Ken Watanabe

October 21, 1959 (age 66) Uonuma, Niigata, Japan
IMDb

Ken Watanabe (born October 21, 1959) is a Japanese stage, film, and television actor. To English-speaking audiences he is known for playing tragic hero characters, such as General Tadamichi Kuribayashi in Letters from Iwo Jima and Lord Katsumoto Moritsugu in The Last Samurai, for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Among other awards, he has won the Japan Academy Prize for Best Actor twice, in 2007 for Memories of Tomorrow and in 2010 for Shizumanu Taiyō. He is also known for his roles in director Christopher Nolan's Hollywood blockbusters Batman Begins and Inception.

Their titles like Inception, Batman Begins, and The Last Samurai - their biggest roles first.
Last updated: June 14, 2026

70 titles
Community avg: 8.44 /10
  • 1
    1
    Inception
    2010July 2010 by Christopher Nolan
    Action, Science Fiction, Adventure
    Action, Science Fiction, Adventure
    9.31 Masterpiece++
  • 2
    2
    Batman Begins
    2005June 2005 by Christopher Nolan
    Drama, Crime, Action
    Drama, Crime, Action
    8.65 Masterpiece--
  • 3
    3
    The Last Samurai
    2003December 2003 by Edward Zwick
    Drama, Action, War
    Drama, Action, War
    8.53 Masterpiece--
  • 4
    4
    Godzilla
    2014May 2014 by Gareth Edwards
    Action, Drama, Science Fiction
    Action, Drama, Science Fiction
    7.30 Good++
  • 5
    5
    Godzilla: King of the Monsters
    2019May 2019 by Michael Dougherty
    Science Fiction, Action
    Science Fiction, Action
    7.63 Excellent--
  • 6
    6
    Pokémon Detective Pikachu
    2019May 2019 by Rob Letterman
    Action, Adventure, Fantasy
    Action, Adventure, Fantasy
    7.84 Excellent-
  • 7
    7
    Transformers: Age of Extinction
    2014June 2014 by Michael Bay
    Science Fiction, Action, Adventure
    Science Fiction, Action, Adventure
    6.92 Good
  • 8
    8
    Letters from Iwo Jima
    2006December 2006 by Clint Eastwood
    Action, Drama, War
    Action, Drama, War
    8.42 Excellent++
  • 9
    9
    The Creator
    2023September 2023 by Gareth Edwards
    Science Fiction, Action, Adventure
    Science Fiction, Action, Adventure
    7.97 Excellent
  • 10
    10
    Memoirs of a Geisha
    2005December 2005 by Rob Marshall
    Drama, Romance, History
    Drama, Romance, History
    8.56 Masterpiece--
  • 11
    11
    Isle of Dogs
    2018March 2018 by Wes Anderson
    Adventure, Comedy, Animation
    Adventure, Comedy, Animation
    8.77 Masterpiece-
  • 12
    12
    The Sea of Trees
    2016April 2016 by Gus Van Sant
    Drama
    Drama
    7.21 Good+
  • 13
    13
    Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant
    2009October 2009 by Paul Weitz
    Adventure, Fantasy, Action
    Adventure, Fantasy, Action
    6.86 Good-
  • 14
    14
    Tokyo Vice
    2022–2024 by J.T. Rogers
    Crime, Drama
    Crime, Drama
    8.69 Masterpiece--
  • 15
    15
    Tampopo Japanese
    1985November 1985 by Jūzō Itami
    Comedy, Japanese
    Comedy, Japanese
    8.64 Masterpiece--
  • 16
    16
    Fukushima 50 Japanese
    2020March 2020 by Setsuro Wakamatsu
    History, Drama, Action
    History, Drama, Action
    7.53 Excellent--
  • 17
    17
    Earth
    2007October 2007 by Alastair Fothergill
    Documentary
    Documentary
    8.48 Excellent++
  • 18
    18
    Bel Canto
    2018September 2018 by Paul Weitz
    Drama, Music, Romance
    Drama, Music, Romance
    6.82 Good-
  • 19
    19
    Shanghai
    2010June 2010 by Mikael Håfström
    Drama, Thriller, Mystery
    Drama, Thriller, Mystery
    7.24 Good+
  • 20
    20
    Rage Japanese
    2016September 2016 by Sang-il Lee
    Mystery, Drama, Thriller
    Mystery, Drama, Thriller
    7.81 Excellent-
  • 21
    21
    Unforgiven Japanese
    2013September 2013 by Sang-il Lee
    Action, Crime, Drama
    Action, Crime, Drama
    7.90 Excellent-
  • 22
    22
    7 Guardians of the Tomb
    2018January 2018 by Kimble Rendall
    Action, Adventure, Horror
    Action, Adventure, Horror
    6.58 Good--
  • 23
    23
    Ashes and Snow
    2005March 2005 by Gregory Colbert
    Documentary, Drama
    Documentary, Drama
    8.02 Excellent
  • 24
    24
    Kokuho Japanese
    2025June 2025 by Sang-il Lee
    Drama, Japanese
    Drama, Japanese
    8.46 Excellent++
  • 25
    25
    Kensuke's Kingdom
    2024February 2024 by Kirk Hendry
    Animation, Adventure, Drama
    Animation, Adventure, Drama
    8.02 Excellent
  • 26
    26
    Memories of Tomorrow Japanese
    2006May 2006 by Yukihiko Tsutsumi
    Drama, Japanese
    Drama, Japanese
    7.67 Excellent--
  • 27
    27
    Ikebukuro West Gate Park Japanese
    2000
    Drama, Crime, Comedy
    Drama, Crime, Comedy
    8.04 Excellent
  • 28
    28
    The Unbroken Japanese
    2009October 2009 by Setsuro Wakamatsu
    Drama, Japanese
    Drama, Japanese
    7.83 Excellent-
  • 29
    29
    Welcome Back, Mr. McDonald Japanese
    1997November 1997 by Koki Mitani
    Comedy, Japanese
    Comedy, Japanese
    8.25 Excellent+
  • 30
    30
    The Sea and Poison Japanese
    1986October 1986 by Kei Kumai
    Drama, War, Japanese
    Drama, War, Japanese
    7.91 Excellent
  • 31
    31
    Year One in the North Japanese
    2005January 2005 by Isao Yukisada
    Drama, History, Japanese
    Drama, History, Japanese
    7.67 Excellent--
  • 32
    32
    Masamune Shogun Japanese
    1987
    Drama, War & Politics, Japanese
    Drama, War & Politics, Japanese
    8.13 Excellent+
  • 33
    33
    MacArthur's Children Japanese
    1984June 1984 by Masahiro Shinoda
    War, Drama, Comedy
    War, Drama, Comedy
    7.64 Excellent--
  • 34
    34
    Space Travelers Japanese
    2000April 2000 by Katsuyuki Motohiro
    Fantasy, Action, Comedy
    Fantasy, Action, Comedy
    7.70 Excellent-
  • 35
    35
    Samurai Vengeance Japanese
    2026February 2026 by Takashi Minamoto
    Mystery, Action, Drama
    Mystery, Action, Drama
    8.08 Excellent
  • 36
    36
    The Final Piece Japanese
    2025October 2025 by Naoto Kumazawa
    Drama, Mystery, Japanese
    Drama, Mystery, Japanese
    8.10 Excellent+
  • 37
    37
    T.R.Y. Japanese
    2003January 2003 by Kazuki Ōmori
    Action, Comedy, Japanese
    Action, Comedy, Japanese
    7.90 Excellent-
  • 38
    38
    Unbound Japanese
    Airing since 2025
    Drama, Japanese
    Drama, Japanese
    8.24 Excellent+
  • 39
    39
    Love of a Thousand Years - Story of Genji Japanese
    2001December 2001 by Tonkô Horikawa
    Drama, History, Japanese
    Drama, History, Japanese
    7.73 Excellent-
  • 40
    40
    Oda Nobunaga Japanese
    1992January 1992 by Sadao Nakajima
    History, Action, Japanese
    History, Action, Japanese
    Needs more reviews
  • 41
    41
    All Lives Japanese
    2024May 2024 by Ryuichi Hiroki
    Drama, Japanese
    Drama, Japanese
    7.86 Excellent-
  • 42
    42
    Dawn of a New Day: The Man Behind VHS Japanese
    2002June 2002 by Kiyoshi Sasabe
    Drama, Japanese
    Drama, Japanese
    7.93 Excellent
  • 43
    43
    The Secret Lives of Kyoto Folk Japanese
    Airing since 2015 by Takashi Minamoto
    Drama, Documentary, Japanese
    Drama, Documentary, Japanese
    8.01 Excellent
  • 44
    44
    Baian the Assassin Japanese
    1991
    Crime, Japanese
    Crime, Japanese
    Needs more reviews
  • 45
    45
    Mibu Gishiden: Shinsengumi de Ichiban Tsuyokatta Otoko Japanese
    2002
    Drama, Action & Adventure, Japanese
    Drama, Action & Adventure, Japanese
    Needs more reviews
  • 46
    46
    Toubousha Japanese
    2020
    Crime, Japanese
    Crime, Japanese
    Needs more reviews
  • 47
    47
    True Love: Making The Creator
    2023November 2023 by Glen Milner
    Documentary
    Documentary
    7.93 Excellent
  • 48
    48
    TRUE COLORS Japanese
    2025
    Drama, Japanese
    Drama, Japanese
    7.95 Excellent
  • 49
    49
    Evolution Within Extinction
    2014September 2014 by Charles de Lauzirika
    Documentary
    Documentary
    7.92 Excellent
  • 50
    50
    Hanekonma Japanese
    1986
    Drama, Family, Japanese
    Drama, Family, Japanese
    Needs more reviews
  • 51
    51
    Hojo Tokimune Japanese
    2001
    Drama, War & Politics, Japanese
    Drama, War & Politics, Japanese
    Needs more reviews
  • 52
    52
    An Artist of the Floating World Japanese
    2019March 2019 by Kazutaka Watanabe
    Drama, Japanese
    Drama, Japanese
    Needs more reviews
  • 53
    53
    Baian the Assassin Japanese
    1990December 1990 by Keiichirō Yoshida
    Japanese
    Japanese
    Needs more reviews
  • 54
    54
    Izakaya Chōji Japanese
    1992
    Drama, Japanese
    Drama, Japanese
    Needs more reviews
  • 55
    55
    Kagi-shi Japanese
    1993
    Drama, Family, Japanese
    Drama, Family, Japanese
    Needs more reviews
  • 56
    56
    Oda Nobunaga Japanese
    Airing since 1989
    Japanese
    Japanese
    Needs more reviews
  • 57
    57
    Shimei Tehai Japanese
    1998–2001
    Crime, Drama, Mystery
    Crime, Drama, Mystery
    Needs more reviews
  • 58
    58
    Snow Jack Japanese
    2014August 2014 by Meiji Fujita
    Japanese
    Japanese
    Needs more reviews
  • 59
    59
    The Memories of Happiness Japanese
    2017January 2017 by Hajime Takezono
    Drama, Japanese
    Drama, Japanese
    Needs more reviews
  • 60
    60
    Vessel of Sand Japanese
    2004
    Drama, Japanese
    Drama, Japanese
    Needs more reviews
  • 61
    61
    Waga Machi Japanese
    1992–1998
    Mystery, Japanese
    Mystery, Japanese
    Needs more reviews
  • 62
    62
    横山秀夫サスペンス シリーズ (TBS) Japanese
    2002–2005 by Hideo Yokoyama
    Japanese
    Japanese
    Needs more reviews
  • 63
    63
    The Whispered City Japanese
    2000July 2000 by Jun Ichikawa
    Drama, Japanese
    Drama, Japanese
    Needs more reviews
  • 64
    64
    The Fire Still Burns Japanese
    1993–1994 by Katsuhiko Takahashi
    Drama, Japanese
    Drama, Japanese
    Needs more reviews
  • 65
    65
    A Tale of Two Truncheons Japanese
    1984 by Kazuo Koike
    Drama, Japanese
    Drama, Japanese
    Needs more reviews
  • 66
    66
    The Making of "Tampopo" Japanese
    1986January 1986 by Toshiro Uratani
    Documentary, Japanese
    Documentary, Japanese
    Needs more reviews
  • 67
    67
    川、いつか海へ 6つの愛の物語 Japanese
    Airing since 2003
    Japanese
    Japanese
    Needs more reviews
  • 68
    68
    Kyotojin no Hisokana Tanoshimi Rouge: Keisho Japanese
    Airing since 2026
    Japanese
    Japanese
    Needs more reviews
  • 69
    69
    Takeda Shingen Japanese
    1991January 1991 by Sadao Nakajima
    Japanese
    Japanese
    Needs more reviews
  • 70
    70
    Red Sun, Black Sand: The Making of 'Letters from Iwo Jima'
    2007May 2007
    Documentary
    Documentary
    Needs more reviews