Short answers, pulled from the story.
Akira Kurosawa conceived the idea for Ran in the mid-1970s while reading about the Sengoku-period warlord Mōri Motonari. He wrote the script shortly after filming Dersu Uzala in 1975 and let it sleep for seven years.
Filming began in 1983 with a budget that made it the most expensive Japanese film in history at the time. The production required 1,400 uniforms and suits of armor designed by costume designer Emi Wada and Kurosawa.
The complex etymology for the word Ran translates variously as chaos rebellion or revolt meaning disturbed or confused. This title reflects the themes of the film where armies appear as abstract entities and warfare becomes apocalyptic destruction.
Tōru Takemitsu was Japan's preeminent film score composer who secured involvement in 1976 during early project stages. Their initial conception used tategoe a shrill-voice chant style without instrumentation before changing to a powerful Mahleresque orchestral score.
In France where released the 18th of September 1985 sold 813,081 tickets grossing estimated French francs amount. United States December 1985 release grossed $3,763,760 in first four weeks.