The Idiot poster
Where to stream

The Idiot

7.019512h 46mMovieDramaRomance

A gentle, war-shattered ex-soldier, Kinji Kameda, arrives in wintry Hokkaidō and is pulled into a volatile tangle of love and pity between the disgraced Taeko Nasu, the proud Ayako, and his possessive friend Akama. Kameda’s saintly…

DirectorAkira Kurosawa
WritersAkira Kurosawa·Eijiro Hisaita
ProducerTakashi Koide

Where to watch

Criterion ChannelCriterion Channel
Availability shown for United States · rights vary by country

Cast · Directed by Akira Kurosawa

SHSetsuko Hara
Setsuko Hara
Taeko Nasu
MMMasayuki Mori
Masayuki Mori
Kinji Kameda
TMToshirō Mifune
Toshirō Mifune
Denkichi Akama
YKYoshiko Kuga
Yoshiko Kuga
Ayako
TSTakashi Shimura
Takashi Shimura
Ono, Ayako's father
CHChieko Higashiyama
Chieko Higashiyama
Satoko, Ayako's mother
EYEijirō Yanagi
Eijirō Yanagi
Tohata
MCMinoru Chiaki
Minoru Chiaki
Mutsuo Kayama, the secretary
NSNoriko Sengoku
Noriko Sengoku
Takako
KKKokuten Kōdō
Kokuten Kōdō
Junpei
BHBokuzen Hidari
Bokuzen Hidari
Karube
EMEiko Miyoshi
Eiko Miyoshi
Madame Kayama

More from Setsuko Hara · Lead actress

Tokyo Story
Tokyo Story
1953 · 8.1
Late Spring
Late Spring
1949 · 8.0
Tokyo Twilight
Tokyo Twilight
1957 · 7.7
Late Autumn
Late Autumn
1960 · 7.7
The End of Summer
The End of Summer
1961 · 7.5
Chûshingura
Chûshingura
1962 · 7.1
A Woman in the Typhoon Area
A Woman in the Typhoon Area
1948 · 7.5
The Cruel Sea
The Cruel Sea
1944
Early Summer
Early Summer
1951 · 7.8
Shirayuki sensei to kodomo tachi
Shirayuki sensei to kodomo tachi
1950
See all fromSetsuko Hara

More from Masayuki Mori · Co-star actor

Rashomon
Rashomon
1950 · 8.0
This Day's Life
This Day's Life
1957 · 8.0
Forever a Woman
Forever a Woman
1955 · 7.6
Confession
Confession
1956
Ugetsu
Ugetsu
1953 · 8.0
Brother and Sister
Brother and Sister
1953 · 6.3
Dokuja-tō kidan: Joōbachi
Dokuja-tō kidan: Joōbachi
1952
The Cannery Boat
The Cannery Boat
1953 · 8.5
Wild Ducks and Green Onions
Wild Ducks and Green Onions
1968 · 9.0
Love New and Old
Love New and Old
1961 · 6.7
See all fromMasayuki Mori

More from Akira Kurosawa · Director

Seven Samurai
Seven Samurai
1954 · 8.5
High and Low
High and Low
1963 · 8.4
Ikiru
Ikiru
1952 · 8.3
Ran
Ran
1985 · 8.0
Rashomon
Rashomon
1950 · 8.0
Yojimbo
Yojimbo
1961 · 8.1
Sanjuro
Sanjuro
1962 · 7.9
Throne of Blood
Throne of Blood
1957 · 7.9
Red Beard
Red Beard
1965 · 8.2
Dreams
Dreams
1990 · 7.7
See all fromAkira Kurosawa

More like this

Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy
Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy
2021 · 7.2
Floating Clouds
Floating Clouds
1955 · 7.7
It Feels So Good
It Feels So Good
2019 · 6.6
My Rainy Days
My Rainy Days
2009 · 7.4
Even If This Love Disappears Tonight
Even If This Love Disappears Tonight
2022 · 7.5
In the Realm of the Senses
In the Realm of the Senses
1976 · 6.6
Radiance
Radiance
2017 · 6.5
Your Name.
Your Name.
2016 · 8.5
A Silent Voice: The Movie
A Silent Voice: The Movie
2016 · 8.4
The Wind Rises
The Wind Rises
2013 · 7.8
Weathering with You
Weathering with You
2019 · 8.0
Violet Evergarden: The Movie
Violet Evergarden: The Movie
2020 · 8.3

The Idiot — streaming FAQ

Which OTT platform streams The Idiot?

The Idiot is streaming on Criterion Channel in United States. It's not currently on Netflix.

Is The Idiot on Netflix?

No, The Idiot is not on Netflix in United States as of September 2026. It's currently on Criterion Channel.

Is The Idiot on Amazon Prime Video?

No, The Idiot isn't on Amazon Prime Video in United States right now. It's on Criterion Channel instead.

Where can I watch The Idiot for free?

The Idiot is available on Criterion Channel in United States, but you'll need an active subscription — there's no free option right now.