'Best film ever made' with 100% Rotten Tomatoes score now streaming on Amazon Prime

Daily Record

2 days ago

Over 100 professional critics have hailed the 'masterpiece' as 'one of the best films ever made' and Amazon Prime subscribers can now watch it from home.
A "glorious" 1956 film that boasts a flawless 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes is now streaming on Amazon Prime and Apple TV. The 208-minute epic has been praised unanimously by 102 professional critics with a near-impossible 100% rating, coupled with an audience approval of 97% based on over 50,000 reviews.
Crafted by the legendary director Akira Kurosawa and unfolding within 16th-century Japan, Seven Samurai tells the tale of a destitute farming village that opts to employ seven ronin, masterless samurai, for protection against impending bandit raids after their next harvest. Kurosawa's direction is sublime, meticulously developing the story with themes of duty, sacrifice, and human connection taking centre stage, the Express reports.
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One critic on Rotten Tomatoes applauded the film, stating: "The glorious vigour and strength of this film is presented with such theatrical relish and flair: its energy flashes out of the screen like a sword." Another impressed reviewer praised: "Seven Samurai is one of the crown jewels of cinema, a movie that could be screened for visiting aliens in order to show what the art form can achieve."
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Yet another fan remarked: "Kurosawa's epic adventure masterpiece is one of the best films ever made."
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A fourth branded it as "among the best of the best action films".
Somebody else acknowledged: "Although Kurosawa blends the styles of Japanese cinema with Western sensibilities, the buildup of suspense is approached in near complete contrast to that of modern movies."
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Guided by the experienced and wise Kambei, the film follows the village as the samurai readies them for combat by strengthening the village and training them in warfare.
Despite initial frictions, an unexpected alliance starts to take shape and as the bandits reappear, a series of tactical and fiercely contested battles unfold.
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Seven Samurai is not the only title to recently be added to Amazon Prime with an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score.
The streaming platform has also finally added what's been dubbed by viewers as the 'best horror movie of 2024' and described as a 'masterclass in suspense'.
Heretic, which boasts a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, appeared on the platform's coming soon list over a month ago and it's finally here.
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The plot follows two young missionaries who become trapped in a deadly game of cat and mouse when they knock on the door of the diabolical Mr. Reed, played by British actor Hugh Grant.
Stuck in his home, they must turn to their faith if they want to make it out alive.
The movie caused quite a stir when it was released in cinemas last year, as it stars Hugh Grant in a very different role to his usual on screen portrayals.
Grant's impressive performance earned him a BAFTA 2025 nomination for Best Leading Actor.