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'{{otheruses|Battle royale}}{{short description|2000 Japanese action thriller film}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2013}} {{Infobox film | name = Battle Royale | image = Battle Royale-japanese-film-poster.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | native_name = {{Infobox Japanese| kanji=バトル・ロワイアル}} | director = [[Kinji Fukasaku]] | producer = {{plainlist| * Masao Sato * [[Masumi Okada]] * Teruo Kamaya * Tetsu Kayama<ref name="bfi"/> }} | screenplay = [[Kenta Fukasaku]] | based_on = {{based on|''[[Battle Royale (novel)|Battle Royale]]''|[[Koushun Takami]]}} | starring = {{plainlist| * [[Tatsuya Fujiwara]] * [[Aki Maeda]] * [[Tarō Yamamoto]] * [[Masanobu Andō]] * [[Kou Shibasaki]] * [[Chiaki Kuriyama]] * [[Takashi Tsukamoto]] * [[Takeshi Kitano]] }} | music = [[Masamichi Amano]]<ref name="bfi"/> | cinematography = [[Katsumi Yanagishima]]<ref name="bfi"/> | editing = Hirohide Abe<ref name="bfi"/> | studio = Battle Royale Production Committee<ref name="bfi"/><ref name="variety_br"/> <!--Please refrain from citing the IMDb, as it is not a reliable source --> | distributor = [[Toei Company]]<ref name="bfi">{{cite web|title=Battle Royale (2000)|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b84dd0363|publisher=[[British Film Institute]]|access-date=February 23, 2018}}</ref><ref name="variety_br"/> | released = {{Film date|2000|12|16}} | runtime = 113 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 113:07--><ref>{{cite web|title=Battle Royale|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/battle-royale-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmtg0oda|publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification]]|access-date=10 May 2021}}</ref> | country = Japan | language = Japanese | budget = {{US$|4.5 million|long=no|link=yes}} | gross = {{US$|30.6 million|long=no}} ({{estimation}}) }} {{nihongo|'''''Battle Royale'''''|バトル・ロワイアル|Batoru Rowaiaru}} is a 2000 Japanese [[action-thriller film]]<ref name=complex/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/v237103|title=Battle Royale (2000) - Kinji Fukasaku|website=[[AllMovie]]}}</ref> directed by [[Kinji Fukasaku]], with a screenplay written by [[Kenta Fukasaku]], based on the controversial [[Battle Royale (novel)|1999 novel]] by [[Koushun Takami]]. Starring [[Tatsuya Fujiwara]], [[Aki Maeda]], [[Tarō Yamamoto]], and [[Takeshi Kitano]], the film follows a group of junior high-school students that are forced to fight to the death by the Japanese [[totalitarian]] government. The film drew controversy, and was banned or excluded from distribution in several countries;<ref name="Garger">{{cite magazine|last1=Garger|first1=Ilya|title=Royale Terror|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,501030707-461891,00.html|access-date=23 February 2018|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=30 June 2003|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070305133056/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,501030707-461891,00.html|archive-date=5 March 2007}}</ref><ref>Ito, Robert. "[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/09/movies/09ito.html?_r=1&oref=slogin Lesson Plan: Kill or Be Killed]." ''[[The New York Times]]''. July 9, 2006.</ref> [[Toei Company]] refused to sell the film to any United States distributor for over a decade due to concerns about potential controversy and lawsuits, until [[Anchor Bay Entertainment]] eventually acquired the film in 2010 for a [[direct-to-video]] release.<ref name="Gray, Jason">{{cite web|author=Gray, Jason |url=https://www.screendaily.com/toei-continues-strong-sales-on-battle-royale-3d-/5020957.article |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002130526/https://www.screendaily.com/toei-continues-strong-sales-on-battle-royale-3d-/5020957.article |url-status=dead |archive-date=2018-10-02 |title=Toei continues strong sales on Battle Royale 3D |publisher=[[ScreenDaily.com]] |date=2010-11-25 }}</ref> The film was first screened in Tokyo on more than 200 screens on December 16, 2000, with an [[Eirin#Restricted|R15+ rating]], which is rarely used in Japan.<ref name="variety">{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/the-battle-rattle-1117790773/|title=The 'Battle' rattle|last=Herskovitz|first=Jon|date=19 December 2000|website=Variety}}</ref><ref name="variety2">{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/japanese-pols-target-pic-of-violent-youth-1117789943/|title=Japanese pols target pic of violent youth|last=Herskovitz|first=Jon|date=5 December 2000|website=Variety}}</ref><ref name="variety3">{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/japan-sees-battle-over-pic-violence-1117789594/|title=Japan sees 'Battle' over pic violence|last=Groves|first=Dan|date=28 November 2000|website=Variety}}</ref> It was the [[List of highest-grossing films in Japan|highest-grossing Japanese-language film]] for six weeks after its initial release, and it was later released in 22 countries worldwide,<ref name="Garger"/><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Davis|first1=Robert|last2=de los Rios|first2=Riccardo|year=2006|title=From Hollywood to Tokyo: Resolving a Tension in Contemporary Narrative Cinema|jstor=44019218|journal=Film Criticism|volume=31|issue=1/2|pages=157–172}}</ref> grossing over {{US$|30 million|long=no}} in ten countries. The film earned critical acclaim and, especially with its [[DVD]] releases, drew a large global cult following. It is often regarded as one of Fukasaku's best films, and one of the best [[2000s in film|films of the 2000s]]. In 2009, filmmaker [[Quentin Tarantino]] praised ''Battle Royale'' as his favorite film of the past two decades.<ref name="'Battle Royale'">{{cite web|title='Battle Royale'|url=http://xfinity.comcast.net/slideshow/entertainment-tarantinotop20/2/|work=Quentin Tarantino's Top 20 Favorite Films|publisher=[[Xfinity]]|access-date=24 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418080044/http://xfinity.comcast.net/slideshow/entertainment-tarantinotop20/2/|archive-date=April 18, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Sharf|first=Zack|date=2019-05-16|title=Quentin Tarantino's Favorite Movies: Over 25 Films the Director Wants You to See|url=https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/quentin-tarantino-favorite-movies/|access-date=2020-11-30|website=IndieWire|language=en}}</ref> ''Battle Royale'' was the last film to be directed by Fukasaku. He also started working on the sequel titled ''[[Battle Royale II: Requiem]]'', but died of [[prostate cancer]] on January 12, 2003, after shooting only one scene with Kitano. His son [[Kenta Fukasaku]], who wrote the screenplay for both films, completed the film in 2003. This film is notable for having a lot of the young unknown actors and actresses become stars later on. ==Plot== <!-- PER WP:FILMPLOT, PLOT SUMMARIES FOR FEATURE FILMS SHOULD BE BETWEEN 400 AND 700 WORDS. --> In the near-future, following a major [[Lost Decade (Japan)|recession]] and high [[Unemployment|unemployment rate]], the [[Japanese government]] has passed the "BR ACT" to curb the nation's juvenile delinquency, which takes a random class of delinquent students and send them to the Battle Royale games where only one survivor gets to make it out alive. Middle school student Shuya Nanahara copes with life after his father committed [[suicide in Japan|suicide]]. One day in the middle of the school year, their teacher, Kitano, resigns after being knife wounded by Yoshitoki Kuninobu, Shuya's best friend. One of Shuya's classmate, Noriko, picks up the knife and secretly keeps it in her possession. One year later, Shuya's class believes they are taking a field trip, but they are gassed and taken to a remote island. Kitano reappears surrounded by [[Japanese Self-Defense Forces|JSDF soldiers]], explaining that the class was chosen to participate in the annual Battle Royale as a result of the Act: they have three days to fight to the death until a victor emerges; explosive collars will kill uncooperative students or those within designated "danger zones". Kitano tells the class that they were chosen due to their disobedience. Each student is provided rations, a map, supplies, and a random weapon or item. To prove that this is no game, Kitano kills two of the students for disobedience, one of them being Kuninobu. The students disperse one by one as they get their equipment from the JSDF soldiers. Initially, most students do not engage in combat but eventually one by one they start to accept their current situation. As the hours goes on, some of the students reveal their true feelings for each other after realizing that death is near, while some try to work together to get rid of the explosive necklaces or to survive as long as possible by making a pact. The first six hours see twelve deaths, with four by suicide. The psychotic but mysterious female classmate who has no friend, Mitsuko Souma, and psychopathic exchange student Kazuo Kiriyama become the most dangerous players to others in the game. Transfer student Shogo Kawada lets Shuya go after killing one student, while Shuya accidentally kills another student. Basketball player Shinji Mimura plots to hack into the computer system to disrupt the program, and in the process recruits some of his classmates. Amid shifting loyalties and violent confrontations, Shuya promises to keep Noriko Nakagawa safe, feeling it a duty to his fallen friend, as Kuninobu secretly loved her. They are eventually rescued from Mitsuko Souma by Kawada, who takes them to a safe location after realizing they are of no threat. Kawada reveals to the pair that he won a previous Battle Royale at the cost of his girlfriend, whose sacrificed herself to save him during the end of the last Battle Royale as they were both the sole survivors. He decided to volunteer for the current Battle Royale game to avenge her death by winning the game and killing whoever was in charge at the end. Kiriyama eventually attacks and Shuya is wounded by his [[Uzi]]. He is saved by Hiroki Sugimura, who had his best friend die in his arms. A fellow female classmate, Yuko, sees this and falsely believes that Shuya killed Hiroki Sugimura. Shuya awakens in the island's lighthouse, bandaged by Yukie Utsumi, who has a crush on him. Five other girls are also hiding in the building, all made a pact to not participate in the Battle Royale game. Yuko, who is fearful of Shuya, attempts to poison him out of fear of him killing them. However, one of the girls, Yuka, accidentally eats the food, leading to a confrontation between the girls which results in a shootout between the girls. Yuko is the only survivor; horrified and full of guilt, she commits suicide by jumping to her death. Shuya, Noriko and Kawada set out to find Mimura. Meanwhile, Kiriyama meets Mitsuko and kills her after a short battle, making Noriko the last surviving girl. Mimura, with two others, successfully infiltrates the JSDF's computer system and glitches the entire system while the JSDF soldiers begin to panic, causing Kitano to manually reset the whole system. Kiriyama arrives and kills them, but not before Mimura uses his homemade bomb to blow up the base to hide all evidence and to kill Kiriyama. When the trio arrives at the burning base, Kawada engages in a gun battle with Kiriyama, who survived the explosion but had both his eyes burned out by the explosion. During the shootout Kawada is injured by Kiriyama's [[Uzi]], while Kawada manages to hit the explosive collar on Kawada's neck, causing his entire head to explode. On the final day, the trio awakens at shore of the island. Kawada, aware of the collars' internal microphones, tells Shuya and Noriko that only one survivor will make it out alive, and seemingly kills Shuya and Noriko by shooting them. Disappointedly, Kitano ends the game and shut off the entire system after hearing the two's apparent deaths through the speaker, telling the JSDF soldiers to end the operation and go home. Kitano waits alone for the winner to return. As Kawada arrives alone, he brings him into the base to be declared the victor but quickly realizes that Kawada hacked the system months beforehand, meaning Mimura and his team were not the real hackers. Kawada had also disabled Shuya and Noriko's tracking devices, thus tricking Kitano into believing the two were dead. Shuya and Noriko arrive and the trio confronts Kitano in the control room. He then unveils a homemade painting of the massacred class with his hope for the outcome of the Battle Royale game, depicting Noriko as the sole survivor. He also reveals his feelings towards her as she was one of the few students who treated him nice as their teacher, which causes Noriko to go into a panic. He reveals that he was unable to bear the hatred between him and his students, having been rejected by his own daughter, and confesses that he always thought of Noriko as a daughter. He asks her to kill him, but Shuya shoots him after he takes out a gun and threatens them, eventually revealed to only be a water gun. Kitano seemly dies from his wounds, but gets up to answer his cellphone which starts to ring. Kitano's daughter calls him; after an argument in which Kitano finally tells his daughter what he really thinks of her, dies of his wounds. The trio leaves the island on a boat, but Kawada dies from his injuries, happy that he found friendship. Shuya and Noriko are declared fugitives by the Japanese government, last seen on the run toward [[Shibuya Station]]. Some time later, Noriko sneaks out of her house to meet Shuya, giving Shuya the Seto Dragon Claw [[butterfly knife]] Kuninobu used to injure Kitano at the beginning. They then flee together into the early Tokyo morning. In the epilogue, it is revealed that Mitsuko Souma had a rough upbringing, almost getting raped by a man while as a young girl, killing the man by pushing him down some stairs. In high school she become reclusive and cannot fit into any groups of friends, feeling abandoned and alone. For the rest of the classmates who had died, they are shown in a school basketball game celebrating a win and enjoying life during a happier time. For Shuya, in his epilogue he dreams of his deceased friend, who tells him to move on with his life and that everything will be okay. For Norika, she thinks back to the time she met Kitano for ice cream after he had left the school after being attacked. While the two walk along the river she optimistically reveals to him that she has the knife that wounded him in her possession, in which Kitano pauses then responds back to her with "In this moment, what should an adult say to a kid?” ==Cast== {{See also|List of Battle Royale characters}} {{Cast listing| * [[Tatsuya Fujiwara]] as [[Shuya Nanahara]] * [[Aki Maeda]] as [[Noriko Nakagawa]] * [[Tarō Yamamoto]] as [[Shogo Kawada]] * [[Takeshi Kitano]] as [[List of Battle Royale characters#Kitano|Kitano]] * [[Masanobu Andō]] as [[List of Battle Royale characters#Kazuo Kiriyama|Kazuo Kiriyama]] * [[Kou Shibasaki]] as [[Mitsuko Souma]] * [[Chiaki Kuriyama]] as [[List of Battle Royale characters#Takako Chigusa|Takako Chigusa]] * [[Takashi Tsukamoto]] as [[Shinji Mimura]] * [[Yutaka Shimada]] as [[Yutaka Seto]] * [[Sousuke Takaoka]] as [[Hiroki Sugimura]] * Eri Ishikawa as [[List of Battle Royale characters#Yukie Utsumi|Yukie Utsumi]] * Hitomi Hyuga as [[List of Battle Royale characters#Yuko Sakaki|Yuko Sakaki]] * Yukihiro Kotani as [[Kuninobu Yoshitoki|Yoshitoki Kuninobu]] * Sayaka Ikeda as [[List of Battle Royale characters#Megumi Eto|Megumi Eto]] * [[Takayo Mimura]] as [[List of Battle Royale characters#Kayoko Kotohiki|Kayoko Kotohiki]] * [[Minami Hinase|Minami]] as [[List of Battle Royale characters#Keiko|Keiko Onuki]] * [[Yūko Miyamura]] as Training Video Girl }} ==Production== ===Casting=== Roughly 6,000 actors auditioned for the film, which was narrowed down to 800 potential cast members. These finalists were subjected to a 6-month period of physical fitness training under supervision of the director, Kinji Fukasaku, who eventually cast 42 out of the 800.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://middle-edge.jp/articles/yC3Lf?page=2|title=『ねえ、友達殺したことある?』の強烈キャッチコピー！20世紀最後の問題作！「バトル・ロワイアル」衝撃シーン10選|newspaper=Middle Edge（ミドルエッジ）|access-date=2017-02-17}}</ref> Despite the characters being middle school students, Aki Maeda, Yukihiro Kotani, Takayo Mimura, Yukari Kanasawa were the only four who were aged 15 to 16 years old. The other members of the cast had all graduated from secondary education, and Tarō Yamamoto and Masanobu Andō were the oldest among the actors, aged 25.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.freevillage-support.net/%E9%82%A6%E7%94%BB%E6%98%A0%E7%94%BB%E5%8B%95%E7%94%BB%E7%84%A1%E6%96%99/%E3%83%90%E3%83%88%E3%83%AB%E3%83%AD%E3%82%A2%E3%82%A4%E3%82%A2%E3%83%AB-%E6%98%A0%E7%94%BB-%E5%8B%95%E7%94%BB%E7%84%A1%E6%96%99%E6%98%A0%E7%94%BB%E8%A6%96%E8%81%B4-%E3%82%AD%E3%83%A3%E3%82%B9%E3%83%88-%E8%97%A4%E5%8E%9F%E7%AB%9C%E4%B9%9F-%E5%89%8D%E7%94%B0%E4%BA%9C%E5%AD%A3-%E5%B1%B1%E6%9C%AC%E5%A4%AA%E9%83%8E-%E5%AE%89%E8%97%A4%E6%94%BF%E4%BF%A1-%E3%83%93%E3%83%BC%E3%83%88%E3%81%9F%E3%81%91%E3%81%97/|script-title=ja:バトルロアイアル[映画]動画無料映画視聴（キャスト:藤原竜也、前田亜季、山本太郎、安藤政信、ビートたけし）|website=Freevillage-support.net|language=ja-JP|access-date=2017-02-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218065041/https://www.freevillage-support.net/%E9%82%A6%E7%94%BB%E6%98%A0%E7%94%BB%E5%8B%95%E7%94%BB%E7%84%A1%E6%96%99/%E3%83%90%E3%83%88%E3%83%AB%E3%83%AD%E3%82%A2%E3%82%A4%E3%82%A2%E3%83%AB-%E6%98%A0%E7%94%BB-%E5%8B%95%E7%94%BB%E7%84%A1%E6%96%99%E6%98%A0%E7%94%BB%E8%A6%96%E8%81%B4-%E3%82%AD%E3%83%A3%E3%82%B9%E3%83%88-%E8%97%A4%E5%8E%9F%E7%AB%9C%E4%B9%9F-%E5%89%8D%E7%94%B0%E4%BA%9C%E5%AD%A3-%E5%B1%B1%E6%9C%AC%E5%A4%AA%E9%83%8E-%E5%AE%89%E8%97%A4%E6%94%BF%E4%BF%A1-%E3%83%93%E3%83%BC%E3%83%88%E3%81%9F%E3%81%91%E3%81%97/|archive-date=February 18, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The actor–director–comedian [[Takeshi Kitano]] (also known as Beat Takeshi) was cast in the role of the teacher. His casting served several purposes. As one of the most successful [[Japanese celebrities]] of the last few decades, both domestically and internationally, he helped draw a large audience to the film. And more vividly, he was a real [[game show]] presenter, known for hosting popular [[Japanese game shows]] such as ''[[Takeshi's Castle]]'' (1986–1990), adding a sense of potential realism to the film's extreme game show concept.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Taylor-Jones |first1=Kate E. |title=Rising Sun, Divided Land: Japanese and South Korean Filmmakers |date=2013 |publisher=[[Columbia University Press]] |isbn=978-0-231-85044-5 |page=67 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SfaEAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA67}}</ref> ===Creative process=== [[Kinji Fukasaku]] stated that he decided to direct the film because the novel it was adapted from reminded him of his time as a 15-year-old [[munitions]] factory worker during [[World War II]]. At that time, his class was made to work in a munitions factory. In July 1945, the factory came under artillery fire from US navy warships. The children could not escape so they dived under each other for cover. The surviving members of the class had to dispose of the corpses. At that point, Fukasaku realised that the Japanese government was lying about World War II, and he developed a burning hatred of adults in general that he maintained for a long time afterwards.<ref name="BRBritishInterview">{{cite web |url=http://www.battleroyalethemovie.com/staff.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20021205020037/http://www.battleroyalethemovie.com/staff.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2002-12-05|title= Director's statement at the Internet Archive|access-date=2006-12-30 }}</ref> [[Beat Takeshi]] told a documentary crew during filming that he believes "an actor's job is to satisfy the director&nbsp;... I move the way I'm told to. I try to look the way I'm told to. I don't know much about the emotional side", before adding, "Mr. Fukasaku told me to play myself. I did not really understand, but he told me to play myself, as I ordinarily would be! I'm just trying to do what he tells me."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGuKqIMN160 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/HGuKqIMN160| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=The Making of Battle Royale (English subs) Part 1 |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-04-09 |access-date=2012-06-22}}{{cbignore}}</ref> When asked in an interview with ''The Midnight Eye'' if the film is "a warning or advice to the young", Kinji Fukasaku responded by describing the words "warning" and "advice" as "sounding very strong to me" as if they were actions which one tries to accomplish; therefore the film would not be "particularly a warning or advice." Fukasaku explained that the film, which he describes as "a [[fable]]", includes themes such as juvenile crime(s), which in Japan "are very much real modern issues." Fukasaku said that he did not have a lack of concern or a lack of interest; he used the themes as part of his fable. When the interviewer told Fukasaku that he asked the question specifically because of the word "run" in the concluding text, which the interviewer described as "very positive", Fukasaku explained that he developed the concept throughout the film. Fukasaku interpreted the interviewer's question as having "a stronger meaning" than "a simple message." He further explained that the film simply contains his "words to the next generation", so the viewer should decide whether to take the words as advice or as a warning.<ref name="BRBritishInterview"/><ref name="Midnighteyeint">"[http://www.midnighteye.com/interviews/kinji_fukasaku.shtml Kinji Fukasaku]", ''Midnight Eye''</ref> ===Music=== The [[film score]] of ''Battle Royale'' was composed, arranged and conducted by [[Masamichi Amano]], performed by the [[Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra]] and features several pieces of [[Western classical music]] along with Amano's original compositions. The choral movement used in the film's overture and original trailer is the "Dies Irae" from [[Giuseppe Verdi]]'s ''[[Requiem (Verdi)|Requiem]]''. The song used during the end credits, "[[Shizuka na Hibi no Kaidan o]]" by the [[rap rock]] band [[Dragon Ash]], is not included in either the Japanese or French edition of the soundtrack.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.battleroyalefilm.net/merchandise/music.html |title=battleroyalefilm.com |publisher=battleroyalefilm.com |date=2003-07-16 |access-date=2012-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503201148/http://www.battleroyalefilm.net/merchandise/music.html |archive-date=May 3, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> {{Infobox album | name = Battle Royale Original Soundtrack | type = soundtrack | artist = [[Masamichi Amano]] and the [[Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra]] | alt = | released = {{film date|2000|12|20}} | recorded = October 5–6, 2000 | studio = | genre = [[European classical music|Classical]], [[soundtrack]] | length = 71 minutes | label = {{hlist|Project-T|Cultural Publications}} | producer = | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = | next_year = }} ;Track listing {{Track listing | headline = ''Battle Royale Original Soundtrack'' | title1 = [[Requiem (Verdi)|"Requiem" (Verdi)]] ~ Dies irae | length1 = 6:38 | note1 = 「レクイエム」(ヴェルディ)~プロローグ | title2 = Millennium Education Reform Act (BR Act) | length2 = 3:01 | note2 = 新世紀教育改革法(BR法) | title3 = Teacher | length3 = 3:28 | note3 = 戦慄の教師 | title4 = The Game Begins | length4 = 4:27 | note4 = ゲーム開始 | title5 = Memory | length5 = 2:45 | note5 = 施設の想い出 | title6 = Slaughter House | length6 = 3:32 | note6 = 殺戮者たち | title7 = [[Radetzky March|Radetzky March (Strauss)]] | length7 = 1:40 | note7 = ラデツキー行進曲(J.シュトラウス1世) | title8 = Ceux Qui Ont Pris Goût Au Jeu Et Ceux Qui Ont Abandonné | length8 = 4:37 | note8 = ゲームに乗った者,そして降りた者 | title9 = [[Blue Danube Waltz|Blue Danube Waltz (Strauss)]] | length9 = 1:21 | note9 = 美しく青きドナウ(J.シュトラウス2世) | title10 = Escape | length10 = 1:46 | note10 = 七原と典子の逃避行 | title11 = Nanahara and Noriko Friendship | length11 = 2:15 | note11 = 友情~盗聴 | title12 = [[Auf dem Wasser zu singen]] | length12 = 2:36 | note12 = 水の上で歌う(シューベルト) | title13 = Kawada's Theme | length13 = 2:18 | note13 = 悲しみの勝利者 | title14 = Kiriyama Attacks | length14 = 4:30 | note14 = 桐山の襲撃 | title15 = Mimura's Determination | length15 = 1:13 | note15 = 三村の決意 | title16 = Utsumi and Nanahara ~ Poison Medicine | length16 = 5:29 | note16 = 幸枝と七原~毒薬 | title17 = The War of the Girls, without Faith nor Law | length17 = 4:28 | note17 = 少女たちの仁義無き戦い | title18 = Reunion | length18 = 2:09 | note18 = 再会 | title19 = [[Air on the G String|Air from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major (Bach)]] | length19 = 2:32 | note19 = G線上のアリア(バッハ) | title20 = THE THIRD MAN | length20 = 3:33 | note20 = ''THE THIRD MAN'' | title21 = Teacher and Students / Final Battle | length21 = 1:56 | note21 = 教師と生徒/ファイナル・バトル | title22 = Bitter Victory | length22 = 2:17 | note22 = 苦い勝利 | title23 = A New Journey | length23 = 2:17 | note23 = 新たなる旅立ち }} ==Theatrical release== ===Controversies=== Fukasaku originally opposed the R15+ rating given by the ''Eiga Rinri Kanri Iinkai'' ([[Eirin]]) because of Fukasaku's experiences as a teenager, the novel's use of 15-year-olds, and the fact that many of the actors were around fifteen years of age. After he submitted an appeal and before ''Eiga Rinri Kanri Iinkai'' could rule on the appeal, members of the [[National Diet]] said that the film harmed teenagers; the Diet members also criticised the film industry ratings, which were a part of self-regulation by the Japanese film industry. Fukasaku dropped the appeal to appease the Japanese Diet in hopes they would not pursue increasing film regulation further.<ref name="BRBritishInterview"/><ref name="Midnighteyeint"/> Fukasaku criticized the ruling since the film was already blocked from people under 16 years of age.<ref name="Larimerhope">{{cite magazine|author=Larimer, Tim|url=http://www.time.com:80/time/asia/arts/interview/0,9754,96905,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010417052318/http://www.time.com/time/asia/arts/interview/0,9754,96905,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 17, 2001|title='Children Have No Hope for the Future'|magazine=[[Time Asia]]|date=17 April 2001|access-date=2018-11-13}}</ref> The film was labeled "crude and tasteless" by members of National Diet and other government officials after the film was screened for them before its general release.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://mediacircus.net/battleroyale.html|title= Battle Royale Movie Review|access-date=2007-01-08 |last= Leong|first= Anthony|year= 2001|publisher= Issue 33 of Asian Cult Cinima| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070212005210/http://mediacircus.net/battleroyale.html| archive-date=February 12, 2007| url-status= live}}</ref> Fukasaku stated that the Diet members had preconceived biases, making them unable to understand the points of the film.<ref name="Larimerhope" /> The film created a debate over government action on media violence. At one point, director Kinji Fukasaku gave a press statement directed at the age group of the film's characters, saying "you can sneak in, and I encourage you to do so."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2012/03/21/148991013/battle-games-cold-brutality-a-common-theme |title='Battle,' 'Games': Cold Brutality A Common Theme |publisher=NPR |date=2012-03-21 |access-date=2012-06-22}}</ref> Many conservative politicians used the film to blame [[popular culture]] for a youth crime wave. Ilya Garger of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine said that ''Battle Royale'' received "free publicity" and received "box-office success usually reserved for cartoons and TV-drama spin-offs."<ref name="Garger"/> The Japanese reaction to the film in the early 2000s has been compared to the British outrage over ''[[A Clockwork Orange (film)|A Clockwork Orange]]'' in the early 1970s.<ref name="variety_br"/> Fukasaku stated that he felt discomfort with it even though publicity increased due to the controversy.<ref name="Larimerhope" /> Critics note the relation of ''Battle Royale'' to the increasingly extreme trend in [[Cinema of Asia|Asian cinema]] and its similarity to [[reality television]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2001/09/05/battle_royale_2001_review.shtml|title= Battle Royale (2001)|access-date=2007-01-08 |last= Korsner |first=Jason |date= 2001-09-13|publisher= BBC}}</ref> For eleven years, the film was never officially released in the United States or Canada, except for screenings at various [[film festival]]s.{{citation needed|date=July 2014}} The film was screened to a test audience in the U.S. during the early 2000s, not long after the [[Columbine High School massacre]], resulting in a negative reaction to the film's content.<ref name="crunchyroll"/> According to the book ''Japanese Horror Cinema'', "Conscious of the Columbine syndrome, which also influenced the reception of ''[[The Matrix]]'' (1999), much of the test audience for ''Battle Royale'' condemned the film for its 'mindless' and gratuitous violence in terms very reminiscent of the British attitude towards [[Sam Peckinpah]]'s ''[[Straw Dogs (1971 film)|Straw Dogs]]'' (1971) on its initial release."<ref>{{cite book|last=Williams|first=Tony|title=Japanese Horror Cinema|year=2006|publisher=[[Edinburgh University Press]]|location=Edinburgh|isbn=978-0-7486-1994-8|pages=130–143 [130]|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yo4cY5Rcd4MC&pg=PA130|edition=Reprint.|editor=Jay McRoy|access-date=27 March 2012|chapter=10. Case Study: Battle Royale's Apocalyptic Millennial Warning}}</ref> No North American distribution agreement for the film had ever been reached due to myriad corporate and legal concerns on the parts of both the Japanese [[Toei Company]] and prospective North American studios, despite mutual interest.<ref>[[Max Allan Collins]], "Where the Battle Began", in ''Battle Royale: The Novel''. [[Haika Soru|Viz Media]], 2009.</ref> It was said in 2005 by a representative of a prospective U.S. distributor that Japanese executives from the Toei Company were advised by American lawyers who attended test screenings in the early 2000s that "they'd go to jail" had the film been mass-released in the United States at the time.<ref name="crunchyroll">{{cite web|url=http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2012/01/15-1/video-north-american-battle-royale-trailer |title=VIDEO: North American "Battle Royale" Trailer |publisher=Crunchyroll.com |date=2012-01-15 |access-date=2012-06-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aintitcool.com/node/54255 |title=Ain't It Cool News: The best in movie, TV, DVD, and comic book news |publisher=Aintitcool.com |access-date=2012-06-22}}</ref> In the company's best interests, Toei attached prohibitive rules, costs, and legal criteria to any possible North American distribution deal. Toei representative Hideyuki Baba stated that the reason for "withholding distribution" in North America was "due to the picture's contents and theme." A representative for a prospective US distributor criticised Toei for expecting a [[wide release]] rather than a limited [[Art film|art house]] run, noting that "in the US it will never get past the [[Motion Picture Association of America film rating system|MPAA ratings board]], and the major theater chains will never play it un-rated. If you cut it enough to get an R rating there'd be nothing left."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.battleroyalefilm.net/movie/banned.html |title=battleroyalefilm.com |publisher=battleroyalefilm.com |access-date=2012-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314162339/http://www.battleroyalefilm.net/movie/banned.html |archive-date=March 14, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> In April 2013, the film was banned in Germany,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.schnittberichte.com/news.php?ID=5355|title=Battle Royale ist beschlagnahmt (Schnittberichte.com)|first=Gerald|last=Wurm|website=Schnittberichte.com|access-date=October 11, 2017}}</ref> but subsequently the ban was lifted following an objection by the German distributor Capelight Pictures.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.schnittberichte.com/news.php?ID=6206|title=Battle Royale: Beschlagnahme wurde aufgehoben (Schnittberichte.com)|first=Gerald|last=Wurm|website=Schnittberichte.com|access-date=October 11, 2017}}</ref> ===Releases=== ''Battle Royale'' was released on December 16, 2000, in Japan.<ref name="variety2"/><ref name="variety3"/> Over the next two years, ''Battle Royale'' was distributed to cinemas in 22 countries,<ref name="Garger"/> across Asia, Australia, Europe, and South America (in addition to Mexico), gaining early [[cult film]] followings in France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, and the Philippines.{{citation needed|date=July 2014}} The first showing in the US was at the [[Pacific Film Archive]] in Berkeley, California, in 2002.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2002-01-25/article/9763|title=Survival of the Fittest |last=Crimmins|first=Peter|newspaper=The Berkeley Daily Planet|date=2002-01-25|access-date=2012-08-08}}</ref> The original 113-minute version of the film began its first North American theatrical run at the Cinefamily Theater in [[Los Angeles]] on December 24, 2011 – 11 years after its original Japanese release.<ref name="usrun">{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-12-06/battle-royale-film-to-get-1st-us-theatrical-run|title=Battle Royale Film to Get 1st US Theatrical Run|work=Anime News Network|date=December 6, 2011|access-date=December 30, 2011}}</ref> The planned 9-day run was extended another 6 days due to popular demand.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cinefamily.org/films/battle-royale-special-one-week-run/?time=past#battle-royale-111-1015pm |title=Battle Royale (held Over By Popular Demand!) |publisher=The Cinefamily |access-date=2012-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128230520/http://www.cinefamily.org/films/battle-royale-special-one-week-run/?time=past#battle-royale-111-1015pm |archive-date=January 28, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Beginning in early 2012, the film has been publicly exhibited at screenings in many American universities, including those in Wisconsin, Oklahoma, [[Texas]] and [[Massachusetts]], with a [[New York City]] run at the [[IFC Center]] that began on May 25, 2012. As of June 2012, it has been regularly showing at the Projection Booth Theatre, site of the former Gerrard Cinema in [[Toronto|Toronto, Ontario]], Canada.<ref>{{cite web|last=Turek |first=Ryan |url=http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/165711-battle-royale-goes-on-us-theatrical-tour |title=Battle Royale Goes On U.S. Theatrical Tour |publisher=Shock Till You Drop |date=2012-02-16 |access-date=2012-06-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.horror-movies.ca/2012/02/theatre-dates-for-battle-royale-inside/ |title=Theatre Dates For Battle Royale Inside |publisher=HorrorMovies.ca |date=2012-05-20 |access-date=2012-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303103718/http://www.horror-movies.ca/2012/02/theatre-dates-for-battle-royale-inside/ |archive-date=March 3, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://projectionbooth.moonfruit.com/ |title=Home – projectionbooth |publisher=Projectionbooth.moonfruit.com |access-date=2012-06-22}}</ref> The [[Cleveland Cinematheque]] also held a screening of the film on April 3, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cinematheque to screen 'Battle Royale' at Capitol Theatre April 3|url=http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2012/03/cinematheque_to_screen_battle.html|work=[[The Plain Dealer]]|publisher=[[The Plain Dealer|Cleveland.com]]|access-date=26 March 2012|date=March 23, 2012}}</ref> ===Special edition=== A special edition of the film was released after the original which has eight extra minutes of running time. Unusually, the extra material includes scenes newly filmed after the release of the original. Inserted scenes include (but are not limited to): * Flashbacks to a basketball game which is used as a framework for the entire story. * A flashback that expands on a likely contributor to Mitsuko Souma's [[mental illness]] or sociopathy. She comes home from school to find her mother drunk with a strange man, who tries to molest her. She then pushes him down the staircase to his death. * Three epilogues (referred to as "requiems"). The first is an extension of the basketball scene, showing the students of Class 3-B winning their game. It also spotlights Mitsuko's apparent social anxiety and alienation from the classmates in 3-B. The second is a vision of Nobu telling Shuya to take care of Noriko (a replay of a hallucination seen earlier in the special version of the film). The third is a scene between Kitano and Noriko, who talk casually by a riverbank; parts of this scene (a dream sequence) also appear in the original version of the film, but with the dialogue muted whereas in the requiem it is audible and reveals a friendship or other relationship that may or may not have existed between Noriko and Kitano. * Added shots of the lighthouse after the shoot-out. * Added reaction shots in the classroom, and extensions to existing shots. * Extra CGI throughout the film. ===3D theatrical re-release=== The film was released to theaters in [[3-D film|3D]] in Japan on November 20, 2010. Fukasaku's son and the film's screenwriter, [[Kenta Fukasaku]], oversaw the conversion.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.br3d.jp/|title= BR3D Official Website|access-date= 2010-09-12|work= Toei|date= 2010-09-12|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100811070829/http://www.br3d.jp/|archive-date= August 11, 2010|url-status= dead|df= mdy-all}}</ref> The 3D version was also screened at the [[Glasgow Film Festival]] on 24 February 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=3D – Battle Royale|url=http://www.cineworld.co.uk/films/4046|publisher=[[Cineworld]]|access-date=27 March 2012|date=24 February 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110226015815/http://www.cineworld.co.uk/films/4046|archive-date=February 26, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> [[Anchor Bay Entertainment]] planned to release the 3D version in the United States sometime in 2011,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-11-11/anchor-bay-adds-live-action-battle-royale-3d-in-u.s|title=Anchor Bay Adds Live-Action Battle Royale 3D in U.S.|work=Anime News Network|author=Egan Loo|date=November 11, 2010}}</ref> but the release was cancelled.<ref name="usrun" /> ==Home media== ===Sasebo slashing controversy=== The creators of the sequel postponed the release of the DVD (originally scheduled for June 9, 2004) to later that year because of the [[Sasebo slashing]], in which the killer had read ''Battle Royale''.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3772737.stm|title= Japan schoolgirl killer 'sorry'|access-date=2007-01-12 |work= BBC News | date=2004-06-03| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070213095443/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3772737.stm| archive-date=February 13, 2007| url-status= live}}</ref> ===Limited edition release=== [[Arrow Films|Arrow Video]] released the film on [[Blu-ray]] and [[DVD]] in a limited edition version in the United Kingdom on December 13, 2010, as a three-disc collector's edition set, featuring both cuts of the film. The DVD version was limited to 5,000 copies. The Blu-ray version was initially being released as limited to 5,000 copies but due to the large volume of pre-orders was increased to 10,000 copies. The limited edition Blu-ray is region-free, meaning it can play on Blu-ray players worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=5329|title=Battle Royale Limited Edition Blu-ray Detailed|access-date=January 8, 2011|publisher=Blu-ray.com|date=October 21, 2010}}</ref> The DVD is also region-free.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003ZIZ2HU|title=Battle Royale Disc Box Limited|publisher=[[Amazon.com|Amazon.co.uk]]|access-date=January 11, 2011}}</ref> In 2021, Arrow Video announced a new limited edition Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray boxset featuring both cuts of the film in a new 4K restoration, as well as both cuts of the sequel on Blu-ray. ===United States release=== For a long time, Toei refused to sell the film to a United States distributor, because Toei worried that the film would get involved in legal troubles in the United States.<ref name="Gray, Jason"/> Eventually, Toei agreed to sell the film's United States rights to [[Anchor Bay Entertainment]] in 2010.<ref name="Gray, Jason"/> An official DVD and [[Blu-ray Disc|Blu-ray]] edition of the film (and its sequel) was released in North America on March 20, 2012, by [[Anchor Bay Entertainment]].<ref>[http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=8011 "Battle Royale: The Complete Collection Blu-ray"] by Josh Katz (10 January 2012), from Blu-ray.com</ref> The film is available in a standard edition featuring the two films and a 4-disc ''Complete Collection'' that features both the Special Edition (labelled the Director's Cut) and the theatrical version of the first film, the sequel, and a disc of behind-the-scenes material. ==Reception== ===Box office=== During the first weekend, it grossed {{JPY|212 million|link=yes}} ({{USD|1.8 million|long=no|link=yes}}).<ref name="variety"/> It went on to domestically gross {{JPY|3.11 billion}}<ref>{{cite web |title=2001年（平成13年）興収10億円以上番組 |url=http://www.eiren.org/toukei/img/eiren_kosyu/data_2001.pdf |website=Eiren |publisher=Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan |language=ja |access-date=2 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.accj.or.jp/document_library/Journal/1053151390.pdf|title= Japan Goes to the Movies|access-date= 2007-01-08|last= J. T.|first= Testar|date= June 2002|publisher= The Journal|page= 1|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070927070404/http://www.accj.or.jp/document_library/Journal/1053151390.pdf|archive-date= September 27, 2007|df= mdy-all}}</ref> ({{US$|{{#expr:3110/<!--2000 exchange rate-->107.765 round 1}} million|long=no}}),<ref>{{cite web |title=Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average) |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/PA.NUS.FCRF?end=2000&locations=JP&start=1999 |website=[[World Bank]] |year=2000 |access-date=19 January 2019}}</ref> making it the third [[List of highest-grossing Japanese live-action films|highest-grossing Japanese film]] of 2001, after the [[anime]] films ''[[Spirited Away]]'' and ''[[Pokémon 4Ever]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=過去興行収入上位作品 |url=http://www.eiren.org/toukei/2001.html |website=Eiren |publisher=Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan |year=2001 |access-date=10 May 2020}}</ref> In the United Kingdom, the film sold 56,758 tickets (including 56,182 tickets in 2001 and 576 tickets from later limited re-releases by 2017),<ref name="lumiere">{{cite web |title=Film #17686: Batoru rowaiaru |url=http://lumiere.obs.coe.int/web/film_info/?id=17686 |website=[[Lumiere (database)|Lumiere]] |access-date=10 June 2020}}</ref> equivalent to a box office gross revenue of approximately {{£|{{#expr:(56182*<!--2001 price-->4.14)+(576*<!--2017 price-->7.49) round -1}}|long=no|link=yes}}<ref>{{cite web |title=UK cinema industry economics: Average ticket price |url=https://www.cinemauk.org.uk/the-industry/facts-and-figures/uk-cinema-industry-economics-and-turnover/average-ticket-price/ |website=[[Cinema Exhibitors' Association|UK Cinema Association]] |access-date=10 June 2020}}</ref> ({{US$|{{#expr:236910*<!--GBP-USD-->{{To USD|1|GBR|year=2017}} round 0}}|long=no}}). In seven other European countries, the film sold 156,676 tickets (including 113,220 tickets in France,<ref>{{cite web |title=Battle Royale (2001) |url=http://www.jpbox-office.com/fichfilm.php?id=2252&view=2 |website=JP's Box-Office |access-date=10 June 2020}}</ref> and 43,456 tickets in six other European countries) between 2001 and 2017,<ref name="lumiere"/> equivalent to a box office gross revenue of approximately {{Currency|{{#expr:156676*<!--average 2001 EU price-->5.6 round 0}}|code=Euro|linked=yes}}<ref name="Europe">{{cite book |chapter=Cinema market |title=Cinema, TV and radio in the EU: Statistics on audiovisual services (Data 1980-2002) |date=2003 |publisher=[[Office for Official Publications of the European Communities]] |isbn=92-894-5709-0 |issn=1725-4515 |pages=31–64 (61) |edition=2003 |chapter-url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/3217494/5648553/KS-BT-03-001-EN.PDF/3758081d-5ae4-4e21-9d78-fca7bcc68d5c#page=67 |website=[[Europa (web portal)|Europa]] |access-date=23 May 2020 |quote=Average ticket price, ECU/EUR (...) 2001 (...) 5.6}}</ref> ({{US$|{{#expr:877386*<!--EUR-USD-->{{To USD|1|EUR|year=2017}} round 0}}|long=no}}). The film also grossed $339,954 in South Korea, Chile, and Argentina,<ref>{{cite web |title=Battle Royale |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/releasegroup/gr852054533/ |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=2 May 2020}}</ref> in addition to $26,099 in Taiwan.<ref>{{cite web |title=Battle Royale 2005 Re-release |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/releasegroup/gr818500101/ |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=10 June 2020}}</ref> This brings the film's estimated worldwide gross revenue to approximately {{US$|{{#expr:28900000+303245+991446+339954+26099 round 0}}|long=no}} in these thirteen countries (equivalent to {{US$|{{#expr:30.560744*<!--inflation rate-->(9.14/5.39) round 0}} million|long=no}} adjusted for inflation in 2018<ref>{{cite web |title=Adjusting for Movie Ticket Price Inflation |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/about/adjuster.htm |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=19 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212081506/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/about/adjuster.htm |archive-date=December 12, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>). ===Critical reception=== {{Rotten Tomatoes prose|88|7.5|48|''Battle Royale'' is a controversial and violent parable of adolescence, heightening teenage melodrama with life-or-death stakes.}}<ref>{{cite Rotten Tomatoes|type=m|id=battle_royale|title=Battle Royale|access-date=March 31, 2020}}</ref> [[Metacritic]] assigned the film a weighted average score of 81 out of 100 based on seven critics, indicating "universal acclaim."<ref>{{cite web|title=Battle Royale|url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/battle-royale-2000|website=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=23 February 2018}}</ref> Robert Koehler of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' commented, "Given the most basic characters to work with, the mostly teen cast attacks the material with frightening gusto, and Fujiwara dutifully invokes the voice of inner moral conflict. Production is exceedingly handsome and vigorous, offering no sign that Fukasaku is slowing down." He stated that, "returning to his roots as Japan's maestro of mayhem, Kinji Fukasaku has delivered" one of "his most outrageous and timely films", comparing it to "the outrage over youth violence" that [[Stanley Kubrick]]'s ''[[A Clockwork Orange (film)|A Clockwork Orange]]'' "generated in early-'70s Britain" and featuring some of "the most startling scenes of mayhem since the movies of the wild and bloody '70s."<ref name="variety_br">{{cite news|last=Koehler|first=Robert|title=Battle Royale|url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117797143/|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=27 March 2012|date=January 22, 2001}}</ref> Jason Korsner of [[BBC News]] gave ''Battle Royale'' four out of five stars, stating that it is "a heart-stopping action film, teaching us the worthy lessons of discipline, teamwork, and determination, but wrapping them up in a deliberately provocative, shockingly violent package." [[BBC]] users gave the film five out of five stars.<ref>{{cite web|last=Korsner|first=Jason|title=Battle Royale (2001)|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2001/09/05/battle_royale_2001_review.shtml|publisher=BBC|access-date=24 March 2012|date=13 September 2001}}</ref> Almar Haflidason of BBC also gave the film five out of five stars.<ref>{{cite web|last=Haflidason|first=Almar|title=Reviewer's Rating 5 out of 5 User Rating 5 out of 5 Battle Royale Special Edition DVD (2001)|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2002/12/23/battle_royale_2001_se_dvd_review.shtml#rating|publisher=BBC|access-date=27 March 2012|year=2002}}</ref> In a review for ''[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]]'', critic [[Kim Newman]] gave the film four stars out of five. He compared it to ''[[Lord of the Flies]]'' in how it makes audiences "wonder what they would do in the same situation", but wrote that ''Battle Royale'' gives "even harder choices for its school-uniformed characters." He concluded that, "Some will be uncomfortable or appalled, and the mix of humour and [[Horror film|horror]] is uneasy, but this isn't a film you'll forget easily. And, seriously, what would you do?"<ref>{{cite web|last=Newman|first=Kim|author-link=Kim Newman|title=Battle Royale|url=https://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?DVDID=118580|work=[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]]|access-date=27 March 2012|date=December 30, 2006}}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]'' critic [[Peter Bradshaw]] gave the film four stars in September 2001, choosing it as the best film of the week. He praised [[Takeshi Kitano]]'s performance as the teacher and some of the scenes as "a stunningly proficient piece of action film-making, plunging us into a world of delirium and fear." He notes that, among "the hail of bullets and the queasy gouts of blood, troubling narratives of yearning and sadness are played out. It is as if the violence of ''Battle Royale'' is not a [[satire]] of society at all, but simply a metaphor for the anguish of adolescent existence." He concluded that, while some "will find the explicit violence of this movie repulsive", it "is a film put together with remarkable confidence and flair. Its steely candour, and weird, passionate urgency make it compelling."<ref>{{cite news|last=Bradshaw|first=Peter|title=A time to kill – Ironically, this week's best film deals with violence – and how the state reacts to it. Peter Bradshaw applauds its honesty|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2001/sep/14/artsfeatures3?INTCMP=SRCH|work=The Guardian|access-date=25 March 2012|author-link=Peter Bradshaw|date=14 September 2001|location=London}}</ref> Bryant Frazer of Deep Focus gave it a B+ rating and called it "a vicious take-off on reality TV that turns a high-school milieu dominated by cliques and childish relationships into a war zone."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.deep-focus.com/flicker/battlero.html |title=Battle Royale |publisher=Deep-focus.com |access-date=2012-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303045728/http://www.deep-focus.com/flicker/battlero.html |archive-date=March 3, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> British critic [[Jonathan Ross]] stated that "if you want to catch a wildly original and super-cool slice of entertainment before it gets remade and ruined by the Americans, then I suggest you try hard not to miss it" and concluded that "it's a wildly imaginative example of just what can be achieved in a [[Teen film|teen movie]]."<ref>{{cite web|last=Ross|first=Jonathan|title=Film new releases|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/film+new+releases%3A+This+one+will+really+get+your+heart+pumping+-+it...-a078249921|publisher=[[Trinity Mirror|MGN]]|access-date=27 March 2012|author-link=Jonathan Ross|year=2001}}</ref> In 2009, filmmaker [[Quentin Tarantino]] praised ''Battle Royale'' as the best film he had seen in the past two decades, stating that, "If there's any movie that's been made since I've been making movies that I wish I had made, it's that one."<ref name="'Battle Royale'"/> There has been renewed interest in the film following its 2012 [[Blu-ray]] release in the United States. Chris Nashawaty of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' rates the film as "A" grade, positing that examination of the students' different motives for survival or subversion of the Program is a "sick blast".<ref>{{cite magazine| url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20576667,00.html | magazine=Entertainment Weekly | title=Movie Review: Battle Royale (DVD) | date=7 March 2012}}</ref> [[A.O. Scott]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' gave the film a positive review, stating "[the] expertly choreographed scenes of mayhem are at once comical and appalling, and [Fukasaku's] young cast embraces the melodramatic extremity of the story with impressive conviction", adding that ''Battle Royale'' "is in many ways a better movie [than ''[[The Hunger Games (film)|The Hunger Games]]''] and in any case a fascinating companion, drawn from a parallel cultural universe. It is a lot uglier and also, perversely, a lot more fun."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2012/05/25/movies/battle-royale-directed-by-kinji-fukasaku.html?partner=rss&emc=rss | work=The New York Times | first=A. O. | last=Scott | title='Battle Royale,' Directed by Kinji Fukasaku | date=24 May 2012}}</ref> Entertainment critic for the Cary Darling describes ''Battle Royale'' as "tense, tragic and timely&nbsp;... a modern-day horror story imbued with an electric sense of drama and dread."<ref>{{cite web|title=12 years before Hunger Games, there was Battle Royale|author=Cary Darling|url=http://www.blooddirtandangels.com/index.php/2012/03/21/12-years-before-hunger-games-there-was-battle-royale/ |access-date=17 February 2017 }}</ref> Alexandra Cavallo of the ''[[Boston Phoenix]]'' writes, "''Battle Royale'' is ''The Hunger Games'' not diluted for young audiences" while giving the film three stars out of four.<ref>{{cite news|author=Alexandra Cavallo|url=http://thephoenix.com/Boston/movies/134293-battle-royale-2000/|title=Review: Battle Royale (2000)|newspaper=[[The Phoenix (newspaper)|The Phoenix]]|date=2012-02-21|access-date=2012-06-22}}</ref> Jeffrey M. Anderson of Combustible Celluloid gave the film 4 out of 4 stars, calling it a "gloriously sick and twisted story" and claiming that it is "endlessly entertaining, by turns gory and hilarious, disturbing and exciting."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.combustiblecelluloid.com/2001/battleroy.shtml |title=Combustible Celluloid Review – Battle Royale (2000), Kinji Fukasaku, Chiaki Kuriyama, Takeshi Kitano |publisher=Combustiblecelluloid.com |date=2009-11-22 |access-date=2012-06-22}}</ref> In the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'', [[Roger Ebert]]'s Australia correspondent Michael Mirasol praised ''Battle Royale'' for its "thoughtful characterisation" that is "lavished upon all the students" and concluded that it is an "intensely violent fable aimed at a young audience, but with true feeling, intelligence, and respect."<ref>{{cite news|title=Video essay: Was this Japanese film an inspiration for "The Hunger Games?"|url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/foreignc/2012/03/-nbsp-nbsp-michael.html|work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|access-date=24 March 2012|author=Michael Mirasol|author2=[[Roger Ebert]]|date=March 18, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321223537/http://blogs.suntimes.com/foreignc/2012/03/-nbsp-nbsp-michael.html|archive-date=March 21, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Jake Mulligan of ''[[Suffolk University|The Suffolk Voice]]'' gave it five out of five stars, stating that "the influence of "''Royale''" on works as disparate as "''[[Kill Bill]]''" and "''The Hunger Games''" cannot be measured" and describing ''Battle Royale'' as "Provocative, funny, violent, and aided by a script that somehow gives equal attention to most of the students while also displaying the well-thought out minutia behind the narrative."<ref name="mulligan_br">{{cite web|last=Mulligan|first=Jake|title=Blu-ray Review: "Battle Royale – The Complete Collection"|url=http://www.thesuffolkvoice.net/arts-entertainment/blu-ray-review-battle-royale-the-complete-collection-1.2823915#.T25aI9W9a1c|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325213910/http://www.thesuffolkvoice.net/arts-entertainment/blu-ray-review-battle-royale-the-complete-collection-1.2823915#.T25aI9W9a1c|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 25, 2012|work=[[Suffolk University|The Suffolk Voice]]|access-date=24 March 2012|date=March 21, 2012}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason=Appears to be a student newspaper|date=August 2015}} R.L. Shaffer of [[IGN]] gave the film a score of 8 out of 10, taking "a moment to thank ''The Hunger Games'' for reminding us how awesome ''Battle Royale'' really is" and concluding that ''Battle Royale'' is "a masterpiece of mayhem, violence and unfettered teen melodrama."<ref>{{cite web|last=Shaffer|first=R.L.|title=Battle Royale: The Complete Collection Blu-ray Review|url=http://uk.bluray.ign.com/articles/122/1221123p1.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718003236/http://uk.bluray.ign.com/articles/122/1221123p1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 18, 2012|website=IGN|access-date=25 March 2012|date=March 19, 2012}}</ref> J. Hurtado of [[Twitch Film]] noted that many "reviews of ''Battle Royale'' focus on the violence, which is extreme to be sure, and not so much on the humanity of the film." He stated that "cranking up that already elevated hormonal level of emotional hysteria by throwing these students into a real life-or-death situation is incredibly effective" and that "the story of ''Battle Royale'' is the story of those teenage years and just how wrong we all were about the extent of our emotional turmoil."<ref>{{cite web|last=Hurtado|first=J.|title=Blu-ray Review: Battle Royale: The Complete Collection|url=http://twitchfilm.com/reviews/2012/03/blu-ray-review-battle-royale-the-complete-collection.php|publisher=[[Twitch Film]]|access-date=25 March 2012|date=March 18, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321214131/http://twitchfilm.com/reviews/2012/03/blu-ray-review-battle-royale-the-complete-collection.php|archive-date=March 21, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref> [[DVD Talk]] gave the original theatrical cut of the film 4.5 out of 5 stars and 4 out of 5 for the Director's Cut, concluding that it gives "a glimpse into what might very well happen should the rules of society, such as they are, ever do crumble to the point where it's everyone for themselves. There's enough [[Black comedy|black humor]] here and enough [[Action film|tense action]] that the film never quite feels bleak or depressing (though it does come close) – but most importantly it makes you think."<ref>{{cite web|last=Jane|first=Ian|title=Battle Royale: The Complete Collection (Blu-ray)|url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/53686/battle-royale-the-complete-collection/|publisher=[[DVD Talk]]|access-date=25 March 2012|date=March 20, 2012}}</ref> Devon Ashby of [[CraveOnline]] gave the film a score of 8.5 out of 10, referring to it as "Japanese legend Kinji Fukasaku's adolescent shooting spree opus" and "a compassionate and technically accomplished masterpiece."<ref>{{cite web|last=Ashby|first=Devon|title=Blu-Ray Review: Battle Royale: The Complete Collection|url=http://www.craveonline.com/film/articles/185595-blu-ray-review-battle-royale-the-complete-collection|publisher=[[CraveOnline]]|access-date=28 March 2012|date=March 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515063757/http://www.craveonline.com/film/articles/185595-blu-ray-review-battle-royale-the-complete-collection|archive-date=May 15, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Brent McKnight of [[PopMatters]] gave the film a score of 9 out of 10, describing it as "savage, sharp, satirical, and brutally funny" and "a bleak commentary on humanity and society."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=McKnight|first=Brent|title=Savage, Sharp, Satirical and Brutally Funny: 'Battle Royale: The Complete Collection'|url=https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/156388-battle-royale-the-complete-colletion/|magazine=[[PopMatters]]|access-date=3 April 2012|date=2 April 2012}}</ref> Film critics Robert Davis and Riccardo de los Rios praise the film's narrative structure. They comment that in adapting a story such as Battle Royale which requires a suspension of disbelief to go along with its "far-fetched" story Fukasaku instead turns conventional rules of screenwriting on its head. Instead of focusing on the detail of the premise of a near future where school kids kill one another "the filmmakers dispense with premise in a short series of title cards".<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Robert|first1=Davis|last2=de los Rios|first2=Riccardo|year=2006|title=From Hollywood to Tokyo: Resolving a Tension in Contemporary Narrative Cinema|jstor=44019218|journal=Film Criticism|volume=31|issue=1/2|pages=157–172}}</ref> As the last film to be fully directed by Fukasaku, the ''Directory of World Cinema'' refers to ''Battle Royale'' as "perhaps the finest cinematic [[Swan song|swansong]] ever conceived."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Berra |first1=John |title=Directory of World Cinema: Japan |date=2010 |publisher=Intellect Books |isbn=978-1-84150-335-6 |pages=111–113 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mRrpfF6g3g0C&pg=PA113}}</ref> ===Social and political interpretations=== An interpretation of the film is that it represents Japanese [[Generation gap|generational attitudes]] that are creating social, political and economic divides between the young and old.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mediacircus.net/battleroyale.html |title=Battle Royale Movie Review by Anthony Leong from |publisher=MediaCircus.net |access-date=2012-06-22}}</ref> Fukasaku himself has stated: "The children who have grown up and witnessed what happened to the adults, their anxiety became heightened as well. So I set Battle Royale within this context of children versus adults."<ref name="Midnighteyeint" /> ===Accolades=== At the 2001 [[Japanese Academy Awards]], ''Battle Royale ''was nominated for nine awards, including [[Japan Academy Prize for Picture of the Year|Picture of the Year]], and won three of them.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.japan-academy-prize.jp/allprizes/2001/index.html|title= 24th Japanese Academy Awards|access-date=2006-12-29|language= ja |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061212113553/http://www.japan-academy-prize.jp/allprizes/2001/index.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2006-12-12}}</ref> The film was nominated for two awards from international [[film festival]]s but failed to win.<ref>{{cite web|title=Awards for Battle Royale (2000)|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0266308/awards|publisher=[[IMDb]]|access-date=24 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=12TH HORROR AND FANTASY FILM FESTIVAL (2001)|url=http://www.donostiakultura.com/terror/2011/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25&Itemid=41&lang=en|work=History Awards|publisher=San Sebastian Horror & Fantasy Film Festival|access-date=28 March 2012|year=2001}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%" |- style="text-align:center;" ! colspan=4 style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Awards |- style="text-align:center;" ! style="background:#ccc;"| Award ! style="background:#ccc;"| Category ! style="background:#ccc;"| Recipient(s) ! style="background:#ccc;"| Outcome |- |rowspan="10"|[[Japanese Academy Awards]] |- |[[Japan Academy Prize for Picture of the Year|Picture of the Year]] |''Battle Royale'' |{{nom}} |- |[[Japan Academy Prize for Director of the Year|Director of the Year]] |[[Kinji Fukasaku]] |{{nom}} |- |[[Japan Academy Prize for Screenplay of the Year|Screenplay of the Year]] |[[Kenta Fukasaku]] |{{nom}} |- |[[Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role|Actor of the Year]] |[[Tatsuya Fujiwara]] |{{nom}} |- |Outstanding Achievement in Music |[[Masamichi Amano]] |{{nom}} |- |Outstanding Achievement in Sound Recording |Kunio Ando |{{nom}} |- |Outstanding Achievement in Film Editing |Hirohide Abe |{{Won}} |- |Popularity Award |''Battle Royale'' |{{Won}} |- |Newcomer of the Year |[[Tatsuya Fujiwara]] and [[Aki Maeda]] |{{Won}} |- |rowspan="3"|[[Blue Ribbon Awards]] |- |Best Film |[[Kinji Fukasaku]] |{{Won}} |- |Best New Actor |[[Tatsuya Fujiwara]] |{{Won}} |- |[[Yokohama Film Festival]] |Best Supporting Actress |[[Kou Shibasaki]] |{{Won}} |- |[[List of film festivals in Europe|San Sebastián Horror & Fantasy Film Festival]] |Audience Award for the Best Feature Film |[[Kinji Fukasaku]] |{{Won}} |- |[[Sitges Film Festival]] |Best Film |[[Kinji Fukasaku]] |{{nom}} |} ==Legacy== In 2009, [[Quentin Tarantino]] listed ''Battle Royale'' as his favorite film released since he began directing in 1992.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/08/20/quentin-tarantinos-favorite-20-films-since-1992/|title= Quentin Tarantino's Favorite 20 Films Since 1992|date= August 20, 2009|access-date=2009-09-20| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091028031606/http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/08/20/quentin-tarantinos-favorite-20-films-since-1992/| archive-date=October 28, 2009| url-status= live}}</ref> That same year, [[Moviefone]] included it in the top three of its "50 Best Movies of the Decade" list.<ref>{{cite web|last=Barnes|first=Jessica|title=Now It's the 50 Best Movies of the Decade!|url=http://blog.moviefone.com/2009/09/25/now-its-the-50-best-movies-of-the-decade/|work=Cinematical|publisher=[[Moviefone]]|access-date=27 March 2012|date=September 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110164706/http://blog.moviefone.com/2009/09/25/now-its-the-50-best-movies-of-the-decade|archive-date=January 10, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Jon Condit of [[CraveOnline|Dread Central]] called it "one of the best movies [he's] ever seen."<ref>{{cite web|last=Condit|first=Jon|title=Battle Royale (2000)|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/battle-royale-2000|work=Dread Central|publisher=[[CraveOnline]]|access-date=27 March 2012|date=June 28, 2005}}</ref> [[Bloody Disgusting]] ranked the film fifteenth in its list of the "Top-20 Horror Film of the Decade", with the article calling the film "a go-for-broke extravaganza: fun, provocative, [[Movie violence|ultra-violent]], and bound to arouse controversy (which it did)&nbsp;... the film [is] more than just an empty provocation – it builds character through action, a method all good filmmakers should seek to emulate."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/18415|title=00's Retrospect: Bloody Disgusting's Top 20 Films of the Decade...Part 2|date=December 17, 2009 |publisher=[[Bloody Disgusting]]|access-date=2010-01-03| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091219195634/http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/18415| archive-date=December 19, 2009| url-status= live}}</ref> In 2010, ''[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]]'' ranked ''Battle Royale'' #235 and #82 on their lists of "[[List of films considered the best|The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time]]" and "The 100 Best Films of World Cinema" respectively.<ref>{{cite magazine | title = Empire Features | url=https://www.empireonline.com/500/51.asp | magazine = [[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]] |author1=Simon Braund |author2=Glen Ferris |author3=Ian Freer |author4=Nev Pierce |author5=Chris Hewitt |author6=Dan Jolin |author7=Ian Nathan |author8=Kim Newman |author9=Helen O'Hara |author10=Olly Richards |author11=Owen Willams | date = 2010-07-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = The 100 Best Films Of World Cinema – 82. Battle Royale | url=https://www.empireonline.com/features/100-greatest-world-cinema-films/default.asp?film=82 | work = Empire}}</ref> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine included the film in its list of Top 10 Ridiculously Violent Movies.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Sanburn|first=Josh|title=Top 10 Ridiculously Violent Movies|url=http://entertainment.time.com/2010/09/03/top-10-ridiculously-violent-movies/slide/battle-royale/#battle-royale|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=30 March 2012|date=September 3, 2010}}</ref> In 2012, ''[[The Independent]]'' included it in its "[[Sports film|10 best sports movies ever made]]" list.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wright|first=Edgar|title=The 10 best sports movies ever made, by a non-sports fan|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/the-10-best-sports-movies-ever-made-by-a-nonsports-fan-7582253.html|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=27 March 2012|date=23 March 2012|location=London}}</ref> ''[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]'' magazine ranked it #47 in its list of The 50 Best Action Movies of All Time.<ref name=complex>{{cite web|title=The 50 Best Action Movies Of All Time: Battle Royale|url=http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2012/03/the-50-best-action-movies-of-all-time/battle-royale|work=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]|access-date=30 March 2012|date=March 27, 2012}}</ref> ===Sequel=== {{Main|Battle Royale II: Requiem}} [[Kinji Fukasaku]], who directed the first film, began work on a sequel, entitled ''[[Battle Royale II: Requiem|Requiem]]'', but died of [[prostate cancer]] on January 12, 2003, after shooting only one scene with [[Takeshi Kitano]]. His son Kenta Fukasaku directed the rest of the film, which was released on May 18, 2003. Unlike the first film, the sequel is not adapted from a novel, but was based on an original screenplay written by Kenta Fukasaku. The plot revolves around the survivor [[Shuya Nanahara]] leading a [[Terrorism|terrorist]] rebellion, but was controversial for its provocative [[Anti-Americanism|anti-American]] sentiments and criticised for being inferior to the original.<ref>{{cite web|last=Russell|first=Jamie|title=Battle Royale II: Requiem (2004)|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2004/05/18/battle_royale_ii_2004_review.shtml|publisher=BBC|access-date=26 March 2012|date=18 May 2004}}</ref> ===Remake plans=== In June 2006, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' reported that [[New Line Cinema]], with producers Neil Moritz and [[Roy Lee]], intended to produce a new [[Film remake|adaptation]] of ''Battle Royale''.<ref>{{cite news |first=Dave |last=McNary |title=New Line set to do 'Battle' |url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117944872.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 |work=Variety |publisher=Reed Business Information |date=2006-06-07 |access-date=2008-01-14 }}</ref> Several Web sites echoed the news, including [[Ain't It Cool News]], which claimed the remake would be "an extremely [[Motion Picture Association of America film rating system|Hard R]] – serious-minded Americanisation of Battle Royale."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=23540 |title=Battle Royale American Remake Set Up... |access-date=2008-01-14 |author=Harry Knowles |date=2006-06-08 |work=Ain't It Cool News |publisher=Ain't It Cool, Inc.| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080212001048/http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=23540| archive-date=February 12, 2008| url-status= live}}</ref> New Line tentatively set a release date of 2008. The next month, ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported on an Internet [[Backlash (sociology)|backlash]] against the remake. Through the article, Lee assured fans of his respect for the original work, claiming, "This is the one I'm going to be the most careful with." He stated that, despite earlier concerns, the film would not be toned down to [[Motion Picture Association of America film rating system|PG or PG-13]], the characters would remain young teenagers, and that it would draw elements equally from [[Battle Royale (novel)|the novel]], the original film, and the manga. The reporter noted "the hubbub&nbsp;... was at least slightly premature [as] New Line hasn't yet purchased the remake rights."<ref>{{cite news |first=Robert |last=Ito |title=Lesson Plan: Kill or Be Killed |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/09/movies/09ito.html |work=The New York Times |date=2006-07-09 |access-date=2008-01-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428110717/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/09/movies/09ito.html |archive-date=April 28, 2012 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Following the [[Virginia Tech massacre]] in April 2007, Lee claimed that prospects for the remake had been "seriously shaken". While he remained willing to proceed, he stated, "we might be a little more sensitive to some of the issues." The reporting article noted that New Line still had not secured remake rights – its spokeswoman claimed "no news" when asked about progress on any deal.<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Cieply |title=After Virginia Tech, Testing Limits of Movie Violence |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/30/business/media/30hostel.html |work=The New York Times |date=2007-04-30 |access-date=2008-01-14 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150605121509/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/30/business/media/30hostel.html| archive-date=June 5, 2015| url-status= live}}</ref> ''[[Maclean's]]'' pointed out that the 2008 novel ''[[The Hunger Games]]'', and its subsequent [[The Hunger Games (film)|2012 film adaptation]], have similar themes.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Bethune |first=Brian |url=http://www.macleans.ca/2012/04/02/dystopia-now/ |title='The Hunger Games': your kids are angrier than you think – Film |magazine=[[Maclean's]] |date=2012-04-02 |access-date=2012-06-22 }}</ref> Although ''Hunger Games'' author Suzanne Collins maintains that she "had never heard of that book until [her] book was turned in", ''[[The New York Times]]'' reports that "the parallels are striking enough that Collins's work has been savaged on the blogosphere as a baldfaced ripoff" and that "there are enough possible sources for the plot line that the two authors might well have hit on the same basic setup independently."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/10/magazine/mag-10collins-t.html?pagewanted=all|title=Suzanne Collins's War Stories for Kids|date=April 8, 2011|newspaper=[[The New York Times Magazine]]|access-date=November 14, 2011|first=Susan|last=Dominus}}</ref> The 2012 film adaptation has also faced similar criticisms for similarities to ''Battle Royale''.<ref name="moviecitynews_thg">{{cite web|last=Poland|first=David|title=Review: The Hunger Games|url=http://moviecitynews.com/2012/03/review-the-hunger-games/|publisher=Movie City News|access-date=24 March 2012|date=March 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323204120/http://moviecitynews.com/2012/03/review-the-hunger-games/|archive-date=March 23, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="wsj_thg"/> In March 2012, Roy Lee reported that a remake of ''Battle Royale'' would no longer be possible due to the release of ''The Hunger Games'', stating, "Audiences would see it as just a copy of ''Games'' – most of them wouldn't know that {{'}}''Battle Royale''{{'}} came first. It's unfair, but that's reality." However, he stated that he might return to the film in ten years to "develop a "''Battle Royale'' movie for the next generation."<ref name="wsj_thg">{{cite news|last=Yang|first=Jeff|title='Hunger Games' Vs. 'Battle Royale'|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/03/23/the-hunger-games-vs-battle-royale/|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=24 March 2012|date=March 23, 2012}}</ref> ===American TV series=== During the summer of 2012, [[The CW]] had been in discussion with the Hollywood representatives about the possibility of turning ''Battle Royale'' into an American television show. According to a spokesperson, the talks were only preliminary, but if a deal could be reached, the network would acquire rights to Koushun Takami's underlying novel, then unpack and expand on it for an hour-long dramatic series. Joyce Jun, a Hollywood attorney representing U.S. rights to the title, stated that "there is no deal in place". A CW spokesman confirmed only there had been some discussion, but declined to comment further.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-battle-royale-could-be-reborn-as-a-tv-show-20120726,0,5414971.story?track=rss | work=Los Angeles Times | first=Steven | last=Zeitchik | title='Battle Royale' could be reborn as a TV show | date=2012-07-26}}</ref> ==Cultural impact== {{See also|Battle royale genre}} The film, especially with its [[DVD]] releases, drew a large global cult following and became a cultural phenomenon.<ref name="Wroot">{{cite book |last1=Wroot |first1=Jonathan |last2=Willis |first2=Andy |chapter=Battle Royale as a One-Film Franchise: Charting a Commercial Phenomenon Through Cult DVD and Blu-ray Releases |title=Cult Media: Re-packaged, Re-released and Restored |date=2017 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-319-63679-5 |pages=11–12 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_rc7DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA11}}</ref> [[Quentin Tarantino]] considers ''Battle Royale'' to be one of the most influential films in recent decades.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Wallace |first1=Lewis |title=Tarantino Names 20 Favorite Films Since Reservoir Dogs |url=https://www.wired.com/2009/08/tarantino-names-top-20-movies-since-reservoir-dogs/ |access-date=2 May 2020 |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=17 August 2009}}</ref> The film has been highly influential in global [[popular culture]], inspiring numerous works of fiction in a number of different media across the world.<ref name="ringer">{{cite news |title=The Japanese Thriller That Explains 'Fortnite' and American Pop Culture in 2018 |url=https://www.theringer.com/movies/2018/7/19/17588944/fortnite-battle-royale-hunger-games-the-purge |work=[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]] |date=July 19, 2018}}</ref> ===Film and television=== Since its release, the film has had an influence on filmmakers such as [[Quentin Tarantino]],<ref>{{cite web|title=DVD reviews: Battle Royale (Arrow)|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/dvd-reviews-battle-royale-arrow-the-expendables-1-1520872|work=[[The Scotsman]]|access-date=27 March 2012|date=9 December 2010}}</ref> most notably his ''[[Kill Bill]]'' films;<ref name="mulligan_br"/> the character Gogo Yubari, played by [[Chiaki Kuriyama]], resembles the character she plays in ''Battle Royale'', [[Takako Chigusa]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Sandhu|first=Sukhdev|title=Bloody, marvellous|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/3320118/Bloody-marvellous.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/3320118/Bloody-marvellous.html |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=27 March 2012|date=10 October 2003|location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref> ''Battle Royale'' has also been referenced in the 2004 [[zombie comedy]] film ''[[Shaun of the Dead]]'', where [[Edgar Wright]] and [[Simon Pegg]] made sure a big ''Battle Royale'' poster is prominently displayed in Shaun's living room.<ref name="justpressplay"/> Despite not being officially released in the United States for a long time, ''Battle Royale'' has often been referenced in [[Culture of the United States|American pop culture]], ranging from Tarantino's films to the [[Rock music|rock]] band [[The Flaming Lips]]' use of footage from the film as a backdrop for its ''[[Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots]]'' tour,<ref>{{cite web|last=Tobias|first=Scott|title=The New Cult Canon: Battle Royale|url=https://www.avclub.com/articles/the-new-cult-canon-battle-royale,2321/|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|access-date=13 April 2012|date=May 28, 2008}}</ref> along with references in [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood films]] such as [[Jason Reitman]]'s ''[[Thank You for Smoking (film)|Thank You for Smoking]]'' (2005) and ''[[Juno (film)|Juno]]'' (2007) and American television shows such as ''[[Lost (TV series)|Lost]]'' and ''[[Community (TV series)|Community]]''.<ref name="justpressplay">{{cite web|last=Ponto|first=Arya|title="The Hunger Games" and the Bloody Legacy of "Battle Royale"|url=http://www.justpressplay.net/articles/9232-qthe-hunger-gamesq-and-the-bloody-legacy-of-qbattle-royaleq.html|publisher=Just Press Play|access-date=3 April 2012|date=March 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525092106/http://www.justpressplay.net/articles/9232-qthe-hunger-gamesq-and-the-bloody-legacy-of-qbattle-royaleq.html|archive-date=May 25, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> In ''[[Wrong Turn 2: Dead End]]'', one of the characters (Matthew Currie Holmes as Michael "M" Epstein) wears a Battle Royale Shirt. Maggie Lee of [[Reuters]] describes ''Battle Royale'' as the "film that pioneered the concept of the teen death game", citing its influence on films such as ''[[Kaiji (manga)|Kaiji]]'' (2009) and [[Hideo Nakata]]'s ''[[The Incite Mill]]'' (2010), both of which starred [[Tatsuya Fujiwara]] (who played ''Battle Royale''{{'s}} protagonist [[Shuya Nanahara]]) in the leading roles.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lee|first=Maggie|title=Japanese massacre thriller looks better in 3D|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/film-us-film-battle-idUKTRE71E0O320110215|work=Reuters|access-date=4 April 2012|date=February 15, 2011}}</ref> V.A. Musetto of the ''[[New York Post]]'' compared it to ''[[The Condemned]]'' (2007), which the critic called "a bad rip-off" of ''Battle Royale'' as well as ''[[The Most Dangerous Game (film)|The Most Dangerous Game]]''.<ref name="nyp">{{cite news| author = V.A. Musetto | date = April 27, 2007| title = Executioner's wrong: Fans condemned to bad cinema.| url = http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/movies/executioner_wrong_CZrUJRpBxUnOjTOHrAnRDI| quote = "Amazingly, "The Condemned" received an R rating, more proof that the censors are more concerned with sex and nudity (there is none here) than violence."| work = [[New York Post]]| access-date = 2009-10-31 }}</ref> Critics have also noted the influence of ''Battle Royale'' on other films, such as the 2008 film ''[[Kill Theory]]'',<ref>{{cite web|last=Solis |first=Jorge |title=Fango Flashback: "Battle Royale" |url=http://writerwithoutfear.com/fango-flashback-“battle-royale”/ |work=[[Fangoria]] |access-date=18 February 2017 |date=June 6, 2010 }}</ref> the 2009 film ''[[The Tournament (2009 film)|The Tournament]]'',<ref>{{cite web|last=Shamon |first=Danny |title=Review: Tournament, The (2009) |url=http://www.kungfucinema.com/reviews/tournament-2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130128005538/http://www.kungfucinema.com/reviews/tournament-2009 |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 January 2013 |publisher=Kung Fu Cinema |access-date=31 March 2012 }}</ref> and ''[[The Hunger Games (film series)|The Hunger Games]]'' trilogy.<ref name="moviecitynews_thg"/><ref name="wsj_thg"/> ''Battle Royale'' has also drawn comparisons to films such as ''[[Gamer (2009 film)|Gamer]]'' (2009),<ref>{{cite web|last=Bunting|first=Ian|title=Movie review: Gamer|url=http://www.acadvertiser.co.uk/entertainment-airdrie-coatbridge/entertainment-news/2009/09/30/movie-review-gamer-65864-24810767/|work=[[Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser]]|access-date=3 April 2012|date=September 30, 2009}}</ref> ''[[Kick-Ass (film)|Kick-Ass]]'' (2010),<ref>{{cite news|last=Legel|first=Laremy|title=Movie Musings|url=http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/movies/news/n37973.htm|access-date=2 April 2012|newspaper=[[New York Post]]|date=September 3, 2010}}</ref> and ''[[The Belko Experiment]]'' (2016).<ref>{{cite web|last=Harvey|first=Dennis|title=Toronto Film Review: 'The Belko Experiment' |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/markets-festivals/the-belko-experiment-film-review-1201857844/ |work= [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=December 19, 2016|date=March 26, 2010}}</ref> Other examples of "battle royale" films include ''[[The Purge]]'' series (2013), ''[[Assassination Nation]]'' (2018), ''[[Ready or Not (2019 film)|Ready or Not]]'' (2019), and ''[[The Hunt (2020 film)|The Hunt]]'' (2020).<ref name="ringer"/> The [[South Korea]]n [[Netflix original]] series ''[[Squid Game]]'' (2021) was also influenced by ''Battle Royale''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Frater |first1=Patrick |title='Squid Game' Director Hwang Dong-hyuk on Netflix's Hit Korean Series and Prospects for a Sequel (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2021/global/asia/squid-game-director-hwang-dong-hyuk-korean-series-global-success-1235073355/ |access-date=7 October 2021 |work=[[Variety.com]] |date=24 September 2021}}</ref> ===Comics, manga and anime=== In Japan, the film established the battle royale genre of [[manga]] and [[anime]], revolving around a similar narrative premise. Along with the [[Battle Royale (manga)|''Battle Royale'' manga]] (2000 debut), other examples of the genre include ''[[Basilisk (manga)|Basilisk]]'' (2003 debut), ''[[Bokurano]]'' (2003 debut), the ''[[Fate/stay night]]'' franchise (2004 debut), ''[[Future Diary]]'' (2006 debut), ''[[Deadman Wonderland]]'' (2007 debut), the ''[[Danganronpa]]'' franchise (2010 debut), ''[[Magical Girl Raising Project]]'' (2012 debut), and the ''[[Death Parade]]'' series (2013 debut).<ref>{{cite news |last=Amaam |first=Baam |title=11 Exciting Battle Royale Anime with Unpredictable Deaths |url=http://goboiano.com/11-exciting-battle-royale-anime-with-unpredictable-deaths/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121114945/http://goboiano.com/11-exciting-battle-royale-anime-with-unpredictable-deaths/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=November 21, 2017 |work=GoBoiano |date=November 18, 2017}}</ref> ''Battle Royale'' has also drawn comparisons to the ''[[Gantz]]'' franchise of manga (2000), [[List of Gantz episodes|anime]] (2004) [[Gantz (live action films)|and films]] (2011).<ref>{{cite book|last=McCarthy|first=Jonathan Clements, Helen|title=The anime encyclopedia: a guide to Japanese animation since 1917|year=2007|publisher=Stone Bridge Press|location=Berkeley, Calif.|isbn=978-1-933330-10-5|edition=Rev. & expanded|page=220|quote=Like Battle Royale crashed into Wings of Desire with courtesy breasts, Gantz throws everyday people into a life-or-death conflict, but focuses on their humdrum musings – what to wear, how to impress girls, who gets the rocket launcher.}}</ref> ''[[Btooom]]'' (2009 debut) features a variation of the battle royale theme.<ref>{{cite news |title=FEATURE: Cruising the Crunchy-Catalog: "BTOOOM!" |url=http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-feature/2017/02/19/feature-cruising-the-crunchy-catalog-btooom |work=[[Crunchyroll]] |date=February 19, 2017}}</ref> The film has influenced the creation of the [[Marvel Comics]] series ''[[Avengers Arena]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Green |first1=Scott |title=Marvel Reveals "Avengers Arena" Homage to "Battle Royale" |url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2012/09/14-1/marvel-reveals-avengers-arena-homage-to-battle-royale |access-date=18 February 2019 |work=[[Crunchyroll]] |date=September 14, 2012}}</ref> The series' logo also mirrors that of the logo used in the ''Battle Royale'' movie. ===Video games and visual novels=== {{See|Battle royale game}} The genre of [[Battle royale game|battle royale video games]], in which players compete to be the last one standing in a shrinking battlefield, was inspired by and took its name from the film.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2017/09/22/pubg-developer-calls-out-fortnite-for-copying-its-battle-royale-format/#659e2e767d2f|title='PUBG' Developer Unironically Calls Out 'Fortnite' For Copying Its Battle Royale Format|work=Forbes|date=September 22, 2017|first=Paul|last=Tassi|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015193311/https://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2017/09/22/pubg-developer-calls-out-fortnite-for-copying-its-battle-royale-format/#659e2e767d2f|archive-date=October 15, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/glixel/news/meet-playerunknown-creator-of-the-battle-royale-genre-w475728|title=Meet Brendan 'Playerunknown' Greene, Creator of the Twitch Hit 'Battlegrounds'|magazine=Rolling Stone|first=Luke|last=Winkie|date=April 7, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730075114/http://www.rollingstone.com/glixel/news/meet-playerunknown-creator-of-the-battle-royale-genre-w475728|archive-date=July 30, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The genre became popular in the late 2010s, and includes games such as ''[[PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds]]'', ''[[Fortnite Battle Royale]]'', ''[[ARMA 3]]'', ''[[H1Z1: King of the Kill]]'', ''[[NetEase|Knives Out]]'', ''[[Rules of Survival]]'', ''[[Garena Free Fire]]'', ''[[Apex Legends]]'', ''[[Realm Royale]]'', ''[[Call of Duty: Black Ops 4]]''{{'}}s "Blackout" game mode, and ''[[Call of Duty: Warzone]]''. The film's title also refers to the battle royale genre of [[visual novel]]s, revolving around a similar narrative premise.<ref>{{cite news |title=Visual Novel Spotlight: Killer Queen |url=https://www.ricedigital.co.uk/visual-novel-spotlight-killer-queen/ |work=Rice Digital |date=December 9, 2014}}</ref><ref name="vndb">{{cite web |title=Battle Royale |url=https://vndb.org/g664 |website=Visual Novel Database |access-date=June 20, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> Examples include the ''[[Fate/stay night]]'' series (2004 debut), ''[[Dies irae (visual novel)|Dies irae]]'' (2007), and the ''[[Zero Escape]]'' series (2009 debut).<ref name="vndb"/> The ''[[Danganronpa]]'' series (2010 debut) is also notably influenced by the film,<ref>{{cite news |last=Hamilton |first=Kirk |title=Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc |url=https://kotaku.com/danganronpa-trigger-happy-havoc-the-kotaku-review-1520857478 |work=[[Kotaku]] |date=February 11, 2014}}</ref> with its scenario writer [[Kazutaka Kodaka]] citing the film as an influence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2010/10/28/dangan-rompa-interview-discuses-character-design-and-battle-royale/|title=Dangan-rompa Interview Discuses Character Design And Battle Royale|date=October 28, 2010|website=Siliconera.com|access-date=October 11, 2017}}</ref> ''Battle Royale'' has also drawn comparisons to [[Square Enix]]'s ''[[The World Ends with You]]'' (2007).<ref>{{cite web|last=Patterson|first=Shane|title=The World Ends With You – Hero bios|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/the-world-ends-with-you-hero-bios/|publisher=[[GamesRadar]]|access-date=29 March 2012|date=March 20, 2008}}</ref> ==See also== * [[Cinema of Japan]] * [[List of cult films]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category|Battle Royale (film)}} {{Wikiquote}} * {{IMDb title|0266308|Battle Royale}} * {{AllRovi title|237103|Battle Royale}} * {{Metacritic film|title=Battle Royale}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes|battle_royale|Battle Royale}} * {{cite web|url=http://www.battleroyalethemovie.com/ |title=Official English-language ''Battle Royale'' website |access-date=2021-01-11 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020919224407/http://www.battleroyalethemovie.com/ |archive-date=September 19, 2002 }} * [http://mediacircus.net/battleroyale.html Review and analysis of the ''Battle Royale'' film] * {{jmdb title|2000|dx003420|Battle Royale}} * {{jmdb title|2001|dy004800|Battle Royale (Director's Cut)}} * ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20100811070829/http://www.br3d.jp/ Battle Royale 3D]'' Official Website {{in lang|ja}} {{Battle Royale}} {{Kinji Fukasaku}} {{Navboxes |title = Awards for ''Battle Royale'' |list = {{Blue Ribbon Award for Best Film}} {{Mainichi Film Award for Excellence Film}} }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Battle Royale (Film)}} [[Category:Films about teenagers]] [[Category:Battle Royale (franchise)]] [[Category:2000 films]] [[Category:2000 action thriller films]] [[Category:Battle royale]] [[Category:2000s dystopian films]] [[Category:Japanese action thriller films]] [[Category:2000s Japanese-language films]] [[Category:Films based on Japanese novels]] [[Category:Films based on science fiction novels]] [[Category:Films based on thriller novels]] [[Category:Films directed by Kinji Fukasaku]] [[Category:Films set on uninhabited islands]] [[Category:Films shot in Tokyo]] [[Category:Girls with guns films]] [[Category:Films about death games]] [[Category:Film controversies in Japan]] [[Category:Obscenity controversies in film]] [[Category:Japanese splatter films]] [[Category:Toei Company films]] [[Category:Films set on fictional islands]] [[Category:Films scored by Masamichi Amano]] [[Category:2000s Japanese films]]'