The Best Films To Watch If You Loved Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii finally gives the fan-favorite character Goro Majima his own standalone game. Letting you experience the pirate life in the shoes of a Mad Dog who has lost his memories, the game retains the familiar feeling the series is known for while introducing an engaging naval system.

While no other piece of media can perfectly capture the essence of a Like a Dragon game, various movies come close, at least to Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. Whether because of similar protagonists or a plot line that follows the same general direction as the game, those who love Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii have multiple movies they have to add to their watch list.

10

Tokyo Tribe

Hip Hop Yakuza

• Director: Sion Sono
• Release Year: 2014
• Country: Japan

Tokyo Tribe is set in an alternate Japan where street gangs control and fight over territory. The kicker is that they fight using words instead of fighting with their fists. This hip-hop comedy may have a goofy exterior but, like the Like a Dragon series, it knows when to up its stakes.

When a leader of one of the gangs accidentally kills the wrong person, all the gangs unite against him, leading to a full-blown gang war. With over-the-top encounters and characters with personalities straight out of a Like a Dragon side story, Tokyo Tribe is a must-watch for those who love the ridiculous side of the beloved game series.

9

The Good, The Bad, The Weird

Weirdly Excellent

• Director: Kim Jee-woon
• Release Year: 2008
• Country: South Korea

Multiple parties are searching for a treasure, and the map that could lead to it is stolen by one of the central characters. Every person interested in the treasure tries to track down the one with the map so they can get their hands on the riches. While not the same, those who enjoyed the treasure-hunting aspect of Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will definitely love The Good, the Bad, the Weird.

Of course, the general plot isn’t the only thing the movie and game have in common. One look at the shenanigans the weird character from The Good, the Bad, the Weird gets up to will remind you of Majima and his goofy voice.

8

Men In Black 2

A Legendary Legend

• Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
• Release Year: 2002
• Country: United States

Men in Black 2 sees Will Smith’s Agent J becoming the Agency’s top player. While investigating an incident, Agent J is made aware that it has something to do with his former partner Agent K’s past. The only problem is that Agent K doesn’t have his memories.

While Men in Black 2 has more aliens than Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, the movie and game surprisingly share many things in common. From the leading character’s memory being wiped out to him being a legend agent or yakuza, maybe Majima was Agent K in another timeline.

7

Shaolin Soccer

Less Hustle, More Soccer

• Director: Stephen Chow
• Release Year: 2001
• Country: China

This movie focuses on the use of Kung Fu in everyday life. The main character Sing learns to play soccer from a former legend, Golden Leg. Their team consists of others who know Kung Fu, which they utilize to defeat opposing teams. Trouble arises when they go up against an evil team with superhuman strength.

The over-the-top abilities players get using Kung Fu are similar to typical Like a Dragon heat actions. Shaolin Soccer can pass for an excellent spin-off game if you pretend the whole soccer thing is just another Like a Dragon side story.

6

Drunken Master 2

Enjoyable Even When Sober

• Director: Lau Kar-leung
• Release Year: 1994
• Country: China

Drunken Master 2 is a Jackie Chan classic where the legend performs breathtaking action in his signature goofy style. At the beginning of the movie, Wong Fei-hung (played by Jackie Chan) accidentally grabs the wrong box while on a train. The box contains an imperial seal, and he must fight to protect the seal and his family from the enemies who want it.

Wong and Majima may literally be worlds apart, but their personalities are strikingly similar. Both characters are seemingly uncaring and comedians on the outside, but when push comes to shove, they both know when to put their amazing fighting skills to the test.

5

Who Am I?

Where Did He Come From, Where Did He Go

• Directors: Jackie Chan and Benny Chan
• Release Year: 1998
• Country: China

The protagonist, played by Jackie Chan, loses his memories after an accident. After meeting some kind souls, he eventually makes it to civilization, where he learns that people want him dead. The issue is that he has no idea why.

If this plot sounds similar, that’s likely because you just finished Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. Both protagonists don’t know who they are but are highly skilled in consistently taking down the people out to get them.

4

Kung Fu Hustle

Another Stephen Chow Classic

• Director: Stephen Chow
• Release Year: 2004
• Country: China

Kung Fu Hustle follows the story of two friends who are petty crooks but aspire to join the infamous Axe Gang. They extort people claiming to be members of the gang and are eventually captured. They survive, and the leader is impressed enough to offer them a place in the gang for a price.

While the movie’s story differs from Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, both have over-the-top action scenes that make no sense but look cool. Knowing how to balance comedy and seriousness, Kung Fu Hustle is a must-watch for Pirate Yakuza fans.

3

One Piece Film: Gold

Who’s Gonna Be The Pirate King?

• Director: Hiroaki Miyamoto
• Release Year: 2016
• Country: Japan

The Straw Hat Pirates arrive at the Gran Tesoro, a large island-like casino ship ruled by Gild Tesoro. They receive VIP stays because of their fame and are given money, which they use to gamble. However, a dice game goes wrong, forcing the Straw hats to pay their debts or suffer the consequences.

One Piece fans will likely have already made this connection, but One Piece Film: Gold has many similarities to Pirate Yakuza. The most obvious is the focus on pirates. Other than that, the eccentric characters and over-the-top fights are also something in common between the two. Also, the movie and game both have a lawless area with more people in debt than there are laws there.

2

Yakuza: Like A Dragon

What Started It All

• Director: Takashi Miike
• Release Year: 2007
• Country: Japan

Those who love Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii and want to see where it all began in a movie can check out 2007’s Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Based on the first Yakuza game starring Kiryu Kazuma, the movie’s central plot revolves around ten billion yen belonging to the Tojo Clan that has gone missing.

While it doesn’t have pirates, ships, or even Hawaii, the movie has all the elements that make the Like a Dragon series a fan favorite. You could also spot our favorite pirate captain Majima, even if he’ll be a little different.

1

Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End

Second-Worst Pirate, I’ve Ever Heard Of

• Director: Gore Verbinski
• Release Year: 2007
• Country: United States

In Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Lord Cutler Beckett has Davey Jones to destroy pirate ships. This forces the pirates to free the sea goddess Calypso, though things aren’t as easy as expected, since everyone’s favorite Captain Jack Sparrow is caught in the middle of everything.

The Pirates of the Caribbean movies are a must-watch if you want to watch something that reminds you of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. From the focus on pirates to the eccentric personalities of the leading characters, Jack Sparrow and Majima would probably be very good friends.