Le Samouraï
“His only friend was his gun!”
Synopsis
After carrying out a flawlessly planned hit, Jef Costello, a contract killer with samurai instincts, finds himself caught between a persistent police investigator and a ruthless employer, and not even his armor of fedora and trench coat can protect him.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
4K Restoration Trailer [Subtitled]Official
Type: Trailer • Published 2024-03-13
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Alain Delon
Jef Costello
François Périer
Superintendant
Nathalie Delon
Jane Lagrange
Cathy Rosier
Valérie
Michel Boisrond
Wiener
Catherine Jourdan
Locker Room Girl
Jean-Pierre Posier
Olivier Rey
Robert Favart
Bartender
Jacques Leroy
Walkway Man
Roger Fradet
Inspector #1
Carlo Nell
Inspector #2
Robert Rondo
Inspector #3
André Salgues
Garage Owner
André Thorent
Policeman / Taxi Driver
Jacques Deschamps
Policeman Speaker
Georges Casati
Damolini
Jacques Léonard
Garcia
Pierre Vaudier
Policeman of the night visit #1
Release History & Theatrical Window
Mar del Plata Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
July 12, 1972
Wide Cinema Exhibition
June 10, 2004
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
Undisclosed
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$215K
Total global ticket sales
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jean-Pierre Melville
- Screenplay & Story
- Jean-Pierre Melville, Georges Pellegrin
- Original Score
- François de Roubaix
- Original Title
- Le Samouraï
- Country of Origin
- France, Italy
- Spoken Languages
- French
- Runtime
- 1h 45m
- Worldwide Gross
- $215K
- Production Studios
- Compagnie Industrielle et Commerciale Cinématographique, Fida Cinematografica, Filmel, TC Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jean-Pierre Melville
Jean-Pierre Melville, Georges Pellegrin
François de Roubaix
Henri Decaë
Monique Bonnot, Yolande Maurette
Raymond Borderie, Eugène Lépicier
Department Leadership Roster
Jean-Pierre Melville
Screenplay
Monique Bonnot
Editor
Jean-Pierre Melville
Director
Georges Pellegrin
Screenplay
Henri Decaë
Director of Photography
Raymond Borderie
Producer
Eugène Lépicier
Producer
Yolande Maurette
Editor
François de Lamothe
Production Design
François de Roubaix
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Le Samouraï.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Le Samouraï.
G Movies
G's Moves To Watch
Watched Movies
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (All editions 2003-2024). A cumulative list including films subsequently removed in later editions. Totaling 1,260 films as of Nov 2024. 《1001部死前必看的电影》（2003-2024 全版本累积版）： 包含自2003年首版至2024年11月德语版修订的所有影片。即使在后期版本中被剔除的电影也予以保留。 *注：榜单源数据中包含部分剧集/迷你剧，由于本片单只收录纯电影，故不再收录以下非电影条目：* • [#019] Lovers Rock (2020) • [#418] Dekalog (1989) *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:40:36 UTC+8)*
Roger Ebert's Great Movies
Every film from Roger Ebert's 'Great Movies' essays. 罗杰·伊伯特的伟大电影： 收录了已故美国著名国民级影评人罗杰·伊伯特（Roger Ebert）在其经典的《伟大电影》（Great Movies）系列专栏文章中推荐、评论过的所有影史经典佳作。 *注：榜单源数据中包含部分剧集/迷你剧，由于本片单只收录纯电影，故不再收录以下非电影条目：* • [#092] Dekalog (1989) *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:39:08 UTC+8)*
Letterboxd's Top 500 Films
Letterboxd's Top 500 Films. Ranks narrative feature films by average member rating (minimum 25,000 ratings). Excludes documentaries, shorts, and TV series. Letterboxd 官方 Top 500 电影榜单： 根据用户平均评分排名的剧情长片（最低2.5万评价门槛）。已排除纪录片、短片及剧集。 *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:35:27 UTC+8)*
TSPDT - 1000 Greatest Films
They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? (TSPDT) - The 1,000 Greatest Films. A definitive meta-list aggregating thousands of critics' polls, historical rankings, and director top 10s to represent the ultimate critical consensus in cinema history. TSPDT 影史最伟大的1000部电影： 全球最权威的电影元榜单，由该网站汇总世界各大电影刊物历史评选结果及数千名影评人、学者的个人十佳榜单，通过算法加权计算得出的终极共识。 *片单说明：* 本片单只收录纯电影，以下剧集或迷你剧不予收录： • [#335] Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) • [#514] Twin Peaks: The Return (2017) • [#614] Edvard Munch (1974) • [#703] The Sorrow and the Pity (1969) • [#890] Elephant (1989) • [#925] Heimat (1984) • [#968] Doomed Love (1978) 以下作品在 TMDB 被拆分为多个独立电影条目；本片单按作品/章节顺序连续收录，且每个分拆条目均沿用同一 TSPDT 名次： • [#171] Dekalog (1989) — 展开为 10 部电影 • [#988] Olympia (1938) — 展开为 2 部电影 *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:30:01 UTC+8)*
Similar Titles to Le Samouraï
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
7.1
7.8
7.5
5.6
6.5
7.6
7.7
7.7
8.1
7.8
7.7
5.9
8.0
7.0
7.1
7.9
7.6
5.4
7.5
7.8
More Like Le Samouraï
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About Le Samouraï
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Le Samouraï about?
After carrying out a flawlessly planned hit, Jef Costello, a contract killer with samurai instincts, finds himself caught between a persistent police investigator and a ruthless employer, and not even his armor of fedora and trench coat can protect him.
Who directed Le Samouraï?
Le Samouraï was directed by Jean-Pierre Melville.
Who stars in Le Samouraï?
The principal cast of Le Samouraï includes Alain Delon, François Périer, Nathalie Delon, Cathy Rosier, Michel Boisrond.
When was Le Samouraï released and how long is it?
Le Samouraï was released in 1967 with a total runtime of 1h 45m.
How much did Le Samouraï make at the box office?
Le Samouraï grossed $215K in worldwide ticket sales.
Who composed the musical score for Le Samouraï?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Le Samouraï was composed by François de Roubaix.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Le Samouraï?
Le Samouraï holds official age classifications: DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); FR: TP; US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).