Sansho the Bailiff (1954)
0.1947Canon Score · ranked #107 all time
Aggregated from 8 of 31 authoritative lists, weighted by authority and adjusted for each list's scope and age. How scoring works →
About the film
In 11th-century feudal Japan, following the exile of an idealistic governor, his wife and children are separated by slave traders; the children, Zushio and Anju, are sold into brutal servitude under the cruel bailiff Sansho.
Why it ranks #107
Every list on which Sansho the Bailiff appears, with its position as published.
| List | Authority | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Time Out 100 Best (2026 ed.) | Critics' canon | #39 / 99 |
| Letterboxd Top 500 (2026-07 snapshot) | Editorial list | #46 / 500 |
| Sight & Sound Critics' 250 (2022) | Major international poll | #76 / 264 |
| Cahiers du Cinéma 100 (2008) | Major international poll | #79 / 100 |
| Halliwell's Top 1000 (2005) | Critics' canon | #380 / 1041 |
| Ebert Great Movies (I–IV) | Critics' canon | Selected |
| 1001 Movies (2003-2024 union) | Critics' canon | Selected |
| NYT Best 1000 Movies (2004) | Critics' canon | Selected |