10 Best Movies Like Blade Of The 47 Ronin

An unlikely sequel to the Keanu Reeves-starrer 47 Ronin, Netflix’s Blade of the 47 Ronin takes place three centuries after the events of its predecessor. With rival samurai clans battling it out with each other, it is up to a legendary samurai warrior’s descendant to bring balance.

Offering plenty of tributes to classic samurai lore, the movie is also a fun-filled, action-heavy contemporary take on modern samurais (who are organized into secret societies in this movie’s narrative). This is what makes Blade of the 47 Ronin comparable to interesting genre subversions by auteurs such as Takashi Miike (Blade of the Immortal) and Jim Jarmusch (Ghost Dog).

Blade Of The Immortal (2017)

Stream On Netflix

Based on the manga of the same name, Blade of the Immortal is the hyperviolent tale of an immortal samurai who is tasked with the protection of a child after her parents are killed.

While the revenge narrative might seem straightforward, writer-director and Japanese gonzo legend Takashi Miike frames his scenes in a wildly creative fashion with memorable experimentation around the blood and gore. If fans of Blade of the 47 Ronin wish to watch a modern classic that boasts original, adrenaline-fueled sword action, then Blade of the Immortal would be the way to go.

Batman Ninja (2018)

Stream On HBO Max

Set in feudal Japan, Batman Ninja finds the Caped Crusader donning traditional armor and a katana and fighting off classic DC Comics villains such as the Joker, Harley Quinn, and Bane, all of whom also get Japanese avatars.

While Hollywood casually treats ninjas as synonymous with samurais, there is a huge difference. Samurais were warriors serving the landlords (shoguns) while ninjas were hired mercenaries. Batman Ninja however blends tropes from classic Japanese cinema works that tend to focus on both kinds of warriors, even adding a dash of some over-the-top mecha/kaiju subgenre of Japanese monster movies! All in all, Batman Ninja is an absurdly unique take on archaic Japanese action that should be watched by buffs of both ninja and samurai cinema.

The 47 Ronin (1941)

Stream On The Criterion Channel

Before the Keanu Reeves-led movie, the tale of the 47 Ronin was adapted for a period drama of the same name that was released way back in 1941. The titular band of leaderless samurai warriors embarks on a revenge quest to avenge the murder of their master. But in their violent path, they must realize that violence benefits no one.

The 47 Ronin might not have an abundance of samurai bloodshed but its exploration of a historical incident and the loyalty of the ronin (samurais without a master) makes for essential viewing for anyone who wishes to look at the legend of 47 warriors beyond the big-budget action sequences. There is plenty of socio-political and cultural context to unwrap from the story as is evident from this black-and-white classic.

13 Assassins (2010)

Stream On Kanopy

Set towards the end of the Edo period in Japan, 13 Assassins is the story of how the titular band of twelve samurai (and one hunter) took down a murderous clan leader, delivering their own brand of vigilante justice.

While the Takashi Miike directorial is in itself a remake of a 1963 cult classic of the same name, mainstream audiences of Japanese cinema might even end up comparing it to Akira Kurosawa samurai movies, chiefly Seven Samurai. As the group of assassins includes several samurais with varying backgrounds (one is masterless, one is a tired war veteran, and so on), it will impress audiences of Blade of the 47 Ronin given how the Netflix original also focuses on several samurai clans and their unity.

Ninja (2009)

Stream On Tubi TV

Even though he hails from the West, Scott Adkin’s Casey gets adopted by a Koga Ninja clan after he gets acquainted with their particular style of the ninjutsu martial art. However, when the Clan and its sacred weapons get threatened, Casey must arm himself to wage wars in New York and Japan.

As is obviously evident from its title, Ninja deals with ninja clans instead of the samurai ones depicted in Blade of the 47 Ronin. Still, the moral code of conduct and the morality of violence that the protagonist introspects on makes Ninja stand apart as a thoughtful Japan-inspired action flick. And it is this passion behind the project that makes it a good companion watch to the 47 Ronin sequel.

Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai (1999)

Stream On HBO Max

One of Forest Whitaker’s best (and rather underrated) movies, Ghost Dog finds him playing a contract killer who owes his loyalty to only one mobster in the spirit of samurais who were loyal to their respective feudal lords. While he is a skilled gunman, the titular protagonist also often dabbles in samurai philosophy and learns to wield the blade.

The movie is an interesting case study of the core philosophy of the Samurai code of honor and how it can be applied even in modern, non-Japanese contexts. As Blade of the 47 Ronin sets its timeline in the modern day with characters far removed from the country’s archaic past, a contemporary take on samurai culture like this would impress dedicated genre fans.

Versus (2000)

Stream On VUDU

The classic samurai mysticism is blended with modern yakuza and zombie tropes in this darkly humorous crossover of Japanese pop culture. Dealing with multiple portals and an imbalance that is caused by multiple violent parties involved, Versus has quite a haphazard plot but the genre-blending action is what makes it worth watching.

With the intense clashes between warring clans in Blade of the 47 Ronin, Versus‘s diverse combat between gangsters, swordsmen, and the undead would be a treat. Even though it has been more than two decades since the release of this cult favorite, there has hardly been a subversive contemporary samurai flick like this.

Yojimbo (1961)

Stream On HBO Max

An undisputed classic in the pantheon of samurai movies, Akira Kurosawa’s Yojimbo finds Toshiro Mifune playing a nameless ronin who gets caught up in the civil war between two criminal gangs. As he serves both sides and plays them against each other, he turns out to be an unlikely hero for the village.

Toshiro Mifune’s character makes for a significant character study even in contemporary times as he is introduced as a moody samurai with no intentions of servitude. But in the absence of a master, his own heroics to save the villagefolk make him a leader of the people. This transformation of “the man with no name” turning into the hero has become a staple in several Westerns and even modern action flicks. Blade of the 47 Ronin‘s Luna is yet another protagonist who showcases such a change.

Ninja Assassin (2009)

Stream On Hulu

South Korean singer and entertainer Rain stars as the titular hero of Ninja Assassin, a disillusioned ninja who must seek revenge from his former mentor (played by none other than the ninja film legend Sho Kosugi).

In Ninja Assassin, the protagonist could have inherited the legacy of a glorious ninja warrior and his clan, but he chooses to go down his own path. This would seem comparable to Blade of the 47 Ronin with its samurai heroine going through similar dilemmas of giving up her roots or continuing to protect her clan’s name. This duality can come out only in modern narratives that try to seek a balance between a glorious past and an uncertain future.

Step Up: Year Of The Dance (2019)

Stream On STARZ

A Chinese installment in the Step Up franchise, Year of the Dance has all the makings of classic competitive dancing movies while introducing viewers to local dance crews from the country.

Obviously, Step Up: Year of the Dance is by no means connected to Blade of the 47 Ronin either in terms of theme or narrative. But what’s interesting is that both movies are directed by the same man Ron Yuan (who himself has had his fair share of acting credits in martial arts-driven movies). With Yuan balancing different genres in his filmography, this 2019 Step-Up definitely showcases his creative versatility and would impress fans of Blade of the 47 Ronin seeking to check out more of Yuan’s work.

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