Movies like Harakiri

A feature-film shortlist from the cached Film Atlas engine. The interactive map may include more titles or newer results. These are similarity matches, not a guarantee of age suitability.

1. 

   01

   Three Outlaw Samurai

   Strong story similarity

   1964 · 93 min · Action · Drama

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   Shiba, a wandering ronin, encounters a band of peasants who have kidnapped the daughter of their dictatorial magistrate, in hopes of coercing from him a reduction in taxes. Shiba takes up their fight, joined by two renegades from the magistrate's guard, Sakura and Kikyo. The three outlaws find themselves in a battle to the death.

   Why it connects

   • strong story and style similarity
   • strong shared themes: jidaigeki and ronin
   • strong genre and movie-style overlap

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2. 

   02

   Seven Samurai

   Strong story similarity

   1954 · 207 min · Action · Drama

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   A samurai answers a village's request for protection after he falls on hard times. The town needs protection from bandits, so the samurai gathers six others to help him teach the people how to defend themselves, and the villagers provide the soldiers with food.

   Why it connects

   • strong story and style similarity
   • strong shared themes: black and white and bushi
   • strong genre and movie-style overlap

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3. 

   03

   Taikoki - The Saga of Hideyoshi

   Strong story similarity

   1958 · 102 min · Drama · History

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   From birth Hideyoshi was a restless, defiant spirit--a child of the poorest of the poor. Cast out of his peasant cottage, he would live by his wits, driven by his burning ambition to become a samurai and to find a warlord worth pledging his sword to. This is the story of his rise, and the thunderous battle he pinned his hopes on. The challenge that had already ruined and bloodied the armies of higher-ranking samurai than Hiyoshi. The battle that brought him rank, fame and fortune and transformed him into Hashiba Hideyoshi, right-hand man to the ruthless Lord Oda Nobunaga, and would drive him on to conquer Japan.

   Why it connects

   • strong story and style similarity
   • strong genre and movie-style overlap
   • a closely matched era

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4. 

   04

   Kwaidan

   Same director

   1965 · 183 min · Drama · Fantasy · Horror

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   Taking its title from an archaic Japanese word meaning "ghost story," this anthology adapts four folk tales. A penniless samurai marries for money with tragic results. A man stranded in a blizzard is saved by Yuki the Snow Maiden, but his rescue comes at a cost. Blind musician Hoichi is forced to perform for an audience of ghosts. An author relates the story of a samurai who sees another warrior's reflection in his teacup.

   Why it connects

   • strong story and style similarity
   • the same director
   • a principal cast member

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5. 

   05

   Samurai Assassin

   Strong story similarity

   1965 · 122 min · Action · Drama · History

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   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.

   Why it connects

   • strong story and style similarity
   • strong shared themes: bakumatsu and edo period
   • strong genre and movie-style overlap

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6. 

   06

   Lady Snowblood

   Similar atmosphere

   1973 · 97 min · Action · Crime · Drama

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   A strikingly beautiful young woman is trained from birth to be a deadly instrument of revenge against the swindlers who destroyed her family.

   Why it connects

   • shared themes: japan and revenge
   • shared revenge movie style

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7. 

   07

   Rashomon

   Strong story similarity

   1950 · 88 min · Crime · Drama · Mystery

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   Four people recount different versions of the story of a man's murder and the rape of his wife.

   Why it connects

   • strong story and style similarity
   • strong shared themes: black and white and japan
   • similar audience response

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8. 

   08

   20 Duels of Young Shingo: Conclusion

   Strong story similarity

   1963 · 93 min · Action · Drama · History

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   While on his journey through the countryside of Japan, Shingo encounters many people whose lives have been affected by his actions. Though the many duels he fought were intended to bring justice to those who sought to do evil, he is faced with the knowledge that his victories have also caused suffering amont the family members of his victims-leading him to question his life's philosophy. This superb film is the final chapter in this part of Shingo's story. A fitting tribute to his quest to be the supreme swordsman.

   Why it connects

   • strong story and style similarity
   • strong genre and movie-style overlap
   • shared themes: japan and samurai

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9. 

   09

   Ugetsu

   Strong story similarity

   1953 · 96 min · Drama · Fantasy · Mystery

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   In 16th century Japan, peasants Genjuro and Tobei sell their earthenware pots to a group of soldiers in a nearby village, in defiance of a local sage's warning against seeking to profit from warfare. Genjuro's pursuit of both riches and the mysterious Lady Wakasa, as well as Tobei's desire to become a samurai, run the risk of destroying both themselves and their wives, Miyagi and Ohama.

   Why it connects

   • strong story and style similarity
   • strong shared themes: black and white and japan
   • similar audience response

   Explore movies like Ugetsu
10. 

    10

    Taira Clan Saga

    Strong story similarity

    1955 · 108 min · Drama · History

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    Japan, 1137. The Taira family, a samurai clan, becomes involved in the disputes between Emperor Toba and the monks of Mount Hiei.

    Why it connects

    • strong story and style similarity
    • strong genre and movie-style overlap

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