---
title: "The Wolverine"
year: 2013
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-wolverine"
fi1m_id: "the-wolverine"
imdb_id: "tt1430132"
tmdb_id: 76170
wikidata_id: "Q197491"
fi1m_score: 64
critics_score: 59
critics_reviews: 22
published: "2026-10-05T12:59:24.109320+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-05T12:59:24.622569+00:00"
region: "JP"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# The Wolverine (2013)

Directed by James Mangold · 2h 06m · Action, Science Fiction, Adventure

## Identity

The Wolverine

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/the-wolverine
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** the-wolverine
- **IMDb ID:** tt1430132
- **TMDB ID:** 76170
- **Wikidata ID:** Q197491
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1430132/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/76170, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q197491

**Fi1m score: 64** · Critics 59 from 22 reviews

*In a sentence:* A sad man with knives in his hands goes to Japan to learn how to die, and the film loses its nerve first

> James Mangold takes Logan to Japan, takes away his healing and, for an hour and a half, makes the most interesting film this character has had. Then the finale arrives, all armour and explanation, and spends most of what it earned.

## Synopsis

Nagasaki, 1945. Logan (Hugh Jackman), a prisoner of war, saves a young officer named Yashida (Ken Yamamura) from the atomic bomb by pulling him into a well. Decades later he is living rough in the Yukon, growing a beard and dreaming each night of Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), the woman he killed. Yukio (Rila Fukushima), a red-haired swordswoman, finds him in a bar and brings him to Tokyo, where the dying Yashida (Haruhiko Yamanouchi), now head of a vast corporation, makes an offer: he can take Logan’s healing ability from him and let him grow old and die like anyone else. Logan refuses. At Yashida’s funeral the yakuza attack, Logan protects the granddaughter, Mariko (Tao Okamoto), and finds, for the first time, that his wounds are not closing.

## Review

James Mangold’s film begins with a question superhero films rarely ask: what if the man who cannot die would rather not go on? Logan (Hugh Jackman) is found living rough in the Yukon, dreaming of Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), and he is carried off to Tokyo by a woman with a sword and an offer. The dying industrialist Yashida (Haruhiko Yamanouchi) would like to take his healing from him, as a kindness. For an hour and a half the script by Mark Bomback and Scott Frank treats that offer seriously, and the film is the better for it. Then the last half hour spends nearly everything.

Jackman has played this part before and here he plays it tired. He lets the shoulders drop and the voice go to a growl, and when the offer is made he takes a beat before refusing that tells us he has thought about it. Janssen appears in a white nightdress in a white bed to say soothing things that are not soothing. The device is used once too often, but it gives Logan a reason to want it finished.

François Audouy gives Yashida’s compound dark wood, glass walls and a hospital bed at the heart of it. Ross Emery shoots Tokyo in reflected neon and the Nagasaki prologue in a white so hard it hurts, Logan shielding the young officer as the blast rolls over them. Isis Mussenden gives Yukio (Rila Fukushima) scarlet hair and a blazer and Mariko (Tao Okamoto) a wardrobe so muted she sometimes vanishes into the sets. Marco Beltrami keeps the music low, drums and bowed strings, and lets the silences work until the finale asks him to shout.

The bullet train fight is the set piece everyone mentions, and it deserves it. Logan and a handful of yakuza cling to the roof of a Shinkansen, claws and knives stabbed into the steel to hold on, ducking gantries that arrive like punches. Michael McCusker cuts it so we always know where the next gantry is, which is the whole trick, and Mangold finds the comedy in a man using an expensive train as a pin cushion. It lasts five minutes, and it is the one stretch in which the film is wholly sure of itself.

Fukushima is the film’s find. Her Yukio is cheerful, lethal and half in love with the man she has been sent to collect, and she can see how people will die, which the script uses well once and then forgets. Okamoto’s Mariko is the woman to be protected, and her romance with Logan is decided by the writers rather than by the actors. Hiroyuki Sanada glowers as Shingen, Yashida’s son, and gets one proper sword fight. Will Yun Lee’s archer Harada and Brian Tee’s Noburo, Mariko’s fiancé, do what is asked of them. Svetlana Khodchenkova’s Viper, a poisoner who sheds her skin, has wandered in from another film, a louder and sillier one, and every time she appears this one gets sillier with her.

The moment we remember is small: at the funeral Logan is shot and looks down, and the wound does not close. Jackman plays it with a flicker of fear and, under that, something like relief, and we sat forward, because for once a man with knives in his hands had something to lose. The film holds that idea for an hour and then, in its final half hour, lets go. The ending takes a turn we will not describe, except that it involves a great deal of metal, and the quiet film about a man who might die is replaced by a loud one about a man who must hit something enormous. We felt it sag, and we minded.

Mangold made *Cop Land* (1997) and *3:10 to Yuma* (2007), and he is good at tired men who have decided to do one more thing; the first two thirds of this belong with them. He would come back to the character in [*Logan*](https://film.one/film/logan) (2017) and finish the thought. For now, see this for Jackman, for Fukushima and for the train. It runs 126 minutes and carries a 12A, and when the shouting starts you may make the tea with a clear conscience.

*Fi1m score 64, published 5 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics find The Wolverine a middling improvement: a step up from the previous solo outing without being much more than that. The praise clusters in two places. The first is the Japanese setting, which many reviews credit with giving the film a flavour the series has lacked, with Logan played as a stranger in a country that has no use for him. The second is a single sequence, the fight on top of the bullet train, named by review after review as the best thing in it. Hugh Jackman is widely thought to be doing more vulnerable work than usual, and the quieter first hour has its admirers.

The reservations gather almost entirely around the final act, which most critics describe as a slide into familiar, effects-heavy spectacle, with a villain and a corporate plot few care about. The spread is wide, from HeyUGuys at full marks to The Guardian and the Evening Standard, both of which find the film flat and tired by the end.

## Straight answers

**Is The Wolverine worth watching?**

*The Wolverine* is worth watching for anyone who likes Hugh Jackman in the part and can forgive a loud final half hour, and we scored it 64. For an hour and a half it is the most interesting film this character has had, with Logan stripped of his healing and a bullet-train fight that is wholly sure of itself. Then the armour arrives and spends most of what it earned.

**How long is The Wolverine, and what is it rated?**

*The Wolverine* runs 2h 06m. It is an action and science fiction film.

**Where can I watch The Wolverine in Japan?**

*The Wolverine* is streaming on Disney+ in Japan, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV from ¥300. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is The Wolverine, and is it suitable for children?**

*The Wolverine* is a 12A, which means stabbing, shooting and sword fights with little blood shown, plus a hard-white atomic blast in the Nagasaki prologue and a poisoner who sheds her skin. It is fine for most children over twelve and for teenagers, though younger or nervous viewers may find the fights and the dream of a dead woman unsettling.

**How does The Wolverine compare to Logan?**

*The Wolverine* is the earlier and lesser of James Mangold's two Wolverine films, and [*Logan*](https://film.one/film/logan) is the one we would steer a newcomer towards. The Japan film has the better single set piece, on the roof of a bullet train, and Rila Fukushima's Yukio, but it drops its idea about a man who might die. *Logan* picks that idea up again and finishes it.

**What should I watch after The Wolverine?**

After *The Wolverine*, try [*Logan*](https://film.one/film/logan) (2017, Fi1m 83): Mangold and Jackman come back and give the tired man the ending he was owed here. Then [*Yojimbo*](https://film.one/film/yojimbo) (1961, Fi1m 88): Kurosawa’s drifter walks into a town at war with itself and picks a side for fun; and [*Black Rain*](https://film.one/film/black-rain) (1989, Fi1m 62): Ridley Scott’s Osaka, all steam and neon, with Michael Douglas sweating through it.

### Reviews we read (22)

- **Variety**, Peter Debruge (78/100, inferred): Debruge finds the film entertaining and unexpectedly existential, though its finale falls short of the preceding story. He especially praises Jackman’s emotionally vulnerable performance and the way the film gives Wolverine’s character new depth. [Read](https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/film-review-the-wolverine-1200566296/)
- **The AV Club**, A.A. Dowd (B): Dowd finds the film an enjoyable, self-contained action movie despite its underwhelming plot and thin supporting characters. He praises the kinetic set pieces, especially the fight atop a speeding bullet train. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/the-wolverine-1798177476)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Megan Lehmann (75/100, inferred): Lehmann sees the film as a step forward for the franchise, though its third act collapses and the climactic battle disappoints. She praises the Japanese setting and especially the expertly staged bullet-train fight. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/wolverine-film-review-589329/)
- **Empire**, Chris Hewitt (65/100, inferred): Hewitt finds it an improvement on the previous Wolverine film, though it ultimately slips into familiar, unsatisfying formula. He praises the distinctive Japanese setting and the inventive Shinkansen fight, while faulting the convoluted, effects-heavy finale. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/wolverine-review/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Andy Klein (65/100, inferred): Klein finds the film solidly made, with several impressive action sequences. He singles out the bullet-train fight for praise and faults the choice of romance, arguing Yukio is more interesting than Mariko. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/socal/glendale-news-press/entertainment/tn-gnp-xpm-2013-07-26-tn-gnp-et-film-review-an-immortal-comes-out-of-retirement-in-the-wolverine-20130726-story.html)
- **Screen Daily**, Kim Newman (64/100, inferred): The page identifies this as a review, but the critic’s verdict cannot be read in the available text. No specific praise or complaint is visible. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/the-wolverine/5058438.article)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Matt Zoller Seitz (2.5/4): The review finds the film uneven rather than fully successful. It singles out Hugh Jackman's performance as a strength. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-wolverine-2013)
- **Slant Magazine**, R. Kurt Osenlund (2.5/4): Osenlund finds the film strongest when it feels like a muted character study, though its plot eventually loses risk and falls into familiar blockbuster conventions. He praises the Japan setting and Mangold’s stylishly staged action, especially the train-top sequence and swordplay. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-wolverine/)
- **Radio Times**, Jeremy Aspinall (3/5): The critic calls it a definite improvement on the previous solo Wolverine film. They praise James Mangold’s use of Logan as a fish out of water. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-efqc9c/the-wolverine/)
- **Total Film**, Neil Smith (3/5): The critic calls it perfectly decent but ponderous, and an improvement on the first Wolverine solo film. The spectacular action and Hugh Jackman’s performance stand out, while the pacing and Silver Samurai reveal disappoint. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-wolverine-review/)
- **The New Yorker** (55/100, inferred): The review finds the story vague, but appreciates the film’s steady Japanese setting and stylish action. It singles out the bullet-train fight and the snowy homage to Kurosawa’s “Throne of Blood.” [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/the-wolverine-2)
- **Time Out**, Guy Lodge (2/5): Lodge gives the film two out of five, indicating an unfavorable verdict. The available page text does not reveal what he singles out for praise or complaint. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-wolverine)
- **Vulture**, David Edelstein (35/100, inferred): Edelstein finds the film agreeable in its smaller scale but ultimately mechanical and poorly staged. He praises the inventive bullet-train sequence and Yukio’s energetic action, while faulting the plotting and villain. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2013/07/movie-review-the-wolverine.html)
- **Evening Standard**, Charlotte O'Sullivan (30/100, inferred): O'Sullivan finds the film unfocused and weighed down by changes to its source material. She praises Hugh Jackman's watchable performance and singles out the bullet-train fight as a delight. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-wolverine-film-review-8732412.html)
- **The Guardian**, Henry Barnes (30/100, inferred): Barnes finds the film increasingly wearied, with predictable action and a duller, flatter feel. He singles out the opening hour’s gangster-thriller pacing, but says the later fights and drab scenery undermine it. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/jul/18/the-wolverine-hugh-jackman-review)
- **HeyUGuys**, Ben Mortimer (5/5): The critic calls it a refreshingly strong X-Men entry and possibly the best Wolverine film, praising its focused story and lively tone. They single out Mangold’s decision to strip Logan of his invulnerability for making the danger and action more engaging. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/the-wolverine-review/)
- **Paste**, Scott Wold (7/10): Wold finds the film a fitfully delivered, hit-and-miss entry that falls short of its promising setup. He praises Hugh Jackman’s performance and Mangold’s restraint in keeping cameos and distractions to a minimum. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/the-wolverine)
- **The Wrap**, Alonso Duralde (68/100, inferred): The critic finds it an entertaining return to form, though it falls short of the series at its best. The Logan–Mariko scenes and the bullet-train fight stand out, while the villain and corporate intrigue disappoint. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/wolverine-review-hugh-jackmans-bad-news-mutant-returns-fighting-form-105391/)
- **Den of Geek**, James Hunt (3/5): Hunt finds The Wolverine a good, character-focused improvement over its predecessor, though its final act undermines the film. He praises the Japanese setting and the well-rounded supporting characters, especially Yukio. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-wolverine-review/)
- **Digital Spy**, Simon Reynolds (3/5): The review finds the film interesting but flawed, and only a modest improvement over its predecessor. It praises the Japan-set samurai influence for giving the film a distinct flavour, while faulting its shift into conventional blockbuster spectacle. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a498736/the-wolverine-review-hugh-jackman-takes-x-men-hero-to-japan/)
- **The Playlist**, The Playlist Staff (C-): The critic finds the film maddeningly frustrating, especially as its dark character story fails to mesh with superhero action. The review praises its occasionally engaging, introspective early moments but condemns the ridiculous, tone-deaf final act. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/review-the-wolverine-starring-hugh-jackman-20130724/)
- **Eye for Film**, Owen Van Spall (45/100, inferred): The review finds the film a successful but ultimately underwhelming stopgap before the next X-Men event. It praises Hugh Jackman’s charisma while faulting the film for lacking the wit and a compelling villain. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-wolverine-2013-film-review-by-owen-van-spall)

## Details

- **Director:** James Mangold
- **Director:** James Mangold
- **Screenplay:** Mark Bomback, Scott Frank
- **Cinematography:** Ross Emery
- **Editor:** Michael McCusker
- **Music:** Marco Beltrami
- **Production design:** François Audouy
- **Costume design:** Isis Mussenden
- **Producer:** Hugh Jackman, Hutch Parker, Lauren Shuler Donner
- **Cast:** Hugh Jackman as Logan / Wolverine; Hiroyuki Sanada as Shingen Harada / Lord Shingen; Tao Okamoto as Mariko Yashida / Scarlet Samurai; Rila Fukushima as Yukio; Famke Janssen as Jean Grey / Phoenix; Will Yun Lee as Harada; Svetlana Khodchenkova as Madame Hydra / Viper; Haruhiko Yamanouchi as Ichiro Yashida / Silver Samurai
- **Runtime:** 2h 06m
- **Release (Japan):** 13 September 2013
- **Genres:** Action, Science Fiction, Adventure
- **Budget:** $120 million
- **Box office:** $415 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwG56k6VGOE

## Where to watch in Japan

- Disney+: streaming, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: rent ¥300, hd
- Apple TV: rent ¥440, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy ¥1, sd
- Apple TV: buy ¥1,100, sd

*Checked 2026-10-05.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, IE, IL, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, TR, UA, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *Logan* (2017), Fi1m 83: Mangold and Jackman come back and give the tired man the ending he was owed here — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/logan.md)
- *Yojimbo* (1961), Fi1m 88: Kurosawa’s drifter walks into a town at war with itself and picks a side for fun — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/yojimbo.md)
- *Black Rain* (1989), Fi1m 62: Ridley Scott’s Osaka, all steam and neon, with Michael Douglas sweating through it — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/black-rain.md)
- *13 Assassins* (2010): Takashi Miike’s samurai film saves its fury for a last hour of mud and blades
- *The Yakuza* (1974): Robert Mitchum in Japan, slow and sad, in a thriller about old debts

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/the-wolverine