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Genre: Exploitation - Chambara / Samurai Films (100 Years: 1896-1995)

I had to use a cut-off date as the master list was growing so huge that it was a real pain to update, sort and save, plus I wanted to add even more films. I chose 1995 as the cut-off as it's 100 years after the very first exploitation film on the list (1896). Besides, films after this point, especially when you get to the digital age, start to become a little more self-aware and "knowing". That's when it gets a little hard to differentiate between a real exploitation film and a homage, parody or satire.

This list may include proto-films that influenced the sub-genre as well as later, more mainstream films that the exploitation genre, in turn, influenced.

There…

  • Serpent
  • Humanity and Paper Balloons
  • The 47 Ronin
  • Rashomon
  • Vendetta of a Samurai
  • Gate of Hell
  • Seven Samurai
  • Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto
  • Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple
  • Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island
  • Throne of Blood
  • The Hidden Fortress
  • Samurai Saga
  • The Gambling Samurai
  • Castle of Flames
  • Yojimbo
  • Sanjuro
  • The Tale of Zatoichi
  • Harakiri
  • The Tale of Zatoichi Continues
  • Chûshingura
  • New Tale of Zatoichi
  • Zatoichi the Fugitive
  • Sleepy Eyes of Death 1: The Chinese Jade
  • Zatoichi on the Road
  • Sleepy Eyes of Death 2: Sword of Adventure
  • Jakoman and Tetsu
  • Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold
  • Three Outlaw Samurai
  • Sleepy Eyes of Death 3: Full Circle Killing
  • Zatoichi's Flashing Sword
  • Sleepy Eyes of Death 4: Sword of Seduction
  • Fight, Zatoichi, Fight
  • Adventures of Zatoichi
  • Samurai Assassin
  • Sleepy Eyes of Death 5: Sword of Fire
  • Zatoichi's Revenge
  • Sleepy Eyes of Death 6: Sword of Satan
  • Sword of the Beast
  • Zatoichi and the Doomed Man
  • Zatoichi and the Chess Expert
  • The Sword of Doom
  • Sleepy Eyes of Death 7: The Mask of the Princess
  • Zatoichi's Vengeance
  • Zatoichi's Pilgrimage
  • Sleepy Eyes of Death 8: Sword of Villainy
  • Zatoichi's Cane Sword
  • Samurai Rebellion
  • Sleepy Eyes of Death 9: Trail of Traps
  • Zatoichi the Outlaw
  • Zatoichi Challenged
  • Sleepy Eyes of Death 10: Hell Is a Woman
  • Sleepy Eyes of Death 11: In the Spider's Lair
  • The Saga of Tanegashima
  • Ohyaku: The Female Demon
  • Kill!
  • Zatoichi and the Fugitives
  • Samaritan Zatoichi
  • Killer's Mission
  • Sleepy Eyes of Death 12: Castle Menagerie
  • Samurai Banners
  • Quick-draw Okatsu
  • Goyokin
  • Tenchu!
  • Okatsu the Fugitive
  • Sleepy Eyes of Death 13: The Full Moon Swordsman
  • Red Lion
  • Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor
  • Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo
  • Mission: Iron Castle
  • The Ambitious
  • Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival
  • Incident at Blood Pass
  • Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman
  • Zatoichi at Large
  • Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance
  • Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx
  • Zatoichi in Desperation
  • Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades
  • The Blind Hero Fighting Evil Wolf
  • Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril
  • Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice
  • Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight
  • Zatoichi's Conspiracy
  • Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons
  • Hanzo the Razor: The Snare
  • Lady Snowblood
  • Hanzo the Razor: Who's Got the Gold?
  • Lone Wolf and Cub: White Heaven in Hell
  • Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance
  • Shogun's Samurai
  • The Fall of Ako Castle
  • Kagemusha
  • Shogun Assassin
  • The Bushido Blade
  • The Challenge
  • Legend of the Eight Samurai
  • Ran
  • Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally
  • Blind Fury