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Masao Adachi

Masao Adachi

Writer and actor · Born May 13, 1939 (87) · Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan

Masao Adachi (足立正生 Adachi Masao, born May 13, 1939) is a Japanese screenwriter and director who was most active in the 1960s and 1970s.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 13, 1939 (87)
From
Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
Works as
Writer and actor
Titles
8 on MovieCove · 68 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 26% in 30 days

What are Masao Adachi's films like?

Across their 8 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 44th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
38%
Self
21%
Survival
18%
Power
14%
Society
5%
Ideas
4%
Trauma3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 8 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 0 · Serious 1 · Dark 7

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 5 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 2

Intense: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their intense movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 0 · Charged 2 · Intense 6

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 1 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 2

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 0

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 1 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 2

Heavy: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their heavy movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 0 · Affecting 2 · Heavy 6

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 3 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
7
Melancholic
5
Dread
3
Absurd
2
Cold
2
Other
2

How their films linger

Unsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Bittersweet3
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous4

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Masao Adachi's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 2 of their 8 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, on The Criterion Channel (2).

Subscription and free streaming for Masao Adachi's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

68 credits, 8 with a MovieCove page; 8 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Masao Adachi Takes a Passport Photo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Actor

  • The Bird Is Calling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Actor

  • Escape (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Director · Writer

  • Tocka(2022)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • REVOLUTION+1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Director · Writer

  • シネマスコーレを解剖する。　コロナなんかぶっ飛ばせ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • Tonbi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • Random Lives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Senda

  • Artist of Fasting (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director · Editor · Screenplay

  • The Ugly One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Writer · as Narrator

  • Stars of Orion: Japanese Martyrs for Palestine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Actor

  • Lettre vidéo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director

  • Embryo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Original Story

  • Caterpillar(2010)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Prisoner/Terrorist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director · Writer

  • Cycling Chronicles: Landscapes the Boy Saw (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Writer

  • Perfect Education 6: Red Murder(2004)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Heaven and Hell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Writer

  • Endless Waltz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Writer

  • A.K.A. Serial Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Narrator (voice)

  • Secret High School Girl: After School Activity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Writer

  • Kôkôsei burai hikae (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Screenplay

  • Backside of 17 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Screenplay

  • Ecstasy of the Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Writer · as The February Army #1

  • Sex Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Writer

  • Red Army/PFLP: Declaration of World War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Director · Editor · Writer · Actor

  • Gushing Prayer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Director · Writer

  • The Woman Who Wanted to Die (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Screenplay

  • Love Technique 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Screenplay

  • Secret Flower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Screenplay · Actor

  • The Hateful Beast(1970)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • A Woman in Revolt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Sex Jack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Screenplay

  • Love Technique: Kamasutra (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Screenplay

  • Shinjuku Mad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Screenplay

  • Female Student Guerrilla (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director · Writer

  • Running in Madness, Dying in Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Screenplay · as Village man

  • Dark Story of a Sex Crime: Phantom Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Screenplay

  • Violent Virgin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Screenplay

  • Sexual Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Diary of a Shinjuku Thief(1969)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • New Underground History of Japanese Violence: Vengeance Demon(1969)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Go, Go Second Time Virgin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Writer

  • Naked Bullet(1969)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Sex Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Director · Screenplay

  • The Pistol That Sprouted Hair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Actor

  • Three Resurrected Drunkards (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Writer · as Policeman

  • Desire of the Flesh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Screenplay

  • A Womb to Let (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Writer

  • Sex Crimes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Screenplay

  • Death by Hanging(1968)

    as Chief of Guards

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Vagabond of Sex (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Screenplay

  • Galaxy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • Abnormal Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Writer · as Adachi (Peddler)

  • Violated Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Screenplay

  • Birth Control Revolution (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Director · Writer

  • Black Narcissus of Lust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Hitman 2

  • The Orgy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Screenplay

  • Season of Betrayal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Executionier

  • Abortion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Director · Art Direction · Composer · Screenplay

  • The Embryo Hunts in Secret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Assistant Director · Composer · Screenplay · as Narrator

  • The Love Robots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Screenplay

  • Torn Love Affair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Screenplay

  • Blood Is Redder Than the Sun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Assistant Director

  • Hi-Red Centre Shelter Plan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Actor

  • Closed Vagina (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Director · Producer

  • Bowl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Director

  • Kyô mo mata sugita (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

Career shape

A full career of 66 titles from 1960 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Caterpillar (2010)

$252K worldwide

Highest rated

Death by Hanging (1968)

Midcredits 93rd

Most popular right now

The Hateful Beast (1970)

Film career

  • 1966Screen debut· The Embryo Hunts in Secret

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting21 of 66: 12 only acting, 9 with another roleDirecting18 of 66: 2 only directing, 16 with another roleWriting50 of 66: 28 only writing, 22 with another roleProducing4 of 66: 0 only producing, 4 with another roleMusic2 of 66: 0 only music, 2 with another roleEditing2 of 66: 0 only editing, 2 with another roleOther crew3 of 66: 1 only other crew, 2 with another role

66 titles, 23 with more than one role — writing and acting overlap on 9 of them.

By decade

1960s32 · 9 acting · 27 crew1970s16 · 4 acting · 16 crew1990s2 · crew2000s3 · crew2010s6 · 3 acting · 4 crew2020s7 · 5 acting · 2 crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it.

How do Masao Adachi's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 53rd percentile, the median of all 8; across their 8 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 55th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Approval · how many liked their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Reach · how many have seen their films

34thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Midcredits score across 8 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up1
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th1
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

4 of their 8 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Crowd Pleaser2
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · writer

New Underground History of Japanese Violence: Vengeance Demon (1969)

65th percentile spread · 22% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Death by Hanging (1968)

Midcredits 93rd · 79% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 43/100 and the plot and story 55/100 in their films, across 3 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Masao Adachi work with?

People who share at least 2 of Masao Adachi's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Kōji Wakamatsu shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers