Tom Cruise’s $457M Last Samurai Lands on Streaming—Watch Now!

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Two decades after its initial release, the contentious yet triumphant period drama, “The Last Samurai,” produced by a well-known studio, has found a new streaming platform for viewers to enjoy. Now, fans can stream the 2003 Warner Bros. classic film, “The Last Samurai,” on their preferred service.

Paramount+ has announced that the movie “The Last Samurai” will be one of several new films debuting on their platform in June. So far, this film has primarily been available for rental or purchase on digital platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+. This is great news for Paramount subscribers who can now easily watch it without having to rent or buy. It’s also worth noting that this marks another Cruise film added to Paramount+, following the release of another movie on their service in March.

The Last Samurai Was A Polarizing Hit Upon Release

The movie “The Last Samurai,” directed by Academy Award winner Edward Zwick and set in the 19th century, depicts Tom Cruise as Captain Nathan Algren, a soldier who has seen war but is tormented by his part in the slaughter of Native Americans. Following his dismissal from the U.S. Army, Captain Algren consents to aid the Japanese government during the Meiji Restoration in creating a Western-style military force for a substantial payment.

Initially, his internal struggles lead him to encounter samurai warriors following his capture by Lord Moritsugo Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe). Subsequently, he finds himself drawn to the samurai culture in a village and ultimately aligns with their cause. Notably, his character is inspired by French Imperial Guard officers Eugène Collache and Jules Brunet, who served under the shōgun during the Boshin War.

In a generally favorable critical response (66% on Rotten Tomatoes), The Last Samurai secured four Academy Award nominations, with Watanabe receiving a nod for Best Supporting Actor. This historic movie also gained Golden Globe recognition for both Cruise and Watanabe, earning $456.8 million globally against its production cost of $140 million. However, the film faced criticism for perpetuating harmful stereotypes about Asians and questioning its historical accuracy. Some even argued that it leaned heavily on the white savior trope.

After completing two more movies with Warner Bros., titled “Rock of Ages” and another unspecified film, Tom Cruise shifted his focus towards Paramount’s feature-length projects, most notably the “Mission: Impossible” series. However, a decade later, he signed a strategic partnership agreement with Warner Bros. to produce both original and franchise films for the studio. His initial project upon returning to Warner Bros. is scheduled to premiere in 2026.

Tom Cruise might star as the lead in a possible sequel to Edge of Tomorrow, according to reports that suggest Warner Bros. executives attempted to persuade him for the role. His latest blockbuster appearance was in the recently premiered film, which is believed to be the final installment of the Mission: Impossible series on the big screen.

The Last Samurai is streaming on Paramount+.

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2025-06-05 16:53