Netflix’s New 100% RT Hit Makes Streaming History as the Greatest Live-Action Manga Adaptation Ever

Netflix’s Last Samurai Standing is a groundbreaking live-action adaptation of Shogo Imamura’s manga. The action-packed thriller features Junichi Okada as Shujro Saga, a samurai who enters a high-stakes battle royale tournament. His motivation isn’t glory, but a desperate need to win the prize money and save his family and town from a deadly cholera outbreak.

The new martial arts series, Last Samurai Standing, quickly became a hit on Netflix, reaching the top spot worldwide. Critics and viewers alike are loving the show’s intense action and violence, and it currently has a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, highlighting the impressive direction by Michihito Fuji.

The Last Samurai Standing Is Another Huge Win for Live-Action Manga Adaptations

Netflix has been finding success with shows based on existing material. Recently, the popular manga adaptation Alice in Borderland finished its run to positive reviews, paving the way for Last Samurai Standing. This new series is a tough, realistic drama set in Japan’s Meiji era, offering a glimpse into the fading world of the samurai.

While some have compared Last Samurai Standing to the classic historical drama Shogun, it’s more accurately described as a *Squid Gamestyle competition with a strong focus on martial arts. The show has been a critical success, achieving a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The plot of Last Samurai Standing is simple: fighters compete in a deadly contest called Kodoku, earning points by eliminating each other to win a large cash prize. But the contest is actually a cover for something much bigger. In reality, Kodoku is a brutal spectacle enjoyed by wealthy politicians who bet on the fighters and enjoy watching them fight to the death.

This series showcases a wide range of fighting styles and weapons, including classic samurai swords and the bows and arrows used by the Ainu people of Hokkaido. Its most impressive feature is the action – brutal battles and intense moments that really stay with you.

Although Unofficial, Last Samurai Standing is Another Win for the Anime Industry

At first glance, Last Samurai Standing seems like just another popular show on Netflix. But for the anime world, it’s a significant success, proving that manga adaptations can still thrive. The series is based on the manga of the same name by Shogo Imamura, highlighting the continued strength of the manga-to-anime format.

Similar to Last Samurai Standing, Netflix’s Alice in Borderland is another fantastic manga adaptation and raises the bar for how these stories are brought to life. Last Samurai Standing itself is a deeply thoughtful and funny look at history, blending fact and fiction into a compelling story set in a time following the age of samurai.

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2025-11-20 20:58