The Best Ken Watanabe Movies
Voting Rules
Vote for your favorite movies, regardless of critic reviews or how big the role was.
1Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Timothy SpallIn the historical drama The Last Samurai, Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise), a traumatized Civil War veteran, is hired to train Japan's first modern, Western-style army. After being captured by samurai warriors led by Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe), Algren gradually embraces their code of honor and way of life. The film explores the cultural clash between traditional Japanese values and Western imperialism. Directed by Edward Zwick, The Last Samurai received four Academy Award nominations, including Best Supporting Actor for Watanabe. This epic tale intertwines action with thoughtful reflection on identity and belonging.More The Last Samurai
- Dig Deeper...What A Historically Accurate Version Of 'The Last Samurai' Would Be Like
- #94 of 264 onThe 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
- #546 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
2Zhang Ziyi, Ken Watanabe, Michelle YeohIn the 1920s, 9-year-old Chiyo (Suzuka Ohgo) gets sold to a geisha house. There, she is forced into servitude, receiving nothing in return until the house's ruling hierarchy determines if she is of high enough quality to service the clientele -- men who visit and pay for conversation, dance and song. After rigorous years of training, Chiyo becomes Sayuri (Ziyi Zhang), a geisha of incredible beauty and influence. Life is good for Sayuri, but World War II is about to disrupt the peace.More Memoirs of a Geisha- #201 of 375 onThe Best Movies Based On Books
- #35 of 143 onThe Best Movies of 2005
- #220 of 473 onThe 400+ Best Chick Flicks Ever
3Ken Watanabe, Kazunari Ninomiya, Tsuyoshi IharaLetters from Iwo Jima, a war drama directed by Clint Eastwood, peers into the battle of Iwo Jima from the Japanese perspective. The narrative pivots around the experiences of General Tadamichi Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe) and Saigo (Kazunari Ninomiya), a low-ranking soldier. Their lives intertwine in the heat of conflict, offering an intimate glimpse into wartime struggles. The film's stark portrayal of human resilience against overwhelming odds garnered it an Academy Award for Best Sound Editing in 2007. Eastwood's directorial prowess, combined with the poignant performances of Watanabe and Ninomiya, make Letters from Iwo Jima a compelling cinematic experience.- #26 of 264 onThe 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
- #18 of 101 onThe Best Movies Of 2006
- #18 of 55 onThe Best Oscar-Nominated Movies of the 2000s
- 4Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elliot PageInception is a mind-bending, science-fiction thriller directed by Christopher Nolan. The plot pivots around Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio), an adept 'extractor' who invades people's dreams to steal secrets. However, his latest task is not stealing an idea but planting one - inception. In this high-stakes job, he's aided by Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Ariadne (Elliot Page), and Eames (Tom Hardy). Tackling complex themes of reality and subconsciousness, Inception won four Academy Awards. This cinematic labyrinth, riddled with plot twists, leaves viewers questioning the very nature of reality.More Inception
- #14 of 252 onThe 200+ Best Psychological Thrillers Of All Time
- #324 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #47 of 114 on50+ Movies That Need Sequels
5Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam NeesonIn Batman Begins, we follow the journey of Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale), a billionaire playboy tormented by his past. After years of training with his mentor, Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson), in the League of Shadows, he returns to Gotham City, determined to eradicate crime and corruption. The emergence of the sinister Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy) challenges him to embrace his newfound persona - Batman. Directed by Christopher Nolan, this film offers a gritty reboot of the iconic superhero franchise, delving deep into Batman's origins and his struggle against Gotham's underbelly. It triumphed at the 2006 Academy Awards for Best Cinematography.More Batman Begins- Dig Deeper...Small Details From 'Batman Begins' That Prove It's The Most Slept On Nolan Film
- #114 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #70 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
6Ken Watanabe, Kōji Yakusho, Tsutomu YamazakiDandelion (aka Tampopo) is a 1985 Japanese comedy film by director Juzo Itami, starring Tsutomu Yamazaki, Nobuko Miyamoto, Kōji Yakusho, and Ken Watanabe. The publicity for the film calls it the first "ramen western", a play on the term Spaghetti Western.
7John C. Reilly, Ken Watanabe, Josh HutchersonDarren (Chris Massoglia) is just like any other teenager, until the day he encounters the Cirque du Freak and a vampire named Larten Crepsley (John C. Reilly). After Crepsley turns him into one of the undead, Darren joins the traveling sideshow and its parade of weird and monstrous creatures. As he learns to use his newfound powers, Darren unwittingly becomes a pawn in the struggle between vampire factions.
8John Cusack, Gong Li, Chow Yun-FatIn the months before the attack on Pearl Harbor, an American intelligence official (John Cusack) investigates a friend's death in 1941 China.
9The Unbroken
Nao Matsushita, Ken Watanabe, Erika TodaShizumanu Taiyō is a 2009 Japanese film directed by Setsurō Wakamatsu. It is also known as The Unbroken in the United States. Shizumanu Taiyō is based on a novel by Toyoko Yamasaki which centers on Hajime Onchi, an employee of "NAL," a large national airline. The first part of the novel focuses on Onchi's activity as the chairman of the employees' union in the 1960s; his reward for fighting for better working conditions for the staff is a series of postings abroad, to Pakistan, Iran, and finally Kenya, a destination to which the company does not even fly. The second and third parts of the novel take place in 1985 and chronicle the crash of a jumbo jet and its aftermath within the company. The events portrayed in the story are based upon actual events that took place at Japan Airlines. The character of Onchi is based upon JAL labor organizer and author Hirotaro Ogura, and the pivotal crash portrayed in the novel is based closely upon the crash of Japan Airlines Flight 123. Several politicians and JAL executives portrayed in the story are also based on real-world counterparts.
10Kizuna
Ken Watanabe, Houka KinoshitaKizuna is a film directed by Kichitaro Negishi.- 11
Memories of Tomorrow
Ken Watanabe, Asami Mizukawa, Teruyuki KagawaAshita no Kioku/Memories of Tomorrow is a 2006 Japanese drama film starring Ken Watanabe, Higuchi Kanako and directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi. The film is based on a novel of the same title published by Hiroshi Ogiwara in 2004. - 12John David Washington, Madeleine Yuna Voyles, Gemma ChanAs a future war between the human race and artificial intelligence rages on, ex-special forces agent Joshua is recruited to hunt down and kill the Creator, the elusive architect of advanced AI. The Creator has developed a mysterious weapon that has the power to end the war and all of mankind. As Joshua and his team of elite operatives venture into enemy-occupied territory, they soon discover the world-ending weapon is actually an AI in the form of a young child.More The Creator
- #353 of 404 onThe 300+ Best Sci-Fi Movies Of All Time
- #18 of 58 onThe Best New Sci-Fi Movies Of The Last Few Years
- #78 of 96 onThe 75+ Best PG-13 Action Movies
13Ken Watanabe, Masako Natsume, Juzo ItamiMacArthur's Children is a 1984 Japanese film. Describing the impact of the United States' occupation of Japan from the perspective of the inhabitants of a small, rural island community, the film featured the big screen debut of actor Ken Watanabe. The film was selected as the Japanese entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 57th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.
14Ken Watanabe, Kyōka Suzuki, Kaori MomoiWelcome Back, Mr.McDonald is a 1997 Japanese film directed by Kōki Mitani. It was popular in Japan upon its release and won 3 Japanese Academy Awards for Best Screenplay, Best Sound, and Best Supporting Actor. It was also nominated for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Film, Best Lighting, Best Music Score, and Best Supporting Actress.
15Ken Watanabe, Takako Matsu, Satoshi TsumabukiChushingura 1/47 is a 2001 Japanese historical movie based on the kabuki tale of the Forty-seven Ronin. The film was made for the Fuji TV Network and was directed by Shunsaku Kawamo. The story tells the true story of Asano Naganori who attacked Lord Kira Kozenosuke with his sword in the Edo Castle after Kira had coaxed the young lord in the late 18th century. Even though the wound was only superficial, Asano was ordered to commit suicide. The 47 Asano Ronin led by Oishi Kuranosuke came back to revenge their fallen lord against Lord Kira and were victorious but the Ronin were ordered to commit seppuku later by the Tokugawa Shogunate. The tale of the 47 ronin is a popular story in Japan and has become part of popular culture. References to the ronin can also be found in the recent movie Hana yori mo naho with Junichi Okada and Asano Tadanobu.
16Year One in the North
Ken Watanabe, Sayuri YoshinagaYear One in the North is a film directed by Isao Yukisada.- 17
The Sea and Poison
Ken Watanabe, Eiji Okuda, Kyōko KishidaThe Sea and Poison is a 1986 Japanese film directed by Kei Kumai and based on a novel by Shusaku Endo. It tells the true story of downed American fliers in WW II are vivisected by Japanese surgeons in medical experiments. 
18Bruce's Fist of Vengeance
Ken Watanabe, Bruce Le, Jim GainesBruce's Fist of Vengeance is a 1984 Bruceploitation martial arts movie from the Philippines starring notorious Bruce Lee imitator Bruce Le.
19Hayabusa: Harukanaru kikan
Ken Watanabe, Renji Ishibashi, Yōsuke EguchiShouwakusei tansaki hayabusa: Harukanaru kikan is a 2012 Drama film written by Takuya Nishioka and directed by Tomoyuki Takimoto.
20Tômawari no ame
Ken Watanabe, Yui NatsukawaTômawari no ame is a 2010 Comedy Drama film written by Taichi Yamada.- 21
Hei no naka no chûgakkô
Ken Watanabe, Hideji Otaki, Joe OdagiriHei no naka no chûgakkô is a 2010 Drama film written by Makiko Uchidate and directed by Makoto Kiyohiro.
