The Best Movies and Shows Like Sakamoto Days That Fans Should Watch
Netflix’s latest anime series Sakamoto Days has become a hit thanks to its great mix of action, comedy, and familial bonds. In the manga-turned-anime, an elite hitman named Taro Sakamoto now lives out his retirement running a convenience store with his wife and daughter.
Unfortunately, Taro’s past finds him and soon various hitmen arrive to kill him and claim a bounty that’s on his head. Blending action with humor, the show sees the older (and plumper) Taro protect his family, all while dealing with the more mundane aspects of being a father.
This guide will show you the best movies and shows like Sakamoto Days and let you know where they’re streaming online right now.
Fans might be surprised to learn that the biggest inspiration for Sakamoto Days wasn’t other anime or manga, but actually the John Wick film series. When speaking to MANGA Plus magazine, the creators of Sakamoto Days said, "Suzuki has a fondness for movies, and I believe it’s influenced by foreign hitman films like John Wick." They said they thought Wick was cool and liked that the character was "collected, strong, and hard worker."
In the MANGA Plus interview, another massive inspiration the creators named was The Equalizer. Fans can see the similarities as well – In the film, Denzel Washington plays an ex-marine who now spends his life working at a home improvement store. But after befriending a sex worker, he gets sucked into the criminal underworld and works to save an innocent girl.
For an anime with a similar plot, check out The Fable. In the series, an infamous hitman is sent on a mysterious mission where he’s forced to not kill anyone for a whole year and live life as a pedestrian. Even worse, he has to do this while living amongst a trigger-happy Yakuza clan.
Just as Sakamoto Days sees a hitman become a convenience store owner, Great Teacher Onizuka sees a similar shift with its main character. In the manga and anime, a horny sleazeball named Eikichi grows up to become a teacher, and instead of trying to get in young girls’ pants, he now wants to help them learn valuable life lessons.
If you loved the way a trained hitman has to raise a family in Sakamoto Days, then check out Spy x Family. In the series, an elite spy from Westalis infiltrates the neighboring nation of Ostania by creating a fake family – taking on the fake name of Lord Folger, adopting a daughter, and marrying an unsuspecting woman. But he has no idea how difficult it will be to balance a family and his career.
Fans of Sakamoto Days will probably also recognize a similarity to Kill Bill. In the series, Taro has to face various hitmen who come to claim his bounty. Similarly, Uma Thurman must battle a team of assassins from her past in order to move on with her life. Anyone who loves the action side of Sakamoto Days will definitely enjoy both Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Vol. 2.
Based on the wild true story exposed in Texas Monthly magazine, Hit Man sees Glen Powell take on the role of Gary Johnson, an undercover agent who works to expose real-life hitmen. The film is loaded with humor and action, just like Sakamoto Days. Plus, its hitman-centered plot makes it even more similar to Sakamoto.
Speaking of assassins in weird family dynamics, Buddy Daddies follows two assassins who end up adopting a young girl after killing her father. The series definitely has some oddball and dark humor, but it vibes well for fans of Sakamoto Days.
