The Last Samurai
In the face of an enemy, in the heart of one man, lies the soul of a warrior.
Overview
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.
Fun facts
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Awards
Won the National Board of Review for Top Ten Films
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Nominations
4 award nominations, including the Oscar for Best Sound (2004)
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Box office
Grossed $457M worldwide, about 3.3 times its $140M budget
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Filming locations
Filmed in New Zealand, Japan and Engyō-ji Temple
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Setting
Set in California and Japan
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Music
Music by Hans Zimmer
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Cinematography
Cinematography by John Toll
Details
- Director
- Writers
- John LoganScreenplay, Story
- Edward ZwickScreenplay
- Marshall HerskovitzScreenplay
- Status
- Released
- Release date
- December 5, 2003
- Original language
- English
- Budget
- $140M
- Revenue
- $456.8M
- Countries
- United States of America
Streaming on
In the United States
Availability data byJustWatch, opens in a new tab
All options, opens in a new tabProduction
Cast
Tom CruiseNathan Algren
Ken WatanabeMoritsugu Katsumoto
Timothy SpallSimon Graham
Tony GoldwynCol. Benjamin Bagley
Hiroyuki SanadaUjio
KoyukiTaka
Shin KoyamadaNobutada
Billy ConnollyZebulon Gant
Togo IgawaGeneral Hasegawa
Shichinosuke NakamuraEmperor Meiji
Masato HaradaOmura
William AthertonWinchester Rep
Chad LindbergWinchester Rep Assistant
Scott WilsonAmbassador Swanbeck- Ray Godshall Sr.Convention Hall Attendee
Masashi OdateOmura's Companion
John KoyamaOmura's Bodyguard
Satoshi NikaidoN.C.O.- Shintaro WadaYoung Recruit
Shun SugataNakao
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