12. Seven Samurai

dir. Akira Kurosawa

A farming village is threatened by a group of bandits who will take their crops when harvest comes. They respond by bringing together and hiring a group of samurai to defend them. Does that sound familiar? Even if you haven’t seen Seven Samurai you know its story. It’s a simple, yet compelling story that lends itself to a multitude of genres; from a western, to a comedy of errors, or a superhero film. Seven Samurai was among the first to tackle the premise, and it remains the best. Toshiro Mifune, while having a long collaborative relationship with Kurosawa, stands out in what may be the most iconic and entertaining role of his career.