Movies Like Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai is a 1999 crime, drama film from Jim Jarmusch with a MovieMagicScore of 7.3/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with On the Waterfront and The Iceman.

Crime Drama

On the Waterfront

1954

A prizefighter-turned-longshoreman with a conscience goes up against labor leaders to expose corruption, extortion, and murder among the union ranks.

7.9

MagicScore

The Iceman

2012

The true story of Richard Kuklinski, the notorious contract killer and family man.

6.6

MagicScore

Skin

2019

In a small supermarket in a blue collar town, a black man smiles at a 10 year old white boy across the checkout aisle. This innocuous moment sends two gangs into a ruthless war that ends with a shocking backlash.

6.5

MagicScore

Little Voice

1998

After the death of her father, Little Voice or LV becomes a virtual recluse, never going out and hardly ever saying a word. She just sits in her bedroom listening to her father's collection of old records of Shirley Bassey, Marilyn Monroe and various other famous female singers. But at night time, LV sings, imitating these great singers with surprising accuracy. One night she is overheard by one of her mother's boyfriends, who happens to be a talent agent. He manages to convince her that her talent is special and arranges for her to perform at the local night club, but several problems arise.

6.5

MagicScore

Paradise Alley

1978

Three Italian-American brothers, living in the slums of 1940's New York City, try to help each other with one's wrestling career using one brother's promotional skills and another brother's con-artist tactics to thwart a sleazy manager.

5.8

MagicScore

The Replacement Killers

1998

Hired assassin John Lee is asked by Chinatown crime boss Terence Wei to murder the young son of policeman Stan Zedkov. Lee has the boy in his sights, but his conscience gets the better of him, and he spares the child's life. Afraid that Wei will take revenge on his family in China, Lee seeks out expert forger Meg Coburn to obtain the passport he needs to get out of the country, but a band of replacement killers is soon on his trail.

6.2

MagicScore

Training Wheels

2013

When Margo, Edith, and Agnes chase after an ice cream truck, little Agnes struggles to keep up and takes a tumble while pedaling her bike. Seeing her disappointment, the Minions spring into action to lift her spirits. Using their quirky ingenuity, they construct a unicorn-themed motorcycle to help Agnes ride in style. With her new wheels, Agnes embarks on a whimsical and heartwarming ride through town, showcasing the Minions’ unwavering dedication to bringing joy to the girls’ lives. This short captures the charm of teamwork, creativity, and pure delight.

7.0

MagicScore

Comfort and Joy

1984

Radio host Alan 'Dickie' Bird witnesses how an icecream van is attacked and destroyed by angry competitors. This leads him into the struggle between two Italian families over the icecream market of Glasgow.

6.5

MagicScore

The District

2004

In an effort to end family feuding, a young gypsy travels back in time to kill mammoths to ensure Hungary becomes rich by killing mammoths in order to create a massive oil reservoir. Things don't go entirely according to plan...

4.8

MagicScore

#10

Road to Perdition

2002

Mike Sullivan works as a hit man for crime boss John Rooney. Sullivan views Rooney as a father figure, however after his son is witness to a killing, Mike Sullivan finds himself on the run in attempt to save the life of his son and at the same time looking for revenge on those who wronged him.

7.3

MagicScore

#11

Breach of Faith: A Family of Cops II

1997

The family of cops is back, this time dealing with the murder of a priest tied in with the Russian Mafia, who proceed to try to draw the family off the case.

6.5

MagicScore

#12

Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead

1995

Five different criminals face imminent death after botching a job quite badly.

6.4

MagicScore

#13

Code of Silence

1985

A Chicago cop is caught in the middle of a gang war while his own comrades shun him because he wants to take an irresponsible cop down.

5.9

MagicScore

#14

Straight Outta Compton

2015

In 1987, five young men, using brutally honest rhymes and hardcore beats, put their frustration and anger about life in the most dangerous place in America into the most powerful weapon they had: their music. Taking us back to where it all began, Straight Outta Compton tells the true story of how these cultural rebels—armed only with their lyrics, swagger, bravado and raw talent—stood up to the authorities that meant to keep them down and formed the world’s most dangerous group, N.W.A. And as they spoke the truth that no one had before and exposed life in the hood, their voice ignited a social revolution that is still reverberating today.

7.8

MagicScore

#15

Bulworth

1998

A suicidally disillusioned liberal politician puts a contract out on himself and takes the opportunity to be bluntly honest with his voters by affecting the rhythms and speech of hip-hop music and culture.

6.3

MagicScore

#16

The Hitman

1991

After surviving an attempt on his life by his former partner, officer Cliff Garrett (Norris) exacts revenge on those who wronged him by going undercover as a hit man. He works to gain the reputation and trust needed in order to be accepted by the burgeoning Seattle-area criminal underworld, but it is all done in order to take it down from within.

5.4

MagicScore

#17

Fallen Angels

1995

An assassin goes through obstacles as he attempts to escape his violent lifestyle despite the opposition of his partner, who is secretly attracted to him.

7.7

MagicScore

#18

New Jersey Drive

1995

Jason and Midget are two young, black teenagers living in Newark, New Jersey, the unofficial car theft capital of the world. Their favourite pastime is that of everybody in their neighbourhood: stealing cars and joyriding. The trouble starts when they steal a police car and the cops launch a violent offensive that involves beating and even shooting suspects.

6.2

MagicScore

#19

Le Samouraï

1967

After carrying out a flawlessly planned hit, Jef Costello, a contract killer with samurai instincts, finds himself caught between a persistent police investigator and a ruthless employer, and not even his armor of fedora and trench coat can protect him.

7.8

MagicScore

#20

Layer Cake

2004

When a seemingly straight-forward drug deal goes awry, XXXX has to break his die-hard rules and turn up the heat, not only to outwit the old regime and come out on top, but to save his own skin...

6.9

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai?

The top films similar to Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai by MovieMagicScore are On the Waterfront (7.9), The Iceman (6.6), Skin (6.5). Each shares crime/drama themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai worth watching?

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai holds a MovieMagicScore of 7.3/10 from 1,315 viewer ratings, putting it among the better-reviewed titles in its genre.

What kind of movie is Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai?

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) is a crime, drama film directed by Jim Jarmusch, starring Forest Whitaker, John Tormey, Cliff Gorman.

Where can I find more recommendations like Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more crime recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like On the Waterfront Movies like The Iceman Movies like Skin Movies like Little Voice Movies like Paradise Alley Movies like The Replacement Killers

About movies like Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

This ranked list pairs Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999), a crime and drama film from Jim Jarmusch, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Forest Whitaker take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

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