The Last Samurai
“In the face of an enemy, in the heart of one man, lies the soul of a warrior.”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Original Theatrical TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2014-07-08
Top Cast
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Tom Cruise
Nathan Algren
Ken Watanabe
Moritsugu Katsumoto
Timothy Spall
Simon Graham
Tony Goldwyn
Col. Benjamin Bagley
Hiroyuki Sanada
Ujio
Koyuki
Taka
Shin Koyamada
Nobutada
Billy Connolly
Zebulon Gant
Togo Igawa
General Hasegawa
Shichinosuke Nakamura
Emperor Meiji
Masato Harada
Omura
William Atherton
Winchester Rep
Chad Lindberg
Winchester Rep Assistant
Scott Wilson
Ambassador Swanbeck
Ray Godshall Sr.
Convention Hall Attendee
Masashi Odate
Omura's Companion
John Koyama
Omura's Bodyguard
Satoshi Nikaido
N.C.O.
Release History & Theatrical Window
December 5, 2003
Wide Cinema Exhibition
August 7, 2006
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$140M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$456.8M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
3.26x
+$316.8M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Edward Zwick
- Screenplay & Story
- John Logan, Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz
- Original Score
- Hans Zimmer
- Original Title
- The Last Samurai
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, Japanese
- Runtime
- 2h 34m
- Production Budget
- $140M
- Worldwide Gross
- $456.8M
- Production Studios
- Radar Pictures, Bedford Falls Productions, Cruise/Wagner Productions, Warner Bros. Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Edward Zwick
John Logan, Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz
Hans Zimmer
John Toll
Victor Du Bois, Steven Rosenblum
Tom Engelman, Richard Solomon, Vincent Ward, Paula Wagner, Edward Zwick
Department Leadership Roster
Tom Engelman
Producer
Paula Wagner
Producer
Victor Du Bois
Editor
Edward Zwick
Producer
Tom Cruise
Producer
Marshall Herskovitz
Producer
Lilly Kilvert
Production Design
John Logan
Screenplay
Scott Kroopf
Producer
John Toll
Director of Photography
Edward Zwick
Screenplay
Edward Zwick
Director
Marshall Herskovitz
Screenplay
Hans Zimmer
Original Music Composer
Ngila Dickson
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Last Samurai.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Last Samurai
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Last Samurai about?
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.
Who directed The Last Samurai?
The Last Samurai was directed by Edward Zwick.
Who stars in The Last Samurai?
The principal cast of The Last Samurai includes Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Timothy Spall, Tony Goldwyn, Hiroyuki Sanada.
When was The Last Samurai released and how long is it?
The Last Samurai was released in 2003 with a total runtime of 2h 34m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Last Samurai?
The Last Samurai had a reported production budget of $140M and grossed $456.8M at the worldwide box office (3.26 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for The Last Samurai?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Last Samurai was composed by Hans Zimmer.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Last Samurai?
The Last Samurai holds official age classifications: AU: MA 15+; CA: 14A; DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); FR: TP; GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).