Ichi the Killer

2001·Movie
2h 9min
74
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb6.9Metacritic887.1Rotten Tomatoes64%82%

Where to watch

PhiloKanopyHooplaFandorScreambox

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

Ichi the Killer fingerprint

Relentless energy, funny, emotionally cool.

Energy

Brutally violent and nerve-racking

Fast from start to finish.

  • Violence10
  • Tension9
  • Adrenaline8

Heart

Emotionally reserved

  • Melancholy5
  • Pathos2
  • Catharsis1

Humor

Plenty of dark humor and cringe comedy

  • Dark Humor8
  • Cringe Humor6
  • Absurdist Humor4

World

Crime and the mind

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Novelty8
  • Ambiguity6

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and characters

  • Direction9
  • Acting9
  • Character Depth8

Style

Standout visual style, cinematography, and editing

A distinctive visual signature.

  • Visual Stylization9
  • Cinematography8
  • Editing8

Who it's for

AdultsSolo WatchThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You need an uplifting moodGraphic violence bothers youYou're watching with family

Find more like it

Suspense moviesPsychological movies

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

About

Love really hurts.

As sadomasochistic yakuza enforcer Kakihara searches for his missing boss he comes across Ichi, a repressed and psychotic killer who may be able to inflict levels of pain that Kakihara has only dreamed of.
Extreme ViolencePsychological HorrorYakuza Crime ThrillerSadomasochistic ThemesVisually DisturbingUnflinching GoreCharacter Study of MadnessCult ClassicBleak & NihilisticIntense & Provocative

Crew

Directed by:
Takashi Miike
Written by:
Sakichi Sato, Hideo Yamamoto
Produced by:
Akiko Funatsu, Albert Yeung, Dai Miyazaki
Composed by:
Mizuki Ito, Yoshiya Obara, Seiichi Yamamoto

Sequels and Prequels

Media

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Questions about Ichi the Killer

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Ichi the Killer legally?

PhiloKanopyHooplaFandorScreamboxHi-YAHPlexFawesome

Ichi the Killer is included with a subscription to Philo and Hi-YAH in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, and Fawesome. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV and Apple TV Store. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Ichi the Killer worth watching?

74
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 74/100 (IMDb 6.9, Rotten Tomatoes 64%, and Metacritic 88). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Ichi the Killer rated?

ViolenceNuditySexual contentStrong languageDrug useDisturbing imagery

Content advisories: violence, nudity, sexual content, strong language, drug use, and disturbing imagery.

How long is Ichi the Killer?

2 h 9 min

Ichi the Killer runs 2 h 9 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Ichi the Killer?

Critics76
Audiences74

Yes. Critics average 76 and audiences 74 out of 100, so both groups see Ichi the Killer much the same way.

Was Ichi the Killer a box office hit?

Budget$1 million
Box office$80,631

No. It cost about $1 million to make and earned $80,631 worldwide, 6% of its budget.

What language is Ichi the Killer in?

JapaneseEnglishcn

It was made in Japanese, with some English, cn. Produced in Japan.

In how many countries can I watch Ichi the Killer?

9ATBECACHDEFRJPNLUS

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Ichi the Killer in 9 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Ichi the Killer use?

Gory Discretion ShotThe StoicGambit RouletteHigh-Pressure BloodPragmatic AdaptationBilingual DialogueHalf the Man He Used to BeGroin AttackRape Is a Special Kind of EvilDisney Villain DeathGornUnexpectedly Prudishand 59 more

TV Tropes lists 71 storytelling tropes for Ichi the Killer, including Gory Discretion Shot, The Stoic, Gambit Roulette.

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