47 Ronin (2013)

47 Ronin is a 2013 American fantasy action film depicting a fictional account of the forty-seven Ronin, a real-life group of masterless samurai in 18th-century Japan who avenged the death of their lord, in the style of Chūshingura. Produced by Universal Studios, the film was directed by Carl Rinsch and stars Keanu Reeves and Hiroyuki Sanada.

The film received very negative reviews for the lack of originality, slow pacing and character development, although some reviewers bestowed praise for the action and visuals. From a financial perspective, 47 Ronin was unusual because it grossed $151 million in worldwide box-office sales. However, the film failed to break even due to its total budget of $225 million (consisting of $175 million for the film's production and $50 million for its distribution and marketing), and Variety reported the film as a costly box office disaster which left Universal Studios deeply in the red for 2013. Adjusted for inflation it lost an estimated $152 million, making it the second most expensive box office bomb ever behind The 13th Warrior; unadjusted, it's the number one biggest bomb. Variety magazine listed 47 Ronin as one of "Hollywood's biggest box office bombs of 2013".

Synopsis

In late medieval Japan, Kai (Keanu Reeves) is a half-Japanese, half-English outcast who lives in the Akō Domain, which is ruled by the benevolent Lord Asano Naganori. When Kai was young, Asano found him lost in the forest and accepted him into his household. Kai and Asano's daughter, Mika, eventually fall in love despite Kai being scorned by her father's samurai due to his lowborn status and mixed ancestry.

Actors