Yojimbo

A 1961 Japanese samurai film directed by Akira Kurosawa, starring Toshiro Mifune. Set in 19th-century Japan, it follows the story of a ronin named Sanjuro (Toshiro Mifune) who arrives in a small town torn apart by the rivalry of two gang factions. Sanjuro decides to exploit this conflict, pitting the gangs against each other to free the town from their grip. Combining elements of action and dark humor, the film has influenced many genre films and served as inspiration for both Westerns and crime dramas.