Sort by Popularity - Most Popular Movies and TV Shows tagged with keyword "japanese-empire"
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1. The Last Samurai (2003)
R | 154 min | Action, Drama
Nathan Algren, a US army veteran, is hired by the Japanese emperor to train his army in the modern warfare techniques. Nathan finds himself trapped in a struggle between two eras and two worlds.
Director: Edward Zwick | Stars: Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Billy Connolly, William Atherton
Votes: 472,147 | Gross: $111.11M
2. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Not Rated | 89 min | Animation, Drama, War
A young boy and his little sister struggle to survive in Japan during World War II.
Director: Isao Takahata | Stars: Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Akemi Yamaguchi, Yoshiko Shinohara
Votes: 311,351
3. Kagemusha: The Shadow Warrior (1980)
PG | 162 min | Drama, History, War
A petty thief with an utter resemblance to a samurai warlord is hired as the lord's double. When the warlord later dies the thief is forced to take up arms in his place.
Director: Akira Kurosawa | Stars: Tatsuya Nakadai, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Ken'ichi Hagiwara, Jinpachi Nezu
Votes: 38,252
4. War and Remembrance (1988–1989)
Not Rated | 135 min | Drama, War
The trials of the Henry and the Jastrow families amidst the events after the U.S.'s entry into World War II.
Stars: Robert Mitchum, Jane Seymour, Hart Bochner, Victoria Tennant
Votes: 3,138
5. In This Corner (and Other Corners) of the World (2016)
PG-13 | 129 min | Animation, Drama, Family
A spirited 18-year-old woman is married off to a man she barely knows as she combats the daily struggles of living in Hiroshima during World War II.
Director: Sunao Katabuchi | Stars: Non, Ava Pickard, Kenna Pickard, Karen Strassman
Votes: 12,479 | Gross: $0.17M
6. Fantasy Mission Force (1983)
R | 90 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
A force of loners and fighters is put together to try and rescue Generals that are captured by the Japanese and save the war effort with the promise of gold and/or pardons of past crimes.
Director: Yen-Ping Chu | Stars: Jackie Chan, Brigitte Lin, Jimmy Wang Yu, Yueh Sun
Votes: 2,004
7. Why We Fight (1942)
Not Rated | 52 min | Documentary, War
The official World War II US Government film statement defining the various enemies of the Allies and why they must be fought.
Directors: Frank Capra, Anatole Litvak | Stars: Walter Huston, Victor Bulwer-Lytton, Kai-Shek Chiang, Walter Darré
Votes: 2,413
8. First Yank Into Tokyo (1945)
Approved | 82 min | Action, Drama, Romance
An American agent undergoes plastic surgery to make him look Japanese so he can infiltrate Japan and help to free an American POW.
Director: Gordon Douglas | Stars: Tom Neal, Barbara Hale, Marc Cramer, Richard Loo
Votes: 270
9. Know Your Enemy - Japan (1945)
Not Rated | 63 min | Documentary, History, War
A comprehensive look at the war in the Pacific during World War II. Shot as a propaganda film by acclaimed Hollywood director Frank Capra
Directors: Frank Capra, Joris Ivens | Stars: John Beal, Howard Duff, Walter Huston, Knox Manning
Votes: 840
10. The War at Sea from Hawaii to Malay (1942)
116 min | Drama, History, War
When a boy who is in the navy college returns home for vacation he meets his young cousin who also wants to join in order to become a pilot. However, the younger man's mother is ... See full summary »
Director: Kajirô Yamamoto | Stars: Denjirô Ôkôchi, Yatarô Kurokawa, Setsuko Hara, Kaoru Itô
Votes: 131
11. Battle of Okinawa in Color (2017)
Documentary, History, War
From white-knuckle, high-speed dogfights to brutal land combat, witness the Battle of Okinawa in vivid color.
Stars: Jeff Wilburn, Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr., Chester W. Nimitz, Mitsuru Ushijima
Votes: 20
12. 1st to Fight: Pacific War Marines (2020)
60 min | Documentary, History, War
The Battle for Guadal Canal, as told by the men who were there. Narrated by Jon Seda, there are side-by-side images of the island today. A stirring documentary, told in real time.
Director: Tim Gray | Stars: Jon Seda, Bill Finnegan, Daniel Martinez, Lou Imfeld
Votes: 11
13. Menace of the Rising Sun (1942)
21 min | Documentary, Short
Horror over the Pacific in the form of Japanese perfidy is the theme of this special two reel. The amazing story of the Jap double-cross from the naval conference in 1921-22 to the attack on Pearl Harbor and the present war in the Pacific.
Stars: Graham McNamee, Kai-Shek Chiang, Adolf Hitler, Saburo Kurusu
Votes: 6
14. Nazty Nuisance (1943)
Passed | 50 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Germany's Adolf Hitler is on his way via submarine to a tropical country to negotiate a treaty with the High Chief Paj Mab. Right there with him, although he tried to avoid taking them, are... See full summary »
Director: Glenn Tryon | Stars: Bobby Watson, Joe Devlin, Johnny Arthur, Jean Porter
Votes: 279
15. Taiheiyô sensô to Himeyuri butai (1962)
93 min | Drama, War
The last fight put up by remaining Japanese forces and a special volunteer nursing corps on Okinawa at the end of World War II (1944-45).
Director: Kiyoshi Komori | Stars: Tôru Abe, Kanjûrô Arashi, Shinjirô Asano, Kikuko Hanaoka
Votes: 14
16. The Fight for Peace (1938)
Approved | 65 min | Documentary, War
A documentary about the threat of war breaking out in Europe, focusing on Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini.
Stars: David Ross, Kai-Shek Chiang, Georges Clemenceau, Engelbert Dollfuss
17.
Friday the 13th: The Series (1987–1990)
Episode:
Year of the Monkey
(1990)
TV-MA | 46 min | Fantasy, Horror, Mystery
A father uses a potentially fatal test to challenge the loyalty of his children using three magical monkey statues.
Director: Rodney Charters | Stars: Louise Robey, Steve Monarque, Chris Wiggins, Robert Ito
Votes: 105
18.
The World at War (1973–1974)
Episode:
Banzai! Japan 1931-1942
(1973)
TV-PG | 52 min | Documentary, History, War
The rise of the Japanese Empire, the Sino-Japanese War, the Soviet-Japanese border conflicts, Pearl Harbor, and the early Japanese successes in the Battle of Malaya and Battle of Singapore.
Stars: Laurence Olivier, Tomohiko Ushiba, Kôichi Kido, Lewis Bush
Votes: 462
19.
The World at War (1973–1974)
Episode:
Japan: 1941-1945
(1974)
TV-PG | 51 min | Documentary, History, War
After the victories in 1941-2, Japanese fortunes reverse as America succeeds in destroying their aircraft fleet and Pacific island bases. At home, shortages of goods and manpower lead to desperation for the population.
Director: Hugh Raggett | Stars: Laurence Olivier, Toshikazu Kase, Naoki Hoshino, Yuzuru Sanematsu
Votes: 351
20.
The World at War (1973–1974)
Episode:
On Our Way: U.S.A. 1939-1942
(1973)
TV-PG | 52 min | Documentary, History, War
The opposition to the United States' entry into the war, Lend Lease, U-boat attacks on Atlantic convoys and American responses, mobilization of America after Pearl Harbor, loss of the Philippines, Doolittle Raid, Midway and Guadalcanal.
Stars: Laurence Olivier, Averell Harriman, George Ball, Norman Corwin
Votes: 440
21.
The World at War (1973–1974)
Episode:
Pacific: February 1942-July 1945
(1974)
TV-PG | 50 min | Documentary, History, War
The island hopping strategy of Admiral Nimitz and General MacArthur leads from one costly, battle after another. The Japanese fight fanatically as the war gets ever closer to home, but Americans finally use their newest weapon, the A-bomb.
Director: John Pett | Stars: Laurence Olivier, Roy Voris, Frank Manson, Douglas MacArthur
Votes: 355
22.
Battlefield (1995–2004)
Episode:
Guadalcanal
(2000)
Documentary, History, War
Tim Pigott-Smith narrates the story of the battle for Guadalcanal and the capture of this strategically crucial island in World War 2 during which more than 25,000 Japanese lost their lives.
Stars: Tim Pigott-Smith, Frank Jack Fletcher, Robert L. Ghormley, Hirohito
Votes: 7
23.
Battlefield (1995–2004)
Episode:
Manchuria: The Forgotten Victory
(2000)
Documentary, History, War
Tim Pigott-Smith narrates the story of the Soviet victory over the mighty Japanese Kwangtung Army in the mountains of Manchuria, which is one of the least known of the Second World War.
Stars: Tim Pigott-Smith, Aleksei Antonov, Henry H. Arnold, Kai-Shek Chiang
Votes: 6
24.
Battlefield (1995–2004)
Episode:
Pearl Harbor
(2000)
Documentary, History, War
A look at the events leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor and the fall of Singapore detailing the reasons, the national leaders and commanders involved, and the equipment used by both sides.
Star: Tim Pigott-Smith
Votes: 6
25.
OverSimplified (2016– )
Episode:
WW1: Part 2
(2016)
TV-14 | 7 min | Documentary, Animation, Comedy
Oversimplified explains World War 1, in two parts.
Director: Stuart Webster | Star: Stuart Webster
Votes: 39
26.
World War II in Colour (2009)
Episode:
Victory in the Pacific
(2009)
TV-MA | 51 min | Documentary, History, War
Japan keeps continues its suicidal resistance, and invading it looks costly. After 2 atomic bombs, the Emperor intervenes and stops the War. Stalin grabs territory in East Asia. The War is over, and the Atomic Era and the Cold War start.
Stars: Chester W. Nimitz, Douglas MacArthur, Harry S. Truman, Winston Churchill
Votes: 209
27.
World War II in Colour (2009)
Episode:
The Gathering Storm
(2009)
TV-MA | 51 min | Documentary, History, War
The activities of nations after World War I that lead to World War II.
Stars: Robert Powell, Adolf Hitler, Paul von Hindenburg, Kai-Shek Chiang
Votes: 409
28.
World War II in Colour (2009)
Episode:
Red Sun Rampant
(2009)
TV-MA | 51 min | Documentary, History, War
Japan attacks the USA on 7 Dec 1941. For the next 6 months, they continue to have successful attacks. However, by the end of the battle for Guadalcanal in Feb 1943, they are completely on the defensive.
Stars: Robert Powell, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Hideki Tôjô, Isoroku Yamamoto
Votes: 272
29.
World War II in Colour (2009)
Episode:
The Island War
(2009)
TV-MA | 51 min | Documentary, History, War
The Marines succeed in the "island hopping" strategy against suicidal resistance. The US Navy establishes supremacy, cutting off Japan. Re-capturing the Phillipines and Burma is costly, but now Japan is fully in the defensive.
Stars: Robert Powell, Douglas MacArthur, Chester W. Nimitz, Hideki Tôjô
Votes: 212
30.
History with David Rubenstein (2020– )
Episode:
Ian W. Toll
(2023)
TV-PG | 30 min | Biography, History, News
Stars: David Rubenstein, Ian W. Toll
31.
How to Lose a War (2023)
Episode:
The Men Who Gave the Orders
(2023)
Documentary, History, War
Explore the men in charge whose rampant egos and misguided belief in their own abilities led to their country making fatal mistakes in the war.
Director: Tim Bosanquet | Stars: Tim Benbow, Russell A. Hart, Alexander Henry, Giuseppe Finaldi
32.
How to Lose a War (2023)
Episode:
The Best Laid Plans
(2023)
Documentary, History, War
Explore how the seeds of Japan's defeat in 1945 were sown a decade earlier with the occupation of Manchuria in China.
Director: Tim Bosanquet | Stars: Rana Mitter, Sandra Wilson, Yuma Totani, Guy Walters
33.
How to Lose a War (2023)
Episode:
Conquering Heroes
(2023)
Documentary, History, War
Explore how the Axis Powers' ruthless, brutal occupation and exploitation of other countries contributed to their demise.
Director: Tim Bosanquet | Stars: Alexander Henry, Sandra Wilson, Ken Kotani, Gregg Huff
34.
Military Masterminds (2022)
Episode:
Rapid Dominance
(2022)
52 min | Documentary, History, War
From Julius Caesar to Napoleon Bonaparte, ancient generals took advantage of a military tactic still used in modern warfare - a tactic known as Rapid Dominance.
Director: Roberto Irwin | Stars: Ahron Bregman, Lawrence Freedman, Jenny Grant, Dina Gusejnova
35.
How to Lose a War (2023)
Episode:
The Right Tools
(2023)
Documentary, History, War
Victory in war doesn't just require sound military strategy, vital resources and equipment are also critical. Discover how the Axis powers failed in this regard.
Director: Tim Bosanquet | Stars: Richard Hammond, Giuseppe Finaldi, Alexander Henry, Charles Schencking
36.
How to Lose a War (2023)
Episode:
The Homefront
(2023)
Documentary, History, War
In our final episode, we examine how each Axis Power had troubles on their own home front, leading to disaster in the final days of the war.
Director: Tim Bosanquet | Stars: Alexander Henry, Giuseppe Finaldi, Russell A. Hart, Guy Walters
37.
Military Masterminds (2022)
Episode:
Guerrilla Warfare
(2022)
52 min | Documentary, History, War
Looking at how Mao Zedong, Fidel Castro, Josip Broz Tito and Võ Nguyên Giáp used Guerrilla Warfare to overcome a militarily superior enemy.
Director: Roberto Irwin | Stars: Eric Y. Shibuya, Eric Gomez, James Rogers, William Leogrande
38.
Against the Odds (2014– )
Episode:
The Heroes of Tarawa
(2014)
TV-PG | 45 min | Documentary, History, War
Everything went wrong in America's first test of whether the Japanese-held islands of the Pacific, the key steppingstones to the doorstep of Japan, could be captured by across-the-beach infantry assaults.
Stars: John Wukovits, Roger Colby, Edward L. Bale Jr., William Steele Sr.
Votes: 8
39.
Nazi Mega Weapons (2013– )
Episode:
America's War: Japan's Warrior Code
(2019)
TV-PG | 44 min | Documentary, History, War
The battle for Saipan is the ultimate test for Japan's greatest weapon: the warrior mindset.
Director: Ross Young | Stars: Tony Pollard, James Holland, Martin K.A. Morgan, Mike Pavelec
Votes: 25