Common Sense Media Review
By JK Sooja
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Live-action manga adaptation has lots of strong violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Golden Kamuy
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In GOLDEN KAMUY, Saichi (Kento Yamazaki) is known as the "Immortal Sugimoto" because he survived battle and war without dying. When a fellow traveler informs Saichi of possible hidden gold, he sets out to find it with the help of a new friend, Asirpa (Anna Yamada), an Ainu with different reasons for wanting to find the gold. But others are trying to beat them to it. Who will find it first?
Is It Any Good?
This live-action adaptation of the manga follows the original story quite dutifully, but by doing this, some viewers might feel the film ends too abruptly. But the world and characters of Golden Kamuy are represented accurately and acted well, with Kento Yamazaki (Alice in Borderland) and Anna Yamada playing their roles with gusto and assuredness. The action is swift, exciting, and occasionally brutal. Some violence might surprise some viewers, however, as moments of sudden gore and blood can feel a bit more brutal and grotesque in this live-action version (as opposed to their animated or manga counterparts).
Further, viewers unaware of the Golden Kamuy manga or anime versions might be surprised by the sudden tonal shifts in this live-action iteration. After some violence, killing, and action, characters can quickly become goofy, casual, and overly playful, which can appear to some viewers unaccustomed to manga and anime as a bit crude or confusing. Also confusing for some viewers might be the abrupt ending of the film, as it's openly and clearly meant to be the first in a series. Many characters (like the villains) are left unexplained, many goals (like who gets the gold) go unachieved, and many questions (like how the Ainu fit into everything) go unanswered.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in action-adventure movies. Did any of the violence in Golden Kamuy surprise you? How would this violence have looked in an animated film?
What does Saichi learn about himself during his time with Asirpa? Does Asirpa learn anything about herself?
Do you think the film does well setting up a sequel? What could have helped the film be more self-contained while still setting up a sequel?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : May 19, 2024
- Cast : Kento Yamazaki , Anna Yamada , Yûma Yamoto , Gordon Maeda
- Director : Shigeaki Kubo
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Adventures
- Run time : 128 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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