As Yoritomo caused the death of Yoshitsune, the youngest brother who was immensely popular from sympathy rendered for a tragic hero, the popularity of Yoritomo is not as high in spite of his achievements and he is rarely described as a protagonist in novels.
判官贔屓で高い人気を持つ末弟・源義経を死に至らせたことなどから、頼朝の人気はその業績にもかかわらずそれほど高くなく、小説などに主人公として描かれることも稀である。