Takeshi Kitano
Known for Directing · 113 credits
- Born
- 1947-01-18 (age 79)
- Place of birth
- Tokyo, Japan
- Also known as
- Такэси Китано · Beat Takeshi · 기타노 타케시 · 비트 타케시 · "Beat" Takeshi Kitano · บีท ทาเกชิ
Biography
Takeshi Kitano (北野 武, Kitano Takeshi, born January 18, 1947), also known in Japan as Beat Takeshi (ビートたけし, Bīto Takeshi), is a Japanese comedian, actor, and filmmaker. While he is known primarily as a comedian and TV host in his native Japan, he is better known abroad for his work as a filmmaker and actor as well as TV host.
Kitano rose to prominence in the 1970s as one half of the comedy duo Two Beat, before going solo and becoming one of the three biggest comedians in the country. After several small acting roles, he made his directorial debut with 1989's Violent Cop and garnered international acclaim for Sonatine (1993). He was not widely accepted as an accomplished director in Japan until Hana-bi won the Golden Lion in 1997. In October 2017, Kitano completed his Outrage crime trilogy with the release of Outrage Coda. He is also known internationally for hosting the game show Takeshi's Castle (1986–1990) and starring in the film Battle Royale (2000).
Known For
TV Shows (20)
Golden Horse Awards
1962
as Self
Idaten: Tokyo Olympics Story
2019
as 古今亭志生
Takeshi's Castle
2002
Musashi
2003
as Munisai Shinmen
MXC
2003
Today's Close-Up
1993
as 出演
Takeshi's Castle
1986
as Count Takeshi
Takeshi's Castle Japan
2023
The Story of One Century
2000
オモクリ監督～O－Creator's TV Show～
2014
Beat Takeshi Presents TV Tackle
1989
Kodai bunmei Misuterī Takeshi no shin sekai nana fushigi dai hyakka
Kiseki taiken! Unbelievable
2018
as Storyteller
北野ファンクラブ
1992
日曜ゴールデンで何やってんだテレビ
2012
たけしのその時カメラは回っていた
2020
たけしのこれがホントのニッポン芸能史
2015
Dots and Lines
2007
as Jutaro Torikai
加ト・けん・たけしの世紀末スペシャル!!
1998
Kitano fan kurabu
1992
as Self
Movies (93)
Battle Royale
2000
as Kitano
Ghost in the Shell
2017
as Aramaki
Zatoichi
2003
as Zatoichi / Ichi
Johnny Mnemonic
1995
as Takahashi
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
1983
as Hara
Kikujiro
1999
as Kikujiro
Brother
2000
as Aniki Yamamoto
Sonatine
1993
as Aniki Murakawa
Fireworks
1997
as Yoshitaka Nishi
Outrage
2010
as Otomo
To Each His Own Cinema
2007
as The projectionist (segment "Rencontre unique")
Battle Royale II: Requiem
2003
as Kitano
While the Women Are Sleeping
2016
as Sahara
Taboo
1999
as Toshizo Hijikata
Outrage Coda
2017
as Otomo
Beyond Outrage
2012
as Otomo
Plankton Salesmen
2017
as Self (archive footage)
Blood and Bones
2004
as Joon-pyong Kim
The Mosquito on the Tenth Floor
1983
as Man at Racetrack
Izo
2004
as Chancellor
A Special Day
2012
as Self
Violent Cop
1989
as Azuma Ryosuke
Dearest
2012
as Teruo Sugino
Go, Go Second Time Virgin
1969
as Gang Member
Takeshis'
2005
as Beat Takeshi / Mr. Kitano
Manon
1981
as Shinobu
Getting Any?
1995
as Scientist
Trespassing Bergman
2013
as Self
Demon
1985
as Yajima
Boiling Point
1990
as Uehara
Achilles and the Tortoise
2008
as Machisu
Gonin
1995
as Ichiro Kyoya
No More Comics!
1986
as Police
Tokyo Eyes
1998
as Yakusa
The Boss' Wife
1988
as Shoji Sugimoto, Hitman
Miwa: A Japanese Icon
2013
as Himself
Kubi
2023
as Hashiba Hideyoshi
Erotic Liaisons
1992
as Okuyama
Glory to the Filmmaker!
2007
as Takeshi / Yakuza / Father / Ninja / Detective / Astronomer
Electric Yakuza, Go to Hell!
2004
as Self
Seicho Matsumoto's Black Gospel
2014
as Rokuro Fujisawa
Makoto-chan
1980
A Legend of Turmoil
1992
as Kiichirou Yashiro
Why Are We Creative?
2018
as Self
Doctor X: Gekai Daimon Michiko Special
2016
Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen
2015
as Detective Murakami
Summer Secrets
1982
as Ramen shop owner
Mozu The Movie
2015
as Daruma
Prison Break
2017
as Urata
Zankyo
1999
Arakimentari
2004
as Self
The Crimes of Kiyoshi Ōkubo
1983
as Kiyoshi Ôkubo
Joke with a Sorrowful Heart
1985
as Hiroshi Igarashi
The Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit
2008
as Take-Majin (voice)
The Final Battleground — Making of Battle Royale II
2003
as Self
Kim's War
1991
as Kim Hyi-ro
Many Happy Returns
1993
as Daisuke Shiba
Tokyo Melody: A Film About Ryuichi Sakamoto
1985
as Hara (archive footage)
Kogoro Akechi vs Kaijin Nijyuu Menso
2002
as Niju Menso
What the War Meant
2008
as Hideki Tojo
Shooting Film is Battleground: Making of BATTLE ROYALE
2001
as Self
Citizen Kitano
2020
as Self
Aka Medaka
2015
as Tatekawa Danshi
Kiseki Taiken! Anbiribabō: 1999 Nostradamus Senritsu no Daiyogen Mysterious Unbelievable
1999
Broken Rage
2024
as Nezumi
Kichiku
2002
A Living Promise
2016
as Detective Koichiro Iwase
Kikoku
2010
as Private First Class Oomiya
Making-of Kids Return
1996
as Himself
The Dump Truck Rascal
1981
Hoshi wo tsugu mono
1990
as Yama no hito
AUM: The Cult at the End of the World
2025
as Self (archive footage)
Scenes by the Sea: Takeshi Kitano
2000
as Self
Dioxin from Fish!
1992
as Azuma
Takeshi's Castle Vol. 1
2009
The Unpredictable Takeshi Kitano
1999
as Self
The 300 million yen robbery
2000
Shoko Asahara with Takeshi
1991
as Self
Jam Session (The Official Bootleg of Kikujiro)
1999
The 8th Floor
2014
as Self
KILL THEM ALL
1990
Jesus' Ark
1985
as Takeyoshi Sengoku
Completely... With That Air!
1981
Morning
2014
Making of 'Battle Royale'
2000
as Self
Yayoi Kusama: I Love Me
2008
The Golden Cups: One More Time
2004
as Himself
Kiseki Taiken! Anbiribabō: Kyōfu Eizō Kaiki Shashin Korekushon
1999
In Between Mountains and Oceans
2014
as Himself
雨の降る駅
1986
as 演员
In Your Blood: Hoki Naiden
The Yagyu Code: Secret Scrolls
1990
Hana-bi (1997) – Behind-the-scenes Footage
1997
as Self - Himself
About Takeshi Kitano
Takeshi Kitano (北野 武, Kitano Takeshi, born January 18, 1947), also known in Japan as Beat Takeshi (ビートたけし, Bīto Takeshi), is a Japanese comedian, actor, and filmmaker. While he is known primarily as a comedian and TV host in his native Japan, he is better known abroad for his work as a filmmaker and actor as well as TV host. Kitano rose to prominence in the 1970s as one half of the comedy duo Two Beat, before going solo and becoming one of the three biggest comedians in the country. After several small acting roles, he made his directorial deb… With 113 credits spanning from 1962 to 2025, Takeshi Kitano has appeared in 93 films and 20 TV shows.
Fans searching for Takeshi Kitano movies, Takeshi Kitano filmography, or the latest projects starring Takeshi Kitano can stream many of these titles on CineFlixo, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Takeshi Kitano Movies
- Battle Royale (2000) — as Kitano
- Ghost in the Shell (2017) — as Aramaki
- Zatoichi (2003) — as Zatoichi / Ichi
- Johnny Mnemonic (1995) — as Takahashi
- Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983) — as Hara
Where to Watch Takeshi Kitano Films
Most Takeshi Kitano movies and series are available to stream on CineFlixo in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Takeshi Kitano, check our movies catalogue and browse page.