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Ikiru
CAST & DIRECTOR
Directed by Akira Kurosawa. With Takashi Shimura, Haruo Tanaka, Nobuo Kaneko.
8.3/10
MOVIHERO RATINGWHAT IT'S ABOUT
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.
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8.3/10
MOVIHERO RATINGYOUR WATCHLISTKanji 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…
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RELEASE SNAPSHOT
Release snapshot for Ikiru.
MoviHero lists October 9, 1952 as the release date for Ikiru. Akira Kurosawa is the listed director. The listed cast includes Takashi Shimura as Kanji Watanabe, Haruo Tanaka as Sakai, Nobuo Kaneko as Mitsuo, son of Kanji, Bokuzen Hidari as Ohara. A trailer and 5 stills are available on this page.
Release dateOctober 9, 1952
GenresDrama
Runtime2h 23m
DirectorAkira Kurosawa
CastTakashi Shimura as Kanji Watanabe, Haruo Tanaka as Sakai, Nobuo Kaneko as Mitsuo, son of Kanji, Bokuzen Hidari as Ohara
TrailerAvailable on this page
Images5 stills
BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY
Is Ikiru right for tonight?
Pacing, attention and emotional impact are estimates from the current MoviHero Watch Profile, not verified scene-by-scene reviews.
How much time should I set aside?
Ikiru runs 2h 23m. Allow extra time for breaks.
Is it slow or fast?
The current MoviHero pacing estimate is 3/10: a more patient pace.
Is it a good choice when I am tired?
The attention estimate is 6/10. Expect to follow the story rather than use it as background viewing.
How emotionally intense is it?
The emotional-impact estimate is 8/10, suggesting a stronger emotional experience. This does not tell you whether the ending is happy or sad.
CHANGE ONE THING
Like this, but...
These share a listed genre with Ikiru. Profile differences are estimates, not a guarantee of the same story or mood.
But shorterBloody Men2026 · 1h 47m
36 minutes shorter (1h 47m). Shared genre: drama.
But less emotionally intenseThe Girl with the Leica2026 · 1h 59mEstimated emotional impact: 5/10 versus 8/10. Shared genre: drama.
But less demandingClub Kid2026 · 2h 6mEstimated attention required: 4/10 versus 6/10. Shared genre: drama.
MOVIE RATING
MoviHero Rating
MoviHero Rating: 8.3/10 from 1,423 votes. Updated Nov 6, 2026.
Rating data supplied by TMDB, shown on a 10-point scale. MoviHero audience ratings are calculated separately from scores submitted here.
MOVIHERO AUDIENCE RATING
What did you think?
Your movie rating. Your audience score.
CHECK AVAILABILITY
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OPTION 2
Other ways to watch Ikiru
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United States
Kanopy
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HBO Max Amazon Channel
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Criterion Channel
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WHAT WATCHING IT FEELS LIKE
Watch Profile
Seven estimates of the viewing experience, based on the stored Watch Profile. These are separate from the movie rating and are not verified scene-by-scene assessments.
Pacing3/10
Emotional Impact8/10
Mind-Bending2/10
Scary1/10
Violence2/10
Rewatchability6/10
Attention Required6/10
VIEWER REVIEWS
What viewers say about Ikiru
Selected viewer reactions, in their own words. These excerpts reflect individual opinions, not an overall verdict.
Viewer reaction
“Takashi Shimura is "Watanabe", an elderly civil service lifer who is told that he has terminal stomach cancer.”
Viewer reaction
“I watched the English follow-up version (Living) before watching this original, and wished I had reversed my order.”
Viewer reaction
“Typical Kurasawa creative framing in the beginning of the movie.”
Selected review excerpts supplied by TMDB. Opinions belong to their original authors.
WORDS THAT STAY WITH YOU
Memorable lines
Reveal a line containing a spoiler
“I can't afford to hate anyone. I don't have that kind of time .”
A CLOSER LOOK
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CAST & CREW
The people who make it land.
CHARACTERS IN THIS MOVIE
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Reviewed MoviHero character guides connected to this movie.
SIMILAR GENRES & STORY THEMES
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7.5/10
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MOVIHERO ESTIMATEStolen Birthday
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