Editing Seven Samurai (section)

===Critical response===
''Seven Samurai'' was released to broadly positive reviews in the West, but film scholar [[Stuart Galbraith IV]] has noted it received "praise from American critics, but praise tainted by cultural condescension" for its perceived similarities to the American Western; nevertheless, it is now considered one of the greatest films in history.<ref>{{cite book |last=Galbraith IV |first=Stuart |url=https://archive.org/details/emperorwolf00galb |title=The Emperor and the Wolf: The Lives and Films of Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune |publisher=[[Faber and Faber, Inc.]] |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-571-19982-2 |pages=194–197 |author-link=Stuart Galbraith IV |url-access=registration}}</ref> On the [[review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film is "Certified Fresh" with a [[List of films with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes|perfect approval rating of {{RT data|score}}]] based on 101 reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The site's critical consensus reads: "Arguably Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece, ''The Seven Samurai'' is an epic adventure classic with an engrossing story, memorable characters, and stunning action sequences that make it one of the most influential films ever made".<ref name="rotten">{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes|title=Seven Samurai|id=seven_samurai_1956|type=m|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}}</ref> The site ranked it fourth on their "300 Best Movies of All Time" list in 2025,<ref name="RT300">{{cite web |title=300 Best Movies of All Time |url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/best-movies-of-all-time/ |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |date=24 April 2025 |access-date=24 April 2025}}</ref> having previously ranked 8th on their [[Action film|action]]/[[Adventure film|adventure]] voting list<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/top/bestofrt/top_100_action__adventure_movies|title=Top 100 Movies Of All Time|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media]]|access-date=June 26, 2019|archive-date=August 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150818055305/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/top/bestofrt/top_100_action__adventure_movies|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Top 100 Action & Adventure Movies|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/top/bestofrt/top_100_action__adventure_movies/?category=1|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=June 30, 2019|archive-date=April 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150408005844/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/top/bestofrt/top_100_action__adventure_movies/?category=1|url-status=live}}</ref> and third on their top 100 art house and international films.<ref>{{cite web|title=Top 100 Arthouse and International Films|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/top/bestofrt/top_100_art_house__international_movies/?category=4|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=June 30, 2019|archive-date=August 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801124000/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/top/bestofrt/top_100_art_house__international_movies/?category=4|url-status=live}}</ref> On Metacritic, it received a 98 out of 100 based on 7 critic reviews.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/seven-samurai-1954 |title=Seven Samurai |publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=June 18, 2023 |archive-date=June 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230618083219/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/seven-samurai-1954 |url-status=live }}</ref> On Spanish site {{ill|SensaCine|es}}, the film received a 4.3 out of 5 based on 3 critic reviews.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sensacine.com/peliculas/pelicula-297/ |title=Seven Samurai |publisher=Sensacine |accessdate=June 18, 2023 |archive-date=June 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230618083344/https://www.sensacine.com/peliculas/pelicula-297/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The film made its international debut at the 1954 [[Venice Film Festival]] in Italy, receiving a [[Silver Lion]] award. ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' reviewed the film, stating "High adventure and excitement are stamped all over this solid-core film" but said "the lone drawback is its length, which can be sheared."<ref>{{cite book |last=Galbraith IV |first=Stuart |url=https://archive.org/details/emperorwolf00galb |title=The Emperor and the Wolf: The Lives and Films of Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune |publisher=[[Faber and Faber, Inc.]] |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-571-19982-2 |pages=192–193 |author-link=Stuart Galbraith IV |url-access=registration}}</ref> Upon its US release as ''The Magnificent Seven'' in 1956, film critic Wanda Hale reviewed the film in ''[[New York Daily News]]'' and rated it four stars. She noted it was very different from Kurosawa's previous film ''[[Rashomon]]'' (1950) in that it was "an action picture" but Kurosawa "has exceeded himself". She praised Kurosawa's storytelling for "his deep perception of human nature" and "awareness that no two people are alike," his "sensitive, knowing direction" that "never lets audiences lose interest" in the plot, his talent for making the battle scenes and violent action "terrifically exciting to audiences" and his ability to naturally weave humor and romance between the serious action. She praised the "inspired performances" of the cast, including Takashi Shimura and Toshiro Mifune, among other actors.<ref name="Daily" />

Many critics outside of Japan have compared the film to [[Western (genre)|Westerns]]. [[Bosley Crowther]], writing for ''[[The New York Times]]'', compared it to ''[[High Noon]]''.<ref name=":0" /> Film historian [[Peter Cowie]] quoted Kurosawa as saying, "Good westerns are liked by everyone. Since humans are weak, they want to see good people and great heroes. Westerns have been done over and over again, and in the process, a kind of grammar has evolved. I have learned from this grammar of the western." Cowie continues this thought by saying, "That ''Seven Samurai'' can be so seamlessly transposed to an American setting underlines how carefully Kurosawa had assimilated this grammar."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cowie |first1=Peter |title=Seven Rode Together: Seven Samurai and the American Western. 'Seven Samurai': Eight Takes |date=2006 |publisher=[[Criterion Collection]] |page=13}}</ref>

In 1982, it was voted third in the ''[[Sight & Sound]]'' critics' poll of [[List of films considered the best|greatest films]]. In the 2002 ''Sight & Sound'' critics' poll the film was ranked 11th.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sight & Sound Greatest Films of All Time 2002|url=http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/polls/topten/poll/critics-long.html|website=bfi.org|access-date=May 2, 2021|archive-date=August 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813112813/http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/polls/topten/poll/critics-long.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the ''Sight & Sound'' directors' poll, it was voted 10th in 1992<ref>{{cite web|title=Sight & Sound top 10 poll 1992|url=http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/polls/topten/history/1992.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618100140/http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/polls/topten/history/1992.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 18, 2012|website=BFI|access-date=February 17, 2015}}</ref> and number nine in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|title=BFI Sight & Sound 2002 Top 10 Poll|url=http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/polls/topten/poll/directors.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618081540/http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/polls/topten/poll/directors.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 18, 2012|access-date=February 20, 2015}}</ref> It ranked 17th on the 2012 ''Sight & Sound'' [[The Sight & Sound Greatest Films of All Time 2012|critics' poll]],<ref>{{cite web|title=The Top 50 Greatest Films of All Time|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/news/50-greatest-films-all-time|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802102928/http://www.bfi.org.uk/news/50-greatest-films-all-time|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 2, 2012|work=[[Sight & Sound]]|publisher=[[British Film Institute]]|access-date=August 5, 2012|date=August 1, 2012}}</ref> in both cases being tied with Kurosawa's own ''[[Rashomon (film)|Rashomon]]'' (1950). It ranked 17th in 2012 ''Sight & Sound'' directors' poll.

In 1998, the film was ranked 5th in ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]'' magazine's Top 100 Films (Centenary).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pym |first1=John |last2=Andrew |first2=Geoff |title=Time Out Film Guide, 7th Edition |publisher=Time Out Group Limited |location=London, UK |url=http://www.filmsite.org/timeout.html |date=1998 |access-date=December 14, 2014 |isbn=978-0-14-027525-4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326071829/http://www.filmsite.org/timeout.html |archive-date=March 26, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' voted it the 12th greatest film of all time in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|title = Entertainment Weekly's 100 Greatest Movies of All Time|url = http://www.filmsite.org/ew100.html|publisher = [[Filmsite.org]]|access-date = January 19, 2009|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140331185517/http://www.filmsite.org/ew100.html|archive-date = March 31, 2014|df = dmy-all}}</ref> In 2000, the film was ranked at No.23 in ''[[The Village Voice]]''{{'}}s 100 Greatest Films list.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hoberman |first=J. |title=100 Best Films of the 20th Century |publisher=Village Voice Media, Inc. |location=New York |url=http://www.filmsite.org/villvoice.html |date=January 4, 2000 |access-date=December 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331174817/http://www.filmsite.org/villvoice.html |archive-date=March 31, 2014}}</ref> In January 2002, the film was included on the list of the "Top 100 Essential Films of All Time" by the [[National Society of Film Critics]].<ref name="Carr81">{{Cite book |last=Carr|first=Jay |title=The A List: The National Society of Film Critics' 100 Essential Films |year=2002 |publisher=Da Capo Press |isbn=978-0-306-81096-1 |page=[https://archive.org/details/alistnationalsoc00jayc/page/81 81] |url=https://archive.org/details/alistnationalsoc00jayc |url-access=registration|access-date=July 27, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=100 Essential Films by The National Society of Film Critics|url=https://www.filmsite.org/alist.html|website=filmsite.org|access-date=March 7, 2022|archive-date=July 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716022159/https://www.filmsite.org/alist.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2007, the film was ranked at No. 3 by ''[[The Guardian]]''{{'}}s readers' poll on its list of "40 greatest foreign films of all time".<ref>{{cite web|title=As chosen by you...the greatest foreign films of all time|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/may/11/1|website=[[The Guardian]]|date=May 11, 2007|access-date=July 21, 2021|archive-date=July 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721174107/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/may/11/1|url-status=live}}</ref> The film was voted at No. 57 on the list of "100 Greatest Films" by the prominent French magazine ''[[Cahiers du cinéma]]'' in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmdetail.com/2008/11/23/cahiers-du-cinemas-100-greatest-films/|title=Cahiers du cinéma's 100 Greatest Films|date=November 23, 2008|access-date=May 12, 2021|archive-date=July 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716224153/http://www.filmdetail.com/2008/11/23/cahiers-du-cinemas-100-greatest-films/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2009 the film was voted at No. 2 on the list of ''The Greatest Japanese Films of All Time'' by Japanese film magazine ''[[Kinema Junpo]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mubi.com/topics/greatest-japanese-films-by-magazine-kinema-junpo-2009-version|title=Greatest Japanese films by magazine Kinema Junpo (2009 version)|access-date=December 26, 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711021342/http://mubi.com/topics/greatest-japanese-films-by-magazine-kinema-junpo-2009-version|archive-date=July 11, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Seven Samurai'' was ranked number one on ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'' magazine's list of "The 100 Best Films of World Cinema" in 2010.<ref>{{cite web| title = The 100 Best Films Of World Cinema - 1. Seven Samurai| url = http://www.empireonline.com/features/100-greatest-world-cinema-films/default.asp?film=1| work = Empire| access-date = July 30, 2010| archive-date = September 5, 2015| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150905094207/https://www.empireonline.com/features/100-greatest-world-cinema-films/default.asp?film=1| url-status = live}}</ref>

Film critic [[Roger Ebert]] added it to his list of Great Movies in 2001.<ref>{{cite web| title = The Seven Samurai movie review| url = https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-the-seven-samurai-1954| work = Roger Ebert| access-date = February 24, 2021| archive-date = March 5, 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210305233724/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-the-seven-samurai-1954| url-status = live}}</ref> [[Martin Scorsese]] included it on a list of "39 Essential Foreign Films for a Young Filmmaker."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.openculture.com/2014/10/scorseses-list-of-39-essential-foreign-films.html |title=Martin Scorsese Creates a List of 39 Essential Foreign Films for a Young Filmmaker |publisher=Open Culture |date=October 15, 2014 |access-date=February 1, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207201938/http://www.openculture.com/2014/10/scorseses-list-of-39-essential-foreign-films.html |archive-date=February 7, 2015 }}</ref> It was also listed by Russian filmmaker [[Andrei Tarkovsky]] as one of his top ten favorite films.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lasica |first=Tom |title=Tarkovsky's Choice |url=http://www.nostalghia.com/TheTopics/Tarkovsky-TopTen.html |access-date=January 19, 2020 |website=Nostalghia.com |archive-date=December 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208122803/http://nostalghia.com/TheTopics/Tarkovsky-TopTen.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Kurosawa both directed and edited many of his films, including ''Seven Samurai''. In 2012, the [[Motion Picture Editors Guild]] listed ''Seven Samurai'' as the 33rd-best-edited film of all time based on a survey of its members.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The 75 Best Edited Films |journal=Editors Guild Magazine |date=May 2012 |volume=1 |issue=3 |url=https://www.editorsguild.com/magazine.cfm?ArticleID=1102 |access-date=April 25, 2017 |archive-date=March 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317101140/https://www.editorsguild.com/magazine.cfm?ArticleID=1102 |url-status=live }}</ref> It was voted the greatest foreign-language film of all time in [[BBC]]'s [[BBC's 100 Greatest Foreign-Language Films|2018 poll]] of 209 critics in 43 countries.<ref name="bbc">{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20181029-the-100-greatest-foreign-language-films|title=The 100 greatest foreign-language films|website=BBC Culture|date=October 29, 2018|access-date=November 1, 2018|archive-date=November 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101011949/http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20181029-the-100-greatest-foreign-language-films|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, when ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]'' polled film critics, directors, actors and stunt actors, ''Seven Samurai'' was voted the second-best [[action film]] of all time.<ref name="Time">{{cite web|url=http://www.timeout.com/newyork/film/best-action-movies|work=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]|title=The 100 best action movies|date=April 5, 2019|access-date=June 20, 2020|archive-date=November 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106142045/http://www.timeout.com/newyork/film/best-action-movies|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021, the film was ranked at number 7 on ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]'' magazine's list of "The 100 Best Movies of All Time".<ref>{{cite web|title=The 100 Best Movies of All Time|work=Time Out New York |url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/movies/best-movies-of-all-time|date=April 8, 2021|access-date=May 21, 2021|archive-date=June 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606054932/https://www.timeout.com/newyork/movies/best-movies-of-all-time|url-status=live}}</ref>