Where to Watch Rashomon (1950) in the US

What it's about

A priest, a woodcutter and another man are taking refuge from a rainstorm in the shell of a former gatehouse called Rashômon. The priest and the woodcutter are recounting the story of a murdered samurai whose body the woodcutter discovered three days earlier in a forest grove. Both were summoned to testify at the murder trial, the priest who ran into the samurai and his wife traveling through the forest just before the murder occurred. Three other people who testified at the trial are supposedly the only direct witnesses: a notorious bandit named Tajômaru, who allegedly murdered the samurai and raped his wife; the white veil cloaked wife of the samurai; and the samurai himself who testifies through the use of a medium. The three tell a similarly structured story - that Tajômaru kidnapped and bound the samurai so that he could rape the wife - but which ultimately contradict each other, the motivations and the actual killing being what differ. The woodcutter reveals at Rashômon that he knows more than he let on at the trial, thus bringing into question his own actions. But another discovery at Rashômon and the resulting actions from the discovery bring back into focus the woodcutter's own humanity or lack thereof.

Cast and crew

Director

Akira Kurosawa

Writer

Ryûnosuke Akutagawa, Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto

Starring

Toshirô Mifune, Machiko Kyô, Masayuki Mori

Details

Release date

Dec 26, 1951

Language

Japanese

Country

Japan

Box office

$46,808

Awards

Nominated for 1 Oscar. 9 wins & 5 nominations total

Where to Watch Rashomon (1950) in the US — common questions

Where to watch Rashomon in the United States?

Rashomon is available with a subscription, free with ads, free with a participating library card, or to rent in the United States. Watch the movie with a subscription on HBO Max (HD). Watch the movie free with ads on Free Movies Plus, Plex Channel (HD), Plex Player (HD), Tubi TV, and YouTube (HD). Watch the movie free with a participating library card on Fawesome (HD) and Kanopy (HD). Rent the movie on Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and Prime Video.

Can I stream Rashomon or do I have to rent it in the United States?

Watch the movie with a subscription on HBO Max (HD). Rent the movie on Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and Prime Video.

Can I watch Rashomon for free in the United States?

Watch the movie free with ads on Free Movies Plus, Plex Channel (HD), Plex Player (HD), Tubi TV, and YouTube (HD). Watch the movie free with a participating library card on Fawesome (HD) and Kanopy (HD).