Broken Rage: Everything we know About Takeshi Kitano’s Genre-Bending Crime Thriller

Takeshi Kitano returns with Broken Rage, a bold experiment blending hard-hitting crime with self-parody. Recently unveiled as Kitano’s long-rumored project for Amazon MGM Studios, the film has already made history as the first Japanese streaming production officially selected for the Venice Film Festival. 

Premiering out of competition at Venice, Broken Rage marks Kitano’s latest appearance at the festival, where he previously won the Golden Lion for Fireworks and the Silver Lion for Zatoichi. This new film continues his legacy of pushing cinematic boundaries, combining gritty storytelling with comedic subversion. 

The latest trailer offers a thrilling glimpse into its genre-bending narrative, packed with intense action and unexpected humor. But there’s more to Broken Rage than meets the eye, promising a film unlike anything Kitano has done before. From its festival debut to its upcoming streaming release, here’s everything you need to know about Broken Rage. Stay tuned as we keep updating with the latest details!

Release date & Where to Watch

Broken Rage premieres worldwide on Prime Video on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, launching simultaneously in over 240 countries and territories.

What is the plot of Broken Rage?

Broken Rage is an innovative genre-blending film starring Takeshi Kitano. The 62-minute film is split into two distinct halves: the first delivers a dark, hard-boiled crime thriller, while the second reinterprets the same story through a comedic self-parody. Kitano, playing the hitman Nezumi, finds himself trapped between the police and the yakuza, forced to go undercover in a dangerous drug syndicate.

Tadanobu Asano and Nao Omori portray detectives attempting to turn Nezumi into an informant, while Shidō Nakamura plays the ruthless yakuza boss overseeing the syndicate. Hakuryu takes on the role of the young boss, with So Kaku and several notable Japanese comedians, including Gekidan Hitori, Masanori Hasegawa, Azusa Babazono, and Mogura Suzuki, making their first appearances in a Kitano film.

The film’s second half turns the gritty crime drama into an absurdist satire, exaggerating characters and situations for comedic effect. Kitano explores themes of survival, loyalty, and betrayal, all while experimenting with pacing suited for streaming. 

Who’s in the cast of Broken Rage?

• Takeshi Kitano as Nezumi
• Tadanobu Asano (Shōgun) as Inoue
• Nao Omori as Fukuda
• Jun Akiyama as Undercover Investigator
• Azusa Babazono as Bar Hostess
• Hakuryû as Tomita
• Shiro Maeda as Man in Bag
• Shidô Nakamura as Kaneshiro
• Takashi Nishina as Coffee Shop Manager
• Masanori Hasegawa as Yasuo Mogi
• Gekidan Hitori as Game Presenter
• So Kaku as Fitness Trainer
• Goro Fukaya
• Hayato
• Kouzou IshikawaNorio Kanamori
• Takayuki Asai
• Tomohiko Kitamura

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Is There a Trailer for Broken Rage?

In the trailer for Broken Rage, we witness Nezumi, portrayed by Takeshi Kitano, being apprehended for murder and subsequently coerced into infiltrating a notorious drug syndicate. The tension escalates with rapid cuts of high-stakes confrontations, betrayals, and intense shootouts, all underscored by Shinya Kiyozuka's suspenseful piano score. 

The trailer also offers glimpses of key characters: Hitori Gekidan embodies a cryptic host, Masaki Hasegawa takes on the role of a formidable yakuza boss, Azusa Baba appears as an enigmatic hostess, Mogura Suzuki portrays an unorthodox ophthalmologist, and Shira Maeda steps in as a conflicted police officer. These brief yet impactful scenes hint at a narrative rich in complexity. Check out the trailer below:

Behind the Scenes

The genre-blending Broken Rage is directed, written by, and stars acclaimed filmmaker Takeshi Kitano, who explores his concept of “comedy within a violent film.” The film’s score is composed by Shinya Kiyozuka, and Naoki Ibusuki of Kitano Agency (T.N. GON) serves as producer. World sales are managed by Amazon MGM Studios and Amazon Japan GK.