Yakuza Films You Need to Watch at Least Once

by Farheen Ali - 23.04.2025 First Published 23,April 2025, 5:49 PM

A mainstay of Japanese cinema, yakuza flicks portray the gritty, dark underbelly with unparalleled realism. Although the subject has been explored by other filmmakers, no one has captured the emotional impact and harsh reality of the yakuza lifestyle as well as the Japanese do. These movies frequently deal with themes of violence, honour, loyalty, and treachery; they tell compelling tales that are also prevalent in Western crime films.

Yakuza films, in contrast to many crime films, emphasise the terrible repercussions of such a life and typically denounce violence rather than glorify it. The ten must-see yakuza flicks on this list highlight the genre’s emotional depth, unadulterated intensity, and uncompromising depiction of organised crime, providing audiences with an engrossing glimpse into an intriguing yet harsh world.