Ikiru (1952) movie poster

Ikiru (1952)

生きる
"A big story of a little man which will grip your soul..."
ThumbScore
👍 90%Google users liked it archived
Critics Score
🎬 95% (RT: 98%, MC: 92) ℹ️RT = Rotten Tomatoes (critic reviews). MC = Metacritic (weighted critic average). Critics Score is the average of both.
Drama

Where to Watch

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Director
Runtime
2h 23m
Country
Japan
Language
Japanese
TMDB Rating
8.3/10 (1,314 votes)
Rotten Tomatoes
98%
Metacritic
92
Cast
Takashi Shimura as Kanji Watanabe
Haruo Tanaka as Sakai
Nobuo Kaneko as Mitsuo, son of Kanji
Miki Odagiri as Toyo
Shinichi Himori as Kimura
Minoru Chiaki as Noguchi
Minosuke Yamada as Subordinate Clerk Saito
Yes. 90% of real audiences liked it based on 1,314 votes. Critics agree, scoring it 95%.
Overview
Kanji Watanabe is a middle-aged man who has worked in the same monotonous bureaucratic position for decades. Learning he has cancer, he starts to look for the meaning of his life. Wikipedia ↗
Fun Facts
  • The lead role in Ikiru was originally offered to a massive A-list star who turned it down because they didn't understand the script.
  • The studio almost pulled funding for Ikiru midway through the shoot, convinced that the audience wouldn't connect with the unconventional tone.
Audience Consensus

Ikiru is a 1952 drama film directed by Akira Kurosawa. Kanji Watanabe is a middle-aged man who has worked in the same monotonous bureaucratic position for decades. Learning he has cancer, he starts to look for the meaning of his life.

The film has been rated by 1,314 audiences on ThumbScore, reflecting its reach and engagement with viewers. As a drama film, Ikiru delivers on the expectations of its genre while bringing its own distinctive perspective to the storytelling. The production showcases the creative vision of its filmmaking team, bringing together performances, cinematography, and narrative elements that have resonated with audiences.

Ikiru (1952) continues to find viewers through theatrical releases, streaming platforms, and home media, maintaining its place in the contemporary entertainment landscape. The film represents the kind of cinematic experience that has attracted a dedicated audience, with viewers appreciating its approach to the story and characters it presents.

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What Reddit Thinks

r/TrueFilm
⬆ 714💬 70 comments
Ikiru (1952) has maybe the most beautiful message that I've ever seen a film convey
Been diving deep into Kurosawa's filmography for the first time these past couple months, and as a young film lover, it's been an absolute treat to... Read on Reddit →
Top comment: "Maybe it's just me, but I find Ikiru to be downright bleak as shit, and a pretty Kafkaesque..."
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