The 15 Best Yakuza Movies Ever Made, Ranked

Japan's cinematic history is long and storied, with a variety of genres being highly influential, including the extensive genre of yakuza movies. Not only have some of the best Japanese directors of all time made films about yakuza, but some of the best Japanese actors have also appeared in several of them, showing just how prevalent the genre is in Japan. At first glance, Yakuza films are about the lives of members of the Yakuza and how they approach the world, but the very broad definition allows for a varied approach to the production of films in the genre.

Truly emerging in the 1950s, with some emerging earlier, the yakuza genre was largely based in post-war Japan, interested in showing how the changing political landscape could also affect organized crime in the country. With the yakuza having a strict code of honor, exploring how tradition can change quickly, and testing what was previously thought, the genre was easy to explore in depth, leading to some of the best Japanese films of all time.

15

Ichi the Killer (2001)

Directed by Takashi Miike

Takashi Miike is one of Japanese cinema's most polarizing directors, creating a plethora of disturbing films that revel in their gratuitous violence, with a significant portion of his early filmography revolving to some extent around the yakuza. One of his most enduring films is the horror-tinged, yakuza-focused film. Ichi the Assassinwhich has received its fair share of controversy both in Japan and abroad. Despite that, helped catapult Miike into the spotlight following his previous horror film, Hearing.

What it does Ichi the Assassin so good is how it embraces the ultraviolent world of yakuzaportraying the toxic world of the Japanese criminal underworld, which leaves a bloody trail wherever it goes. Tadanobu Asano (Shogun) is admirable in Ichi the Assassin as Kakihara, a yakuza enforcer, alongside Nao Omori as the titular character, who is delightfully sadistic and chilling throughout the film.

14

Under the Open Sky (2020)

Directed by Miwa Nishikawa

Under the open sky is a very different film from the typical yakuza film that has been popular in Japan for decades, and for two main reasons. First, the film revolves around a lifelong member of the yakuza who was released from prison after serving 13 years for murder and struggles to adapt to life outside that system. Second, Few Yakuza films have a female director at the helmbut Miwa Nishikawa embraces the work with her incredible talent.

Koji Yakusho as Masao Mikami is the obvious standout in Under the open sky, since the whole story revolves around him. He takes an already well-written character and creates magic, infusing Mikami with lots of depth and nuance, like a member of the yakuza trying to come to terms with the life he's led and where he might go next with his newfound freedom. It's a remarkable, tender film that doesn't feel the need to adhere to the typical trappings of the yakuza genre.

13

Youth of the Beast (1963)

Directed by Seijun Suzuki

Seijun Suzuki has a long history of working in the yakuza genre and Beast Youth is one of the best films in his filmography. Launched in 1963, Beast Youth features Joe Shishido, a tough guy with a secret agenda who gets caught by the yakuza after being recruited by one of the bosses. It's a classic story within the genre and Seijun Suzuki executes it perfectlybecoming a lasting entry into one of Japan's most enduring genres.

After its release, Beast Youth in fact it wasn't all that well received, barely making it among some of the biggest films of the decade. Still, the film has gained a following over the years and remains a staple of the yakuza genre, as well as Seijun Suzuki's films. Not only is there a lot to discuss narratively with Beast Youthbut it's also an incredibly stylish film.

12

Sonatina (1993)

Directed by Takeshi Kitano

Several yakuza from Tokyo are sent to Osaka to help put an end to a gang war in Sonatinaincluding the elderly Aniki Murakwa played by the always amazing Takeshi Kitano. He also plays double roles in the film, as Kitano is also one of the best “modern” directors in the Japanese film industry, directing several films over the years, including Sonatina. Deadpan humor and moments of incredible violence are present throughout Sonatinawhich is a milestone in Takeshi Kitano's films.

What helps to separate Sonatina with most yakuza fare is how understated the film really isas Kitano is willing to leave the narrative behind to explore the various gang members as they retreat to a beach house when the violence of the gang war begins to escalate. In doing so, the characters have a chance to shine, each revealing a hidden depth that wasn't previously known.

11

The Wolves (1971)

Directed by Hideo Gosha

Launched in 1971, The wolves is directed by Hideo Gosha and is set shortly after World War II, exploring this transitional period and how it affected the yakuza at the time. The story revolves around a yakuza member named Seiji, who discovers that his gang has disbanded while he was imprisoned. Not only must he accept this, but he must also try to confront the shaky morality that prevails in the yakuza world.

What it does The wolves such an impactful film is the way Hideo Gosha explores the post-war scenario, how characters must accept the changing times and the decadent traditions in which they participated for years. Many films set in post-war Japan explore similar concepts, but The wolves does this to an incredibly impressive level.

10

Sympathy for the Oppressed (1971)

Directed by Kinji Fukasaku

Sympathy for the oppressed is simply remarkable and a testament to how good a director Kinji Fukasaku is, especially when it comes to the yakuza genre. This 1971 Japanese classic explores an older yakuza boss who tries to rebuild his organization after serving 10 years in prison. The loyalty shown by gang members is one of the hallmarks that make yakuza films so attractive to watch, emphasizing the honor that these characters feel despite being criminals.

Like many of the best Yakuza films, Sympathy for the oppressed is concerned about the inevitability of change and what that means for gangs that have operated under a certain code for most of their existence. It's a remarkable film that moves at a brisk pace, showing just how much control Kinji Fukasaku has over his craft, as the central narrative never gets lost in the action around him.

9

Cemetery of Honor (2002)

Directed by Takashi Miike

Takashi Miike is a very important Japanese director, and films like Ichi the Assassin and Cemetery of Honor highlight why it has a place in the history of yakuza cinema. His light-hearted disposition towards violence in his films is actually beneficial to his approach to the yakuza genre, and it's what helps Cemetery of Honor, which is a remake of the film of the same name by Kinji Fukasakudiffers from the original film. Miike expands on the original in interesting ways, keeping it fresh despite treading familiar ground.

Therefore Cemetery of Honor Essentially 40 minutes longer than the original, there's plenty of room for Miike to tell an even more complex story, delving into who Rikuo Ishimatsu is even more than the original was able to do with its protagonist. Despite working heavily in the horror genre, Cemetery of Honor can be considered one of Takashi Miike's best films of all time.

8

Violent Cop (1989)

Directed by Takeshi Kitano

Violent Police is another incredible entry in Takeshi Kitano's impressive filmography and a landmark of the yakuza genre in Japan. In fact, the film served as Kitano's directorial debut after Kinji Fukasaku had to resign due to scheduling conflicts. What was to be just an acting role in a legendary director's new film became the beginning of his own career behind the camera, with Kitano being recognized as one of the best directors in Japanese history.

Not only is it Violent Police an important moment in the Japanese film industry, but it's also a very good one, with Takeshi Kitano delivering yet another killer performance as a police detective who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty in the fight against the yakuza. In just one film, Kitano proved that he was not only a great actor, but also a great director.

7

The Tokyo Drifter (1966)

Directed by Seijun Suzuki

Tokyo Drifter is another Yakuza film directed by Seijun Suzuki and is without a doubt the best film of his career, as Suzuki effortlessly combines surrealism and violence to create a truly unique cinematic experience. The film is visually stunning as it is one of the most beautiful yakuza films ever made.as Seijun Suzuki truly embraces the pop art aesthetic that is present throughout. Along with the film's visual language, the soundtrack Tokyo Drifter is to die for.

Tokyo Drifter tells the story of a yakuza enforcer who yearns for a life outside of organized crime after his gang disbands. When his former rivals attempt to assassinate him, Tetsuya Hondo is forced to become a vagabond. It's a pretty standard narrative for a Yakuza film, but it's told with so much visual flair that it's one of the best in the genre.

6

Drunk Angel (1948)

Directed by Akira Kurosawa

Arguably the greatest Japanese director of all time, as well as one of the world's greatest directors, Akira Kurosawa is widely known for his highly influential work in the samurai genre. Still, Kurosawa didn't just work within one genre, as he made several incredible films throughout his career, including one of the greatest yakuza films of all time, drunk angel, which came out in 1948.

What it does Drunk Angel What stands out is that it is one of the first crime films that could be considered a Yakuza filmonce again exploring the yakuza in post-war Japan. Like most of Akira Kurosawa's amazing films, Drunk Angel stars longtime collaborator Toshirō Mifune, the greatest Japanese actor of all time. Their performance in the film is simply incredible, showing how great the duo was throughout their careers.

5

Cemetery of Honor (1975)

Directed by Kinji Fukasaku

The 1975 film, Cemetery of Honoris one of the best yakuza films ever made, chronicling the rise and fall of a yakuza member who finds himself in trouble due to his violent impulses. Directed by the legendary Kinji Fukasaku, Cemetery of Honor is a particular highlight in his long career, showing how well he understood how to make yakuza films and why they are so appealing to so many people.

What differentiates Cemetery of Honor than most other Yakuza films, is that is based on the true story of Rikio Ishikawa and his life as a member of the Yakuza in post-war Japan. The aftermath of World War II is a particularly powerful and important theme in Yakuza films, and Cemetery of Honor uses her true story to explore this scenario while showing the inherent destruction one can bring upon oneself by living a life of self-destruction.

4

Pale Flower (1964)

Directed by Masahiro Shinoda

Pale Flower is a 1964 film that tells the story of a yakuza member released from prison who must learn to accept the ever-changing power dynamics between rival gangs. What helps Pale Flower What stands out alongside the biggest yakuza films is its willingness to adhere to both noir and yakuza tropes, creating a powerful film that continues to raise the stakes throughout its entire runtime.

Pale Flower was directed by Masahiro Shinoda, who has worked in a variety of genres throughout his illustrious career. Yet, Shinoda is particularly known as an important director of Japanese New Wave cinema. throughout the 60s and 70s, a movement of Japanese filmmakers after post-war Japan. It showcased some of the best emerging filmmakers alongside Masahiro Shinoda, with Pale Flower being an important entry in the genre.

3

Battles Without Honor and Humanity (1973)

Directed by Kinji Fukasaku

Often referred to as the “Japanese Godfather”the seminal 1973 film, Battle without Honor and Humanityis one of the most influential Yakuza films of all time. It is also the beginning of the famous film franchise of the same name that ran throughout the 1970s, focusing on the rise of yakuza gangs in post-war Japan, a common theme for the genre. The film follows a former soldier who finds solace in the Japanese underworld.

Once again, Kinji Fukasaku shines as a director, just two years after making Sympathy for the oppressedshowing how prolific and talented he is behind the camera. Battle without Honor and Humanity is honestly one of the best entries in Fukasaku's impressive and extensive filmography, capturing the raw intensity that makes yakuza pictures so enjoyable to watch.

2

Pigs and Battleships (1961)

Directed by Shohei Imamura

Launched in 1961, Pigs and warships is a bold look at the American occupation of Japan after World War IIwith a young yakuza member named Kinta, trying to find his place in a country that doesn't really know how to move on from the horrors of its past. Legendary director Shōhei Imamura admirably navigates this dark satire, creating an incredible, culturally relevant film along the way with important ideas in mind.

The beating heart of Pigs and warships is the relationship between Kinta and his girlfriend Haruko, two poor characters who are in the middle of trade between the yakuza and the American armed forces, having to live within the system that is presented before them. Their relationship is both beautiful and harrowing, really driving home how important Pigs and warships is within the Japanese New Wave genre of the time.

1

Fireworks (1997)

Directed by Takeshi Kitano

Not only is it Fireworks (Hana-bi) the best film directed by Takeshi Kitano, but it is also the best Yakuza film of all timeencapsulating everything that makes the genre so enduring in the Japanese film industry, as well as its global appeal. Launched in 1997, Fireworks tells the story of a man who leaves the police force after facing personal and professional difficulties, falling into depression and starting to make questionable decisions, leading him further into dealing with the yakuza.

In addition to the direction, Takeshi Kitano is excellent throughout the entire runtime of Fireworkswhich could very well be considered one of the best performances of his entire career. He is a monumental figure in the history of Japanese cinema and works as Fireworks show how impactful is the legacy he created in every film he stars in and directs. It's an incredible film from an incredible director and actor, and it defines the yakuza movie already done.