Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJim Jarmusch
Written byJim Jarmusch
Produced byRichard Guay
Jim Jarmusch
Starring
CinematographyRobby Müller
Edited byJay Rabinowitz
Music byRZA
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • May 19, 1999 (1999-05-19) (Cannes)
  • October 6, 1999 (1999-10-06) (France)
  • November 27, 1999 (1999-11-27) (Japan)
  • January 6, 2000 (2000-01-06) (Germany)
  • March 3, 2000 (2000-03-03) (US)
Running time
116 minutes
Countries
  • United States
  • France
  • Germany
  • Japan
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2 million
Box office$9.3 million

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai is a 1999 crime drama film produced, written and directed by Jim Jarmusch. It stars Forest Whitaker as the title character, a hitman for the mafia who adheres to the ancient warrior code of the samurai, as outlined in the book of Yamamoto Tsunetomo's recorded sayings, Hagakure. The cast also features Cliff Gorman, Henry Silva, Isaach de Bankolé, Victor Argo and Camille Winbush.

An international co-production between the United States, France, Germany and Japan, Ghost Dog premiered at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival, where it competed for the Palme d'Or. The film opened to largely positive critical reception, and was nominated for both an Independent Spirit Award for Best Feature and a César Award for Best Foreign Film.