The Samurai and the Prisoner
When Lord Murashige rises up against the tyrannical Oda, he finds himself besieged within the walls of his own castle. Isolated, he is confronted with a series of mysterious crimes that shatter the fragile order of his court, plunging the fortress into fear and suspicion. With Oda's army closing in and a traitor hiding among his ranks, Murashige is forced into an uneasy alliance with Kanbei, a brilliant and dangerous strategist held prisoner in the dungeon, as he must outwit his enemies and uncover the truth before time runs out.
Where to watch
Not streaming anywhere
Not on any streaming service in United States, and not available to rent.
Your rating
Your review
Cast
21 people
Masahiro Motoki
Araki Murashige
Known for
Departures
Giri/Haji
Masaki Suda
Kuroda Kanbei
Known for
The Boy and the Heron
Fireworks
Yuriko Yoshitaka
Chiyoho
Known for
Your Eyes Tell
Gantz: Perfect Answer
Munetaka Aoki
Araki Kyuzaemon
Known for
Godzilla Minus One
Rurouni Kenshin Part II: Kyoto Inferno
Ryota Miyadate
Inui Sukesaburo
Also in
Ooku
Sore Snow Man ni Yarasete kudasai
Tasuku Emoto
Saika Sagehari
Known for
Shin Kamen Rider
Inu-Oh
Joe Odagiri
Koori Juemon
Known for
My Way
Shinobi: Heart Under Blade
Yusuke Santamaria
Akioka Shironosuke
Known for
Giovanni's Island
Doppelgänger
Mitsuo Yoshihara
Kawarabayashi Notonyudo
Known for
Mirai
Gannibal
Ryota Bando
Kitagawara Yosaku
Known for
Howling Village
Wife of a Spy
Yoshiyoshi Arakawa
Muhen
Known for
Ju-On: Origins
Liar Game
Kiyohiko Shibukawa
Saika Magoroku
Known for
Tokyo Vampire Hotel
Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy
Kiyoshi Kurosawa Director · Honobu Yonezawa Author Yoshihiro Hanno Composer
Worldwide gross $6.6M · United States release July 31, 2026 · Produced in Japan
Box office
Worldwide gross
$6,558,509
Production
Shochiku
Production
TBS
Production
Shochiku Studio
Production
Japan
Produced in
Languages
Original title
黒牢城
Original language
Japanese
Spoken on screen
Japanese
Release dates
France · May 19, 2026
Premiere · Cannes Film Festival
Japan · June 19, 2026
Theatrical
United States · July 31, 2026
Limited theatrical
United States
August 9, 2026 · Premiere · Montgomery Film Festival
November 2, 2026 · Premiere · MoMA - The Contenders
Australia
June 6, 2026 · Premiere · Sydney Film Festival
August 15, 2026 · Premiere · Melbourne International Film Festival
Austria
September 27, 2026 · Premiere · SLASH Filmfestival
Brazil
October 15, 2026 · Premiere · São Paulo International Film Festival
Canada
July 22, 2026 · Premiere · Fantasia International Film Festival
July 31, 2026 · Limited theatrical
August 7, 2026 · Premiere · Toronto International Film Festival
Czechia
September 3, 2026 · Theatrical
Finland
September 19, 2026 · Premiere · Helsinki International Film Festival
France
November 11, 2026 · Premiere · Arras Film Festival
November 18, 2026 · Premiere · Festival International du Film d'Histoire de Pessac
January 27, 2027 · Theatrical
Germany
September 27, 2026 · Premiere · Filmfest Hamburg
Greece
October 6, 2026 · Premiere · Athens International Film Festival
Hong Kong SAR China
August 22, 2026 · Premiere · Hong Kong International Film Festival
Indonesia
November 4, 2026 · Premiere · Jakarta World Cinema
Israel
July 11, 2026 · Premiere · Jerusalem Film Festival
Japan
November 6, 2026 · Digital
November 6, 2026 · Physical
Mexico
November 7, 2026 · Premiere · UNAM International Film Festival
Netherlands
October 31, 2026 · Premiere · Imagine Fantastic Film Festival
New Zealand
August 8, 2026 · Premiere · New Zealand International Film Festival
Norway
November 6, 2026 · Premiere · Films from the South Festival
Poland
November 9, 2026 · Premiere · ToruńCAMERIMAGE
Portugal
November 8, 2026 · Premiere · LEFFEST – Lisboa Film Festival
March 4, 2027 · Theatrical
Romania
September 26, 2026 · Premiere · Bucharest International Film Festival
Russia
August 13, 2026 · Theatrical
Slovakia
September 10, 2026 · Premiere · International Film Festival Cinematik
September 17, 2026 · Theatrical
South Korea
July 5, 2026 · Premiere · Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival
Spain
October 14, 2026 · Premiere · Sitges Film Festival
October 23, 2026 · Theatrical
Switzerland
July 3, 2026 · Premiere · Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival
Taiwan
September 24, 2026 · Theatrical
Thailand
September 19, 2026 · Premiere · Bangkok International Film Festival
More from Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Other films they directed, best known first.
If you liked The Samurai and the Prisoner
Picks that share its genres, themes, cast and crew.
Some details come from TheTVDB.