To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Ran returns to the big screen in a breathtaking 4K restoration, reaffirming why it stands among the greatest epic masterpieces in cinema history.
Directed by Akira Kurosawa, one of Japan’s most influential filmmakers, the film represents the culmination of his lifelong fascination with history, human nature, and the chaos of war.
Inspired by Shakespeare’s King Lear and Japanese history, Ran follows Tatsuya Nakadai as the aging warlord Hidetora Ichimonji, whose decision to divide his kingdom among his sons sets off a chain of betrayal, destruction, and madness. Renowned for its stunning cinematography, the film features meticulously choreographed battle scenes and a masterful use of color — drawing on Kurosawa’s background as a painter.
Released in 1985, Ran is considered one of Kurosawa’s final masterpieces, solidifying his legacy after decades of groundbreaking work, from Seven Samurai to Throne of Blood and High and Low. Forty years later, the film remains as grand, moving, and philosophically profound as ever.