic soldier, is fighting in his King's army in the Flandes region. His best mate, Balboa, falls in a trap and, near to death, asks Diego to look after his son and teach him to be a soldier.

      Markimdb: 6.6
      Genreaction, melodrama, drama, adventure, military, biography, history
      CountryUSA, Lithuania
      Duration02:57

      Attila was an American TV miniseries set during the waning days of the Western Roman Empire, in particular during the invasions of the Huns in Europe.

      Markimdb: 6.9
      Genreaction, thriller, melodrama, drama, adventure, history
      CountryUSA

      Louis Hayward, star of 1940's Son of Monte Cristo, returns to Alexandre Dumas territory in Columbia's Return of Monte Cristo. This time, Hayward plays the grandson of his namesake Edmond Dantes, who, it will be recalled, was cheated out of his fortune and falsely imprisoned, only to escape and wreak vengeance on his betrayers by assuming the guise of the Count of Monte Cristo. Just like grandpa, the younger Dantes is framed by a trio of connivers and shipped off to Devil's Island. Escaping with a fellow convict, political radical Bombelles (Steven Geray), Dantes adopts the bearded guise of an elderly man in order to destroy his enemies and reclaim his birthright. One of his principal antagonists - at least during the first half of the film - is haughty aristocrat Angele Picard (Barbara Britton), who because she wasn't a part of the original conspiracy genuinely believes that Dantes is a criminal.

      Markimdb: 6.9
      Genremelodrama, drama, biography, history
      CountryUSA
      Duration02:01

      The newly named emperor Maximilian and his wife Carolotta arrive in Mexico to face popular sentiment favoring Benito Juraez and democracy..

      Markimdb: 6.6
      Genreaction, melodrama, drama, adventure, western, music
      CountryUSA
      Duration01:31

      An itinerant farmer and his young son help a heart-of-gold saloon singer search for her estranged husband

      Markimdb: 7.7
      Genrethriller, melodrama, drama, crime
      CountryJapan

      The chaotic worlds of the Yakuza and an alcoholic doctor collide in this film noir classic from Akira Kurosawa. Gangster Toshiro Mifune visits doctor Takashi Shimura, after an unfortunate incident with a bullet. The doctor, who despises the Yakuza, discovers the young man is suffering from tuberculosis, a disease symbolic of what is happening to the doctor and the community he serves. Facing his own anger and fear, the doctor aligns himself with the gangster's world.

      Markimdb: 7.7
      Genreaction, melodrama, drama, adventure, military, history
      CountryEgypt

      Saladin, the first sultan of Egypt and Syria, leads the Muslim military campaign against the invading Christians from Europe during the Third Crusade.

      Markimdb: 5.7
      Genreaction, melodrama, drama, military, history
      CountryRussia
      Duration02:32

      September 1941. In a turn of events young lovebirds Kostya and Nastya find themselves on board of a barge that will evacuate people from sieged Leningrad. At night the barge gets into the storm. When it starts sinking, enemy planes - but not rescuers - are the first to arrive at the scene.

      Markimdb: 6.4
      Genreaction, melodrama, drama, military, history
      CountryRomania, Hungary, Canada, USA

      Regent Horthy is the leader of Hungary and a German ally, but his favorable standing with Hitler changes as the war comes to an end. Forced to cede Hungary’s power or else witness the execution of his son, Regent Horthy gives up control of his country to the Nazis, who quickly move Hungarians to ghettos and death camps, with no hope in sight. But the despair changes when a young man named Elek emerges. Separated from his family during the relocations and aided by the woman he loves , Elek defies the enemy by becoming one of them. In a race against time, disguised as a Nazi Officer he embarks on a mission to save his family and thousands of his countrymen.

      Markimdb: 6.8
      Genreaction, drama, history
      CountryRepublic of Ireland, Luxembourg, Belgium
      Duration01:51

      In 1847, when Ireland is in the grip of the Great Famine that has ravaged the country for two long years, Feeney, a hardened Irish Ranger who has been fighting for the British Army abroad, returns home to reunite with his estranged family, only to discover the cruelest reality, a black land where death reigns.




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