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Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

Play trailer 1:02 Poster for Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai R 1999 1h 56m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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84% Tomatometer 106 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Ghost Dog (Forest Whitaker) is a contract killer, a master of his trade who can whirl a gun at warp speed and moves through this world like a phantom -- stealthy and evanescent. In the spirit of the samurai, he has pledged his loyalty to a small time mobster named Louie (John Tormey) who saved his life many years before.
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Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

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Critics Consensus

An innovative blend of samurai and gangster lifestyles.

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Critics Reviews

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Anton Bitel Little White Lies 11/17/2023
what might sound like an ordinary gangster picture is in fact a rich amalgam of crisscrossing genres, where East meets West and culture itself follows more than one Way. Go to Full Review
Kambole Campbell One Room With A View 08/25/2018
Even when aware of all the strange, disparate elements, it still surprises. Go to Full Review
Geoff Andrew Time Out 06/24/2006
At once a tribute to traditional notions of honour, loyalty, friendship and professionalism, and a stylish, ironic pastiche inspired by the likes of Melville and Suzuki, it's very funny, insightful, and highly original. Go to Full Review
Yasser Medina Cinefilia 08/05/2024
7/10
Jarmusch, with his aesthetic density, manages to direct it with a balance that never loses its sense of irony when it questions the various cultural stereotypes that build his dialectical discourse on the master and the vassal. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Jack Gross Loud and Clear Reviews 08/03/2024
5/5
Its tone is elusive, existing somewhere between nostalgic, melancholic, resigned, and optimistic. Above all else, though, it’s truly unlike any film you’ve seen before, operating as a functional pastiche of so many great works of art. Go to Full Review
Farah Cheded A Good Movie To Watch 11/25/2023
It almost feels like we’re in another world: Jarmusch [blurs] out everything else so the movie becomes a meditation on the impulse to moralize one’s misdoings by subscribing to rigid definitions of “honor.” [...] A bone-deep reflective masterpiece. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Zachary K @ZacharyKing 5d A wonderful story of an underground book club, and the lengths people will go to in order to stop overdue late fees. Also a pretty well executed ad for time shares in japan. 7/10 See more David S. Nov 8 One of the better films I have seen in a long time, not only is it a good gangster/samurai film, but it has a simple but great story, some content warning here, but otherwise solid film, and hey, I was surprised by this one!!! See more SUNBLESSED A Oct 30 It’s not just a film. It’s art at its best. See more A.L.Jude P Aug 10 Heading nowhere like an european movie. What does the protagonist wants to say ? See more Austin H Jul 12 This movie showed a mix of many ideas and cultures (hood/ Italian mafia/ samurai). Ghost follows his own unique rules and lifestyle, and is very in touch with himself. The movie is also packed with symbolism from beginning to end. It’s abstract, take what you want from the movie. See more Phil T Jun 23 Super slow, kind of interesting and quirky but really cant recommend See more Read all reviews
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

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Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - Cold Lampin' with Flavor Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - Cold Lampin' with Flavor 3:20 Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - Final Shootout Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - Final Shootout 2:16 Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - I'm Your Retainer Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - I'm Your Retainer 1:45 Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - Should I Shoot Him? Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - Should I Shoot Him? 1:56 Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - The Bird Man Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - The Bird Man 2:26 Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - Bear Hunters Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - Bear Hunters 1:51 Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - Self Defense Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - Self Defense 1:07 Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - The Way of the Samurai Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - The Way of the Samurai 1:30 Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - I Follow a Code Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - I Follow a Code 2:05 Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - You Want My Rolex? Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai: Official Clip - You Want My Rolex? 1:27 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Ghost Dog (Forest Whitaker) is a contract killer, a master of his trade who can whirl a gun at warp speed and moves through this world like a phantom -- stealthy and evanescent. In the spirit of the samurai, he has pledged his loyalty to a small time mobster named Louie (John Tormey) who saved his life many years before.
Director
Jim Jarmusch
Producer
Richard Guay, Jim Jarmusch
Screenwriter
Jim Jarmusch
Distributor
Artisan Entertainment
Production Co
Pandora Filmproduktion GmbH, Le Studio Canal +, Bac Films, JVC Entertainment, Degeto Film, Plywood Productions
Rating
R (Strong Violence|Language)
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 18, 1999, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 12, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.3M
Runtime
1h 56m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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