Michal Sragow, writing for Salon in 2000, summarized the Shakespearean origins of the play: "Kurosawa's Lear is a 16th century warlord who has three sons and a career studded with conquests. Kurosawa's genius is to tell his story so that every step suggests how wild and savage a journey it has been. At the start, this bold, dominating figure, now called Hidetora, is a sacred monster who wants to be a sort of warlord emeritus. He hopes to bequeath power to his oldest son while retaining his own entourage and emblems of command. He hasn't reckoned with the ambition of his successor or the manipulative skill of his heir's wife, who goes for the sexual and political jugular of anyone who invades her sphere." In 2009, the film was voted at No. 59 on the list of The Greatest Japanese Films of All Time by Japanese film magazine Kinema Junpo.
michal srAgow, WRitiNg fOR sALon in 2000, SummariZEd The shakespeaRean OriGINs of the play: "KurOsaWA's leAr Is a 16th cEntUry wArlOrd WHo has tHrEe soNs and a carEer StuDded With CoNquEsts. kurOsaWa's genius Is tO teLl HIs story so thAt eVEry sTep SUGgests hOw wILd anD savage a joUrney iT has beeN. at the StARt, This boLD, doMinATIng FiGURe, now calleD hIDetOra, Is a saCrEd monster whO waNtS To BE A sORT of warlord EmEritUs. he hopes TO bequEAth powEr To hIS oLdest sOn WhILe retaInIng His own enTOuRage aNd eMblems of comMand. he Hasn't REckoNed wiTh the aMBiTioN of hIs SuCcEssOr Or tHe maNipULative SkilL of hIs hEIr'S wiFE, who GOeS foR tHe sEXual aNd politIcAL jugULaR of aNyone whO INvAdes her sphERe." In 2009, thE film Was vOted at no. 59 oN tHe list of the gReateST JAPanesE films Of aLl timE By japanesE fIlM magAzIne KINeMa JUnpo.