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Red Beard

1965·Movie
3h 5min·R

Where to watch

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

Red Beard fingerprint

Immersive world, strong craft, no humor.

Energy

Calm and low-key

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension5
  • Spectacle4
  • Adrenaline3

Heart

Deeply moving and cathartic

Much of it is about growing up.

  • Pathos9
  • Catharsis8
  • Melancholy7

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Physical Comedy1
  • Situational Comedy0

World

History, society, and class and money

Lived-in and easy to get lost in. Holds up on a rewatch.

  • World Immersion9
  • Dialogue Centrality8
  • Rewatchability8

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and characters

  • Direction10
  • Acting10
  • Character Depth10

Style

Standout cinematography, editing, and score

  • Cinematography9
  • Editing8
  • Music Composition8

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightIntergenerationalPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You want fast pacing

Find more like it

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

What is the key to life - power, prestige or peace?

Aspiring to an easy job as personal physician to a wealthy family, Noboru Yasumoto is disappointed when his first post after medical school takes him to a small country clinic under the gruff doctor Red Beard. Yasumoto rebels in numerous ways, but Red Beard proves a wise and patient teacher. He gradually introduces his student to the unglamorous side of the profession, ultimately assigning him to care for a prostitute rescued from a local brothel.
Classic Japanese CinemaHumanistic DramaMedical EthicsSocial RealismMentorship StoryCharacter-DrivenPhilosophical ExplorationPoverty & CompassionMasterful Direction

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Red Beard

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Red Beard legally?

Red Beard is included with a subscription to HBO Max in the United States. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Red Beard worth watching?

83
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 84/100 (IMDb 8.3, Rotten Tomatoes 73%, and Metacritic 90). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Red Beard rated?

RDisturbing imagery

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: disturbing imagery.

How long is Red Beard?

3 h 5 min

Red Beard runs 3 h 5 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Red Beard?

Critics82
Audiences88

Yes. Critics average 82 and audiences 88 out of 100, so both groups see Red Beard much the same way.

Was Red Beard a box office hit?

Budget$650,000
Box office$1 million

Roughly broke even. It cost about $650,000 to make and earned $1 million worldwide, 1.7 times its budget.

What language is Red Beard in?

Japanese

It was made in Japanese. Produced in Japan.

In how many countries can I watch Red Beard?

15AUBECACHESFRGBGGIEJPNZPTSETW+1

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Red Beard in 15 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Red Beard use?

Welcome EpisodeFaint in ShockWhen She SmilesHonor Before ReasonFan DisserviceCaretaker ReversalDying AloneOblivious to LoveFace Framed in ShadowDriven to SuicideImprobable Infant SurvivalIntermissionand 12 more

TV Tropes lists 24 storytelling tropes for Red Beard, including Welcome Episode, Faint in Shock, When She Smiles.