Yojimbo poster

Yojimbo

1961110 minutesNot Rated
4
Arcplot Score
📝 Unconventional
Unverified
⭐ 8.2IMDb
🍅 96%Rotten Tomatoes
Ⓜ️ 93/100Metacritic
🎬 8.1TMDb
📊 5.3Popularity
🏆Nominated for 1 Oscar. 5 wins & 2 nominations total
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
Directed by: Akira Kurosawa
Sanjuro, a wandering samurai enters a rural town in nineteenth century Japan. After learning from the innkeeper that the town is divided between two gangsters, he plays one side off against the other. His efforts are complicated by the arrival of the wily Unosuke, the son of one of the gangsters, who owns a revolver. Unosuke has Sanjuro beaten after he reunites an abducted woman with her husband and son, then massacres his father's opponents. During the slaughter, the samurai escapes with the help of the innkeeper; but while recuperating at a nearby temple, he learns of innkeeper's abduction by Unosuke, and returns to the town to confront him.

Arcplot Score Breakdown

Beat Timing Precision6/10
Emotional Arc Impact1/10
Thematic Consistency5/10
Overall Score4/10

Beat Sheet

15 plot points

Yojimbo Arcplot
1
Opening Image
1 min
2
Theme Stated
5 min
3
Set-Up
15 min
4
Catalyst
25 min
5
Debate
35 min
6
Break Into Two
45 min
7
B Story
50 min
8
Fun and Games
60 min
9
Midpoint
70 min
10
Bad Guys Close In
80 min
11
All Is Lost
90 min
12
Dark Night of the Soul
95 min
13
Break Into Three
100 min
14
Finale
105 min
15
Final Image
110 min

Emotional Arc

+100-10

Plot Points

#1

Opening Image

1 min

A nameless samurai enters a chaotic town, immediately signaling danger and cunning.

#2

Theme Stated

5 min

Themes of manipulation, survival, and moral ambiguity emerge as factions fight for control.

#3

Set-Up

15 min

The samurai surveys the town, meeting key players and assessing threats.

#4

Catalyst

25 min

Two rival gangs escalate violence, forcing the samurai to intervene.

#5

Debate

35 min

He debates how to play both sides to his advantage without becoming involved too deeply.

#6

Break Into Two

45 min

The samurai begins actively manipulating the gangs, setting traps and sowing discord.

#7

B Story

50 min

A developing rapport with the town's townsfolk hints at morality and possible justice.

#8

Fun and Games

60 min

Clever strategies, duels, and trickery entertain and escalate tension.

#9

Midpoint

70 min

The samurai's schemes peak in a violent confrontation, raising stakes dramatically.

#10

Bad Guys Close In

80 min

Gangs retaliate, endangering him and innocents alike.

#11

All Is Lost

90 min

The town seems lost to chaos; the samurai faces moral and physical danger.

#12

Dark Night of the Soul

95 min

He reflects on the cost of his manipulations and the violence around him.

#13

Break Into Three

100 min

Final strategy is set; the samurai prepares for decisive confrontation.

#14

Finale

105 min

He eliminates the gang leaders, restoring a tentative peace.

#15

Final Image

110 min

The town is calm; the samurai walks away, leaving justice in his wake.