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Takashi Miike's greatest movies
Takashi Miike's greatest movies
by kluseba | created - 57 minutes ago | updated - 3 seconds ago | Public
I discovered my first Takashi Miike movie ten years ago at the tender age of twenty years. As time went by, this director's vibrant, expressive and experimental style has become my favourite. While it was difficult to find his movies a decade ago, things have improved thanks to globalization. I have now watched twenty-six of his movies and continue to discover new films every now and then. Please take a look at this list of my favourite Takashi Miike movies, ranked from best to worst. Give this unique director a chance!
See titles to watch instantly, titles you haven't rated, etc1. Blade of the Immortal (2017)
18A | 140 min | Action, Drama
Cursed with a life of immortality, a samurai is tasked by a young girl to help avenge the death of her father. Based on the manga series by Hiroaki Samura.
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Takuya Kimura, Hana Sugisaki, Sôta Fukushi, Hayato Ichihara
Votes: 14 592 | Gross: $0.15M
98% - This dynamic action movie with its unique characters, stunning locations and surprising plot based upon a popular manga is as epic as it gets.
2. Audition (1999)
16 | 115 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
A widower takes an offer to screen girls at a special audition, arranged for him by a friend to find him a new wife. The one he fancies is not who she appears to be after all.
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Ryo Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina, Tetsu Sawaki, Jun Kunimura
Votes: 70 872
Available on Amazon94% - This movie starts as a fragile drama that slowly turns into a gloomy mystery thriller and ends as brutal horror film.
3. Les affranchis de Shinjuku (1995)
16+ | 100 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Amidst a Chinese and Japanese mafia war, a lawyer for the Chinese mob finds a rift forming between him and his corrupt police office brother.
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Kippei Shîna, Tomorô Taguchi, Takeshi Caesar, Ren Osugi
Votes: 2 020
Available on Amazon93% - The director's breakthrough movie that defined his career convinces with complex characters, revolting decadence and some food for thought.
4. Gozu (2003)
16 | 129 min | Crime, Drama, Horror
A yakuza enforcer is ordered to secretly drive his beloved colleague to be assassinated. But when the colleague unceremoniously disappears en route, the trip that follows is a twisted, surreal and horrifying experience.
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Yûta Sone, Kimika Yoshino, Shôhei Hino, Keiko Tomita
Votes: 11 047 | Gross: $0.05M
92% - This highly experimental and at times surreal gangster movie pushes its genre boundaries in an astonishing way.
5. Kamisama no iu tôri (2014)
117 min | Adventure, Horror, Sci-Fi
A group of high school students are forced to play a game of death without knowing who, why or how.
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Ryûnosuke Kamiki, Lily Franky, Sôta Fukushi, Shôta Sometani
Votes: 4 351
89% - This dystopian science-fiction movie based upon a manga doesn't only offer stunning special effects but also some food of thought.
6. Ichi the Killer (2001)
18 | 129 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
As sadomasochistic yakuza enforcer Kakihara searches for his missing boss he comes across Ichi, a repressed and psychotic killer who may be able to inflict levels of pain that Kakihara has only dreamed of achieving.
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Tadanobu Asano, Nao Ohmori, Shin'ya Tsukamoto, Paulyn Sun
Votes: 51 517 | Gross: $0.02M
Available on Amazon84% - This satirical, overwhelming and brutal gangster movie might be Takashi Miike's roughest film to watch.
7. Yakuza Apocalypse (2015)
R | 115 min | Action, Comedy, Horror
In the ruthless underground world of the yakuza, no one is more legendary than boss Kamiura. Rumored to be invincible, the truth is he is a vampire-a bloodsucking yakuza vampire boss! Among... See full summary »
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Hayato Ichihara, Riko Narumi, Shô Aoyagi, Kiyohiko Shibukawa
Votes: 3 711
83% - This unpredictable, satirical and overwhelming gangster movie includes comedy, drama and science-fiction events that make for an unforgettable ride.
8. Family 2 (2001 Video)
80 min | Crime, Drama
In this continuation of "Family", it is discovered that the one who gave the order to assassinate the Mitsumikai Boss is the one and only Boss of the Japan Mafia: Mr. Nishiwaki. Hideshi ... See full summary »
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Ken'ichi Endô, Kôjirô Hongô, Naoko Inoue, Kôichi Iwaki
Votes: 39
82% - This complex gangster movie in two parts convinces with a detailed story line that is intellectually challenging and visually impressive. The unforgettable ending offers much room for interpretation.
9. Dead or Alive 3 (2002)
Tous publics | 89 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
The ace cop of a totalitarian police force and a drifting android play their parts in a post-apocalyptic society. They are destined to fight. Their encounter will change them forever.
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Shô Aikawa, Maria Chen, Richard Chen, Jason Chu
Votes: 2 313
Available on Amazon81% - This quirky science-fiction movie has a plot that is so strange that it gets more and more addicting as the film progresses.
10. Shield of Straw (2013)
117 min | Thriller
A team of cops must protect an accused killer with a billion-yen bounty on his head.
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Takao Osawa, Nanako Matsushima, Gorô Kishitani, Masatô Ibu
Votes: 2 344
80% - This gritty, realistic and sinister action-thriller follows a cop who must protect a despicable murderer with a bounty on his head.
11. Family (II) (2001)
111 min | Action, Crime
When the mobster Iwaida Nishikawi is executed by the hit man Takeshi, his family chases the killer. Takeshi's brothers Takashi and Hideshi Miwa try to find Takeshi, who is hidden with the ... See full summary »
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Ken'ichi Endô, Kôjirô Hongô, Naoko Inoue, Kôichi Iwaki
Votes: 246
Available on Amazon79% - This complex gangster movie in two parts convinces with a detailed story line that is intellectually challenging and visually impressive.
12. Dead or Alive: Hanzaisha (1999)
16 | 105 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
A yakuza of Chinese descent and a Japanese cop each wage their own war against the Japanese mafia. But they are destined to meet. Their encounter will change the world.
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Shô Aikawa, Riki Takeuchi, Renji Ishibashi, Hitoshi Ozawa
Votes: 7 421 | Gross: $0.00M
Available on Amazon78% - This quirky gangster movies comes around with an unforgettablle ending that is worth the wait.
13. Terraformars (2016)
108 min | Action, Horror, Sci-Fi
In an attempt to colonize Mars, 21st century scientists seed the planet with algae to absorb sun light and purify the atmosphere, and cockroaches who in turn spread the algae as they feed. ... See full summary »
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Rinko Kikuchi, Rila Fukushima, Kane Kosugi, Takayuki Yamada
Votes: 1 839
Watch on TubiGo to tubitv.com76% - This underrated science-fiction film based upon a manga got terrible reviews but this movie is thoroughly entertaining and surprising despite its weak special effects.
14. Rainy Dog (1997)
95 min | Crime, Drama
A Japanese assassin stranded in Taiwan must take work from a local crime boss to make ends meet when suddenly a woman from his past delivers a son to him.
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Shô Aikawa, Li Wei Chang, Shih Chang, Xianmei Chen
Votes: 2 270
74% - This calm drama set in Taiwan and centered around a lonely gangster, his mute son and a desperate prostitute takes some time to grow but might be one of the director's most memorable films.
15. Shin Jingi no Hakaba (2002)
13+ | 131 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
A barkeeper saves a Yakuza boss' life and thus makes his way up in the organization. However his fear of nothing soon causes problems.
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Ryo Amamiya, Narimi Arimori, Yoshiyuki Daichi, Hirotarô Honda
Votes: 1 821
Available on Amazon73% - This remake of one of the greatest gangster movies ever released doesn't reach the quality of the original film due to some lengths but is nevertheless a bleak character study that will haunt you for a while.
16. First Love, le dernier Yakuza (2019)
12 | 108 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
A young boxer and a call girl get caught up in a drug-smuggling scheme over the course of one night in Tokyo.
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Becky, Bengal, Masayuki Deai, Mami Fujioka
Votes: 4 256
72% - This vibrant Yakuza film convinces with quirky characters even though it certainly doesn't reinvent the genre and is at times too predictable.
17. Dead or Alive 2 (2000)
12 | 97 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
Two contract killers cross paths in the middle of the same job and realize they are childhood friends.
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Shô Aikawa, Riki Takeuchi, Noriko Aota, Edison Chen
Votes: 3 457
Available on Amazon71% - This surprisingly quiet movie that takes some time to grow shows the conflicts, downsides and fates of a gangster career and offers some food for thought.
18. 13 assassins (2010)
Tous publics | 141 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
A group of assassins come together for a suicide mission to kill an evil lord.
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Kôji Yakusho, Takayuki Yamada, Yûsuke Iseya, Ikki Sawamura
Votes: 61 089 | Gross: $0.80M
Available on Amazon70% - This remake of an influential sword fighting movie takes the first half to introduce the different characters and finishes with some of the most intense battles ever shown in cinema.
19. Toppuu! Minipato tai - Aikyacchi Jankushon (1991 Video)
93 min | Action, Crime
A comedy about a daring policewoman in leotards, who defeats criminals using gymnastics.
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Aiko Asano, Minako Fujimoto, Daisuke Nagakura, Hiroko Nakajima
Votes: 67
69% - This experimental mixture of action, comedy and thriller elements with four quirky female lead characters was the second movie made by Takashi Miike but the first to be officially released.
20. Blues Harp (1998)
107 min | Crime, Drama, Music
Ambitious yakuza Kenji befriends harmonica-playing bartender Chuji, who moonlights as a part-time drug-dealer for the opposing gang. Their friendship is threatened by Kenji's plans for ... See full summary »
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, Seiichi Tanabe, Saori Sekino, Mickey Curtis
Votes: 996
68% - This interesting mixture of a drama and a thriller focuses on the dangerous friendship between a bartender and a gangster.
21. Redi hantaa: Koroshi no pureryuudo (1991 Video)
78 min | Action
Two care takers are obliged to tend to a child and take care of him overnight when his mother fails to collect him at the end of the day. It turns out to be a more difficult task than first... See full summary »
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Yoshie Kashiwabara, Naomi Morinaga, Kôsuke Morita, Isao Murata
Votes: 61
67% - This action thriller made on a shoestring budget was the first movie directed by Takashi Miike and already convinces with fluid storytelling and an interesting lead character.
22. Gyakuten saiban (2012)
135 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
This movie is based on the second and fourth cases in the popular video game Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. The plot follows Phoenix Wright, a novice lawyer, who faces off against expert ... See full summary »
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Hiroki Narimiya, Takumi Saitoh, Mirei Kiritani, Akiyoshi Nakao
Votes: 2 589
66% - This quirky courtroom drama based upon a manga is surprisingly grounded and sympathetic as it shows the director experimenting with a new approach and genre.
23. Shinjuku autoroo (1994 Video)
94 min
Shoichi Yomi spends ten years in a coma after a gang fight in Hiroshima. After waking up he immediately sets off to meet up with his yakuza brother Eto in Shinjuku. But it doesn't take long... See full summary »
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Hakuryû, Yumi Iori, Ruby Moreno, Kiyoshi Nakajoe
Votes: 104
64% - This relentless action movie follows a criminal outcast who plans on organizing some changes in his life after having spent ten years in a coma in prison.
24. La loi de la rue (1999)
105 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
A group of Chinese youths living in Japan struggle to make their way in life and eventually find trouble with the local crime syndicate.
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Kazuki Kitamura, Tomorô Taguchi, Dan Li, Naoto Takenaka
Votes: 1 388
Available on Amazon63% - Ley Lines is rather a drama than a gangster movie as it follows the lives of social outcasts who try to make their dreams come true by any means necessary.
25. Sukiyaki Western Django (2007)
18A | 121 min | Action, Western
A nameless gunfighter arrives in a town ripped apart by rival gangs and, though courted by both to join, chooses his own path.
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Hideaki Itô, Kôichi Satô, Quentin Tarantino, Masanobu Andô
Votes: 14 533 | Gross: $0.05M
Available on Amazon50% - This quirky western sees Takashi Miike exploring yet another genre but the film remains an overall rather superficial tribute to the classic movies of the fifties and sixties.
26. Full Metal gokudô (1997 Video)
18+ | 102 min | Comedy, Crime, Sci-Fi
An inexperienced gangster is killed alongside his strong, respected boss and awakens to find a mad scientist has given him a new body made partly of his boss and partly of indestructible bionics.
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Tsuyoshi Ujiki, Tomorô Taguchi, Takeshi Caesar, Kazuki Kitamura
Votes: 1 718
Available on Amazon40% - This violent science-fiction gangster potpourri was made on a shoestring budget and might be too experimental for its own good.
27. Crows Zero II (2009)
13+ | 133 min | Action
Tension escalates and violence ensues when a young student unwittingly breaks a non-aggression pact between two rival high schools.
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Shun Oguri, Kyôsuke Yabe, Meisa Kuroki, Nobuaki Kaneko
Votes: 4 378
33% - This brutal gangster movie based upon two rival high schools overstays its welcome, lacks depth and features too many characters.
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