Takeshi Kitano
Known for: Directing
Born: January 18, 1947
Place of birth: Tokyo, Japan
Takeshi Kitano (北野 武, Kitano Takeshi, born January 18, 1947), also known in Japan as Beat Takeshi (ビートたけし, Bīto Takeshi), is a Japanese comedian, actor, and filmmaker. While he is known primarily as a comedian and TV host in his native Japan, he is better known abroad for his work as a filmmaker and actor as well as TV host. Kitano rose to prominence in the 1970s as one half of the comedy duo Two Beat, before going solo and becoming one of the three biggest comedians in the country. After several small acting roles, he made his directorial debut with 1989's Violent Cop and garnered international acclaim for Sonatine (1993). He was not widely accepted as an accomplished director in Japan until Hana-bi won the Golden Lion in 1997. In October 2017, Kitano completed his Outrage crime trilogy with the release of Outrage Coda. He is also known internationally for hosting the game show Takeshi's Castle (1986–1990) and starring in the film Battle Royale (2000).
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Filmography
101 movies · 21 TV shows, newest first
6.0
AUM: The Cult at the End of the World
2025
6.7
Broken Rage
2024
6.9
Kubi
2023
6.8
Analog
2023
6.3
Takeshi's Castle Japan
2023
7.0
Asakusa Kid
2021
7.3
Citizen Kitano
2020
NR
たけしのその時カメラは回っていた
2020
7.8
Idaten: Tokyo Olympics Story
2019
7.5
Why Are We Creative?
2018
NR
Kiseki taiken! Unbelievable
2018
NR
Plankton Salesmen
2017
6.8
Outrage Coda
2017
5.8
Prison Break
2017
6.1
Ghost in the Shell
2017
6.0
Doctor X: Gekai Daimon Michiko Special
2016
5.4
While the Women Are Sleeping
2016
NR
A Living Promise
2016
7.8
Aka Medaka
2015
6.9
Mozu The Movie
2015
6.2
Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen
2015
NR
たけしのこれがホントのニッポン芸能史
2015
NR
オモクリ監督～O－Creator's TV Show～
2014
8.0
Morning
2014
6.0
The 8th Floor
2014
NR
In Between Mountains and Oceans
2014
5.8
Seicho Matsumoto's Black Gospel
2014
5.4
Kids Return: The Reunion
2013
7.7
Nagi-Asu: A Lull in the Sea
2013
6.3
Miwa: A Japanese Icon
2013
6.6
Trespassing Bergman
2013
NR
日曜ゴールデンで何やってんだテレビ
2012
7.0
Beyond Outrage
2012
6.7
Dearest
2012
5.3
A Special Day
2012
5.7
Kikoku
2010
6.9
Outrage
2010
NR
Takeshi's Castle Vol. 1
2009
NR
What the War Meant
2008
4.9
The Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit
2008
7.0
Achilles and the Tortoise
2008
10.0
Yayoi Kusama: I Love Me
2008
NR
Dots and Lines
2007
6.4
To Each His Own Cinema
2007
6.3
Glory to the Filmmaker!
2007
6.1
Takeshis'
2005
NR
One Fine Day
2005
NR
The Golden Cups: One More Time
2004
6.6
Blood and Bones
2004
6.0
Izo
2004
8.5
Electric Yakuza, Go to Hell!
2004
6.5
Arakimentari
2004
7.2
Zatoichi
2003
NR
The Final Battleground — Making of Battle Royale II
2003
5.0
Battle Royale II: Requiem
2003
7.0
MXC
2003
8.4
Musashi
2003
7.8
Takeshi's Castle
2002
NR
Kichiku
2002
7.5
Dolls
2002
5.0
Kogoro Akechi vs Kaijin Nijyuu Menso
2002
10.0
Asakusa Kid
2002
NR
Shooting Film is Battleground: Making of BATTLE ROYALE
2001
NR
The 300 million yen robbery
2000
7.3
Battle Royale
2000
7.1
Brother
2000
NR
Making of 'Battle Royale'
2000
9.0
The Story of One Century
2000
8.0
Scenes by the Sea: Takeshi Kitano
2000
6.6
Taboo
1999
7.3
The Unpredictable Takeshi Kitano
1999
7.5
Kikujiro
1999
NR
Kiseki Taiken! Anbiribabō: Kyōfu Eizō Kaiki Shashin Korekushon
1999
NR
Kiseki Taiken! Anbiribabō: 1999 Nostradamus Senritsu no Daiyogen Mysterious Unbelievable
19996.8
Jam Session (The Official Bootleg of Kikujiro)
1999
NR
Zankyo
1999NR
加ト・けん・たけしの世紀末スペシャル!!
1998
6.7
Tokyo Eyes
1998
7.7
Fireworks
1997
NR
Hana-bi (1997) – Behind-the-scenes Footage
1997
6.8
Making-of Kids Return
1996
6.9
Kids Return
1996
6.6
Gonin
1995
5.8
Johnny Mnemonic
1995
5.7
Getting Any?
1995
6.9
Many Happy Returns
1993
7.5
Sonatine
1993
NR
Today's Close-Up
1993
4.6
Erotic Liaisons
1992
10.0
Dioxin from Fish!
1992NR
北野ファンクラブ
1992NR
Kitano fan kurabu
1992
7.5
A Legend of Turmoil
1992
NR
Shoko Asahara with Takeshi
1991
7.5
A Scene at the Sea
1991
NR
Kim's War
1991
NR
KILL THEM ALL
1990
6.9
Boiling Point
1990
8.0
Hoshi wo tsugu mono
1990
NR
The Yagyu Code: Secret Scrolls
1990
7.2
Violent Cop
1989
NR
Beat Takeshi Presents TV Tackle
1989
6.3
The Boss' Wife
1988
7.0
雨の降る駅
1986
8.6
Takeshi's Castle
1986
6.4
No More Comics!
1986
NR
Jesus' Ark
1985
7.6
Demon
1985
8.5
Joke with a Sorrowful Heart
1985
7.2
Tokyo Melody: A Film About Ryuichi Sakamoto
1985
NR
The Crimes of Kiyoshi Ōkubo
1983
6.6
The Mosquito on the Tenth Floor
1983
7.3
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
1983
5.3
Summer Secrets
1982
7.0
Completely... With That Air!
1981
9.0
Manon
1981
7.5
The Dump Truck Rascal
1981
9.0
Makoto-chan
1980
6.7
Go, Go Second Time Virgin
1969
9.0
Golden Horse Awards
1962
NR
In Your Blood: Hoki Naiden
—NR
Kodai bunmei Misuterī Takeshi no shin sekai nana fushigi dai hyakka
—