Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)

In Jersey City, an African American hit man follows "Hagakure: The Way of the Samurai." He lives alone, in simplicity with homing pigeons for company, calling himself Ghost Dog. His master, who saved his life eight years ago, is part of the local mob. When the boss' daughter witnesses one of Ghost Dog's hits, he becomes expendable. The first victims are his birds, and in response, Ghost Dog goes right at his attackers but does not want to harm his master or the young woman... (imdb)
Cast and Information
Directed By: Jim Jarmusch
Written By: Jim Jarmusch
Starring: Forest Whitaker, Henry Silva, Richard Portnow, Isaach De Bankolé, RZA, Victor Argo, Cliff Gorman, Jamie Hector, Damon Whitaker, Tricia Vessey, John Tormey, Dennis Liu
Country: France, Germany, Japan, USA
Where to Stream
Loading...


Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai belongs to 47 collections
1. Criterion Collection (collaborative: moderated by caffe - 167 stars)
2. Jonathan Rosenbaum's Top 1000 Movies (collaborative: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 38 stars)
3. The Guardian's 1000 films to see before you die (collaborative: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 30 stars)
4. IMDb Top 250 Complete (collaborative: moderated by Jorg - 23 stars)
5. They Shoot Pictures' Recommended Viewing (collaborative: moderated by Cinephile - 19 stars)
6. Edgar Wright 1000 Favorite Movies (Aug 2016) (collaborative: moderated by Aron Ericson - 17 stars)
7. The 100 Best Movies You've Never Seen - Richard Crouse (collaborative: moderated by Blindfolk - 15 stars)
8. Films available in HD (collaborative: moderated by kubricksucks - 13 stars)
9. The Gentlemen's Guide To Midnight Cinema Podcast (collaborative: moderated by Coheed - 9 stars)
10. Skandies (collaborative: moderated by toro913 - 7 stars)
11. Top 3000 movies with the most votes on IMDb (public: fanfic - 5 stars)
12. Rashomon structure (collaborative: moderated by BeeDub - 4 stars)
13. Djross overrated movies (public: djross - 4 stars)
14. Hitman (collaborative: moderated by td888 - 3 stars)
15. EW's 50 Great Movies You've Never Seen (collaborative: moderated by Shadrik - 3 stars)
16. Criterion Collection (Blu-ray and 4K) (public: PepeCamello - 3 stars)
17. Robby Müller, Cinematographer (collaborative: moderated by paulofilmo - 2 stars)
18. List: Empire's 50 Greatest American Independent Movies (collaborative: moderated by KasperL - 2 stars)
19. mwgerb's Netflix Instant Queue (public: mwgerb - 2 stars)
20. Essential Cinema (Jonathan Rosenbaum) (public: snallygaster - 2 stars)
21. Independent (collaborative - 1 star)
22. Cannes 1999 Official Selection (collaborative: moderated by djross - 1 star)
23. Brows Held High (collaborative: moderated by Ununnilium - 1 star)
24. New Jersey (collaborative: moderated by geohawk - 1 star)
25. Real Life Siblings Acting Together (collaborative: moderated by Dunstan-xxx - 1 star)
26. Reza Archive (public: reza899 - 1 star)
27. Available on Starz (public: Jason212 - 1 star)
28. Action (collaborative: moderated by cgyrunner)
29. Paste Magazine's 50 Best Movies of the 2000s (collaborative: moderated by MacSwell)
30. Movies to See (public: gsb)
31. Favorite Scores (public: Castroph)
32. Pendientes (public: juglar103)
33. Films I watched in 2011 (public: jal90)
34. New & sealed (public: majikat)
35. 1999: Year in Review (public: polanski28)
36. My DVD Collection (public: balseiros)
37. Filmspotting Ratings Project: Week 5 (public: PeaceAnarchy)
38. BF-1990 (public: caffe)
39. 90lar (public: Ozancan)
40. Forrest Watch List (public: ForrestQ)
41. REWATCH (public: AFlickering)
42. Need To See (public: dimwitdave)
43. Vern (public: Zangy)
44. To See (public: Contreras)
45. My ratings (public: tpbradbury)
46. DoObejrzenia (public: peeroog)
47. Blu-ray Collection (public: TripEuphoric)
Browse the full list of collections
Stars | User | Rating | |
6 | ![]() |
NeuroticErot | 97 98th |
People expecting action will be disappointed, people looking for a meditative piece will be rewarded.
|
|||
5 | ![]() |
lrampartl | 100 99th |
Deliberate slow-paced movie that incorporates a lot of old movie styles. The rap soundtrack is perfect, the Ice Cream Man is hilarious, and I just love the feel of this movie. But it's not for everybody.
|
|||
5 | WoozyB | 85 73rd |
|
Serene, understated, a mixing of cultures and codes, it's a great indie drama.
|
|||
4 | ![]() |
Pickpocket | 8 82nd |
Could've easily been one of the most ridiculous movies ever made but instead is so damn cool that it becomes impossible to not love it. When you got The RZA "shaping the tracks," as GZA would say, your movie is destined to be good. I loved his cameo too. Visually creative and overall rewarding.
|
|||
4 | ![]() |
gork | 97 95th |
Wu-Tang Clan's 36 Chambers in a form of movie?
|
|||
4 | ![]() |
juntakinte99 | 90 82nd |
Jarmusch pictures are indies full of cultural collisions and repurposing foreign films for American moviegoers. Here, he gives audiences the former with a Black hitman embodying samurai philosophy while working for the mafia. The latter comes via thanking Kurosawa and liberally borrowing plot points from Le Samouraï. Forest Whitaker is awesome as a loner hero with a code; he's sort of a pre-cursor to Omar from The Wire. And it all smartly avoids an over-the-top hip-hop style. Highly recommended.
|
|||
3 | ![]() |
Kavu | 84 83rd |
A different kind of gangster movie by Jarmusch. Although it sounds stupid, Whitaker is a really convincing black modern samurai.
|
|||
3 | ![]() |
e_e | 95 97th |
Something which manages to escape it's own genre quirks and become truly outstanding, transcendent even.
|
|||
3 | ![]() |
Ocelot | 75 81st |
It's like "Leon," only better in every way. This was my first Jarmusch and I really can't wait to see what else he has done.
|
|||
3 | ![]() |
Cinema_Asia | 70 56th |
There's an interesting theme here to explore but it seems like the film has a bit too much fun with the kitsch of this genre. The tone alternates between being a camp mafia film to a pseudo-spiritual Samurai quoting Forest Whitaker. The film doesn't fall apart from it all but it really abuses its own quirkiness. There's some inspired homage scenes and a nice soundtrack but all in all it's pretty average. It exists as a nice piece of indie stylized fluff but nothing more.
|
|||
3 | ![]() |
lex | 95 91st |
There's a lot to love here, and I love it all. From the fantastic RZA score, to the well executed and original genre-fusing of gangster and samurai flicks (including the fable-like execution of the latter) all topped off with Jarmusch's typical minimalism. As much an exercise in contemporary wisdom as style: a post-modern masterpiece.
|
|||
3 | ![]() |
JSchlansky | 80 77th |
Forest Whitaker plays that guy you went to high school with who bought an $89 samurai sword at the mall and made it his whole identity.
|
|||
2 | ![]() |
Magb | 70 39th |
Charming. I like how the film simultaneously IS a mafia movie and makes fun of mafia movies, especially in how incompetent and lame the mobsters are. The film certainly owes a whole lot to Le Samouraï and other seminal works, but I think it manages to stand on its own. I can't say it ever really got through to me, though. I think my appreciation of the film might increase after repeat viewings.
|
|||
2 | ![]() |
TheDiceman | 60 62nd |
Good film.
|
|||
2 | ![]() |
nataskaos | 44 16th |
no good at all.
|
|||
2 | ![]() |
inhmn | 97 73rd |
well - the original content - Samourai by Melvil i like more but this one is superb too. Out-of-time criminals and out-of-time artist/samurai.
|
|||
2 | ![]() |
glumpy_99 | 77 51st |
Offbeat and eccentric hybrid of mafia and samurai sensibilities (bringing to mind Pollack's THE YAKUZA) is an interesting, sometimes frustrating Jarmusch effort which is nevertheless tied together by a typically solid and deeply felt Whitaker performance, and a rogues gallery of tough guys in support. Difficult to understand what the overarching "point" is of telling this story in this particular way, but still engaging and enjoyable.
|
|||
2 | ![]() |
ribcage | 80 77th |
Ghost Dog is serene, not sleepy, stylish and even cool, and has enough going on that I’m sure repeat viewings would be rewarding.
|
|||
1 | ![]() |
yilb | 10 2nd |
Different with some laughs & interesting moments. The rest of the time we get to watch Forrest's expressionless face listen to rap CD's & drive around in fancy new cars. Outrageously stupid & boring.
|
|||
1 | ![]() |
TheDenizen | 75 74th |
A black hitman working for the mafia lives his life according to the code of Bushido. Feels a bit like a comic book, with it's over the top gangsters and surreal moments of calm between the violence. It's Jarmusch, so it meanders down all kinds of little narrative alleys where you wouldn't expect, some of which are great (the changing flashbacks), some of which are not (the little girl in the park). Forest Whitaker is excellent but clearly could've used a little more training with his sword.
|
|||
1 | ![]() |
EmptySet | 93 98th |
When I bought this movie I found it under the "Totally Awesome" section. True story.
|
|||
1 | mayo | 0 0th |
|
DAMN YOU JIM JARMUSCH WHY MUST YOU TAUNT ME BY CONTINUING TO MAKE MOVIES!
A film for people who enjoy waching grass grow or paint dry.
|
|||
1 | ![]() |
Bojangles | 70 78th |
A critique of tribalism and killing for killing's sake, set in a world increasingly bereft of "ancient" things like honor and morality.
|
|||
1 | ![]() |
TedDedon | 70 41st |
Interesting movie that is well acted by Forrest Whitaker.
|
|||
1 | ![]() |
zae | 92 96th |
Just as awesome as I remembered it from 10 years ago.
|
|||
1 | ![]() |
msprague | 65 46th |
Not a bad film. Light afternoon viewing.
|
|||
1 | ![]() |
Vandelay1 | 75 86th |
Nice Movie
|
|||
1 | ![]() |
Castroph | 7 70th |
I like the way Ghost Dog was in the bit of the Le Samourai mold but went above that and didn't stick to the cold nature of Melville's film.
|
|||
1 | ![]() |
chemical404 | 78 93rd |
Artsy, stylish, interesting and fun film. Or simply the Jim Jarmusch film.
|
|||
1 | ![]() |
BrutalBrian | 85 82nd |
This is a great action film involving eastern values with western culture. Parts of it are a little slow, but it picks up when it needs too. Acting is stellar, music is cacthy and fits well where it is placed. I personally like the use of Rashomon here, and how it explains its usefullness to the goings on of the film. Jim Jarmusch's films are mixed bags, but this one works and works really well.
|
|||
1 | ![]() |
astrakhan | 79 66th |
A weird one, a violent gangster flick directed by an art-house director. The tone is so strange. Ghost Dog is supposedly this unkillable ninja, but Whitaker plays him like a neighbourhood simpleton. Somehow it manages to work, in a comic-book way, despite looking amateurish in loads of ways.
|
|||
1 | ![]() |
nauru | 5 3rd |
An utter bore. The music is horrible (and I like hip hop -- the hip hop in this film is awful though), the cinematography is terrible, and the story is asinine. The dialog is pointless as are most of scenes. It's like the movie was made by some high school kid who likes Wu Tang but also want to seem artistic so inserts random quotes from an eastern culture he pretends to understand. How could this possibly be considered a comedy? It's been quite a while since I've seen a film this bad.
|
|||
1 | ![]() |
SirStuckey | 70 56th |
This is probably my favorite Jarmusch film, but I'm not a huge fan of his really. Whitaker is awesome here.
|
|||
1 | ![]() |
Bown | 84 72nd |
Really funny and weird and cool.
|
|||
1 | ![]() |
svenerik | 96 97th |
OK, I was really stoned when I saw this in the theater but, well, it blew my mind actually.
|
|||
1 | ![]() |
billkerwin | 83 56th |
Entertaining small film with an excellent performance by Forrest Whittaker.
|
|||
1 | ![]() |
Skrabbles | 65 44th |
All in all it could have done with being a bit darker with less gangsters dancing and rapping in their bathrobes. Whitaker was great. The mafia characters not so much.
|
|||
1 | lethias | 89 82nd |
|
It would be an easy 90, but the mobsters are too much of caricatures. How many directors can pull such a poetic and spiritual film about a black, big-boned hit man? With distinct, subtle humour and interesting characters, this feels like one of the old Japanese stories, translated into suburban environment. Oh, and Ghost Dog is the coolest motherfucker.
|
|||
1 | damil | 70 67th |
|
This is another really cool film from director Jim Jarmusch. My favourite thing about it was the mesh of different cultures. They all worked surprisingly well together. Forest Whitaker was brilliant, of course, and there were a couple of other performances I really enjoyed too. I recommend it, but it's not everyone.
|
|||
1 | myfavchords | 88 93rd |
|
A great underrated film. I was surprised at not hearing more about this film after I watched it. A great performance by Forest Whitaker.
|
|||
1 | ![]() |
Amadeus | 77 87th |
Better than "Better than "Le Samourai". My favorite Jarmusch movie along with "Night On Earth".
|
|||
1 | leanora | 90 92nd |
|
Very enjoyable, beautifully knitted together high and low-brow references, and brilliant performances.
|
|||
1 | Madnas | 80 54th |
|
A descent combination of Le Samouraï and Léon: The Professional
|
|||
1 | ![]() |
mike365365 | 66 53rd |
I wanted more Gary Farmer!
|
|||
1 | ![]() |
NathanBates | 80 77th |
Peculiar black comedy riffing off an odd mix of Le Samourai and Goodfellas. There are a lot of quirky stylistic choices that will turn many people off. I really enjoyed this, perhaps because of those choices, including the nods to Rashomon, the McGyver-like tech wizardry, and the carrier pigeon service.
|
|||
1 | ![]() |
peyrin | 90 96th |
Jim Jarmusch's detached, self-aware style, applied to a genuine love for the great tradition of samurai films regardless of decade or country, creates an almost mythical aura of spirituality. Characters come and go arbitrarily: sometimes without saying a single word, other times speaking only in another language, or drifting in from another film entirely ("stupid fucking white man"), yet everything feels deliberate and in tune with a higher power.
|
Average Percentile 62.14% from 3744 Ratings | ![]() |