Ran Review (1985) — 91% Celluloid Score
Directed by Akira Kurosawa · 1985 ·
Ran (1985) earns a 91% Celluloid Score — Celluloid Pick. Celluloid Pick — highly recommended.Critics (96%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (89%).
Calculated from 4 available inputs: Celluloid editorial rating, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb. Audience sentiment is shown separately and never changes the composite. See how we calculate scores.
4-input transparent breakdown
🏆 2 award wins — Won Picture of the Year, Japan Academy Film Prize 1986
Toho Where to watch
- BFI Player
Where to watch Ran by country
| Country | Streaming on |
|---|---|
| Japan | Hulu, U-NEXT |
| Turkey | MUBI |
| United Kingdom | StudioCanal Presents |
| United States | BFI Player |
Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.
Why this score?
- Celluloid's editorial rating is exceptional (96/100).
- General viewers mostly liked it (89%).
- Metascore signals universal acclaim (96/100).
- Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4.4/5).
- IMDb users score it 8.2/10.
Best for
- Viewers who want a well-regarded action, drama pick
- Epic-length viewers who want a big-screen experience
Not ideal for
Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy
Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.
Is Ran worth watching?
Yes — Ran earns a 91% Celluloid Score. Celluloid Pick — highly recommended.
Celluloid Verdict
Kurosawa's King Lear adaptation is among the most visually overwhelming war films ever made.
Celluloid editorial verdict
Critics (96%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (89%).
What is Ran about?
An aging warlord divides his kingdom among three sons, unleashing betrayal, madness, and color-coded carnage across the plains.
Watch the Trailer
Critic Reviews
Ran (1985) Review: A Japanese Classic
★★★★½
Akira Kurosawa's Ran (1985) endures as a defining action landmark from Japan, with scores that still shape how audiences discover cinema from the region.
Essential viewing — a certified classic.
Ran stills
Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.
Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.
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