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Battle Royale

Play trailer 0:30 Poster for Battle Royale 2000 1h 54m Mystery & Thriller Action Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 51 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
42 9th graders are sent to a deserted island. They are given a map, food, and various weapons. An explosive collar is fitted around their neck. If they break a rule, the collar explodes. Their mission: kill each other and be the last one standing. The last survivor is allowed to leave the island. If there is more than one survivor, the collars explode and kill them all.
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Battle Royale

Battle Royale

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Critics Consensus

Battle Royale is a controversial and violent parable of adolescence, heightening teenage melodrama with life-or-death stakes.

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Critics Reviews

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Sara Stewart New York Post 05/25/2012
3/4
Stylistically it's a beauty, with khaki-uniformed waifs fighting for their lives to a crashing classical score. Go to Full Review
A.O. Scott New York Times 05/24/2012
3.5/5
Awful deaths (and hysterical reactions to them) punctuate declarations of love and friendship, revelations of treachery and heavily armed expressions of angst. Go to Full Review
Joshua Rothkopf Time Out 05/22/2012
4/5
Forgive the film its small flaws of histrionic performances and cheap execution for the giddy rush of its banal, Verhoevenesque atmosphere... Go to Full Review
Gregory Nussen Screen Rant Oct 13
9/10
Kinji Fukasaku's dystopian high school-set murder spree is more prescient than ever. Go to Full Review
Panos Kotzathanasis Asian Movie Pulse 03/03/2024
8
Battle Royale” stands as a definite cult movie, from Takeshi Kitano's presence to the way it inspired Tarantino, to the violent portrayal of youth and sociopolitical criticism unfolds against a backdrop of dark humor and an evocative soundtrack. Go to Full Review
Javier G. Trigales Espinof 11/27/2023
3/5
The "groundbreaking" premise of Battle Royale remains a good black comedy diversion that's more conventional than some wanted it to be. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Robert S @RobRob38472 2d I like movies that have a higher class controlling the lower class. How the lower class of people handle a situation like that. Which is very much this movie. See more Stephanie V 2d Battle Royale is a shocking and intense movie that sticks with you long after it ends. The story of students forced to fight each other is violent, but it also shows how fear, pressure, and survival can change people. The film moves fast and the characters feel real so with that the tension never drops. Even though it’s brutal, it’s also smart and emotional. Overall, it’s a bold and unforgettable movie that still feels powerful today. See more George G 4d I watched Battle Royale previously and on my second re-watch of this film, it definitely still holds up. I was also way too young when I previously watched Battle Royale which is why I need a fresh comprehending perspective. A bunch of stakes and death, trying their best to survive the island and all because they weren’t well behaved, this film is good. Basically a survivor of the finest as much of the cast dies, wondering who is next on the death count. This film also presents a lot of characters with how survival was our main priority in the film, it's also a time to rethink issues and hope they get a chance to see another day. Everything was personal; the stakes kept them going and it would determine if they had what it takes to survive. Basically the film is a representation of entertainment and the acting was good, establishing the death at the beginning helped immediately tell us the stakes of this film and that energy is still kept even as the movie continues. I would give this film a 4.7/5 stars, I would suggest watching this film if anyone has or gets the chance. See more Slick R @SlickReviewer Nov 29 Classic!!! Must watch. Remember, this was before Hunger Games and all the other dystopian movies. See more Cailei P Nov 25 Brutal but very entertaining. See more Kevin P Nov 23 A brutal, but highly entertaining dystopian action movie with such an influential premise (Hunger Games, Squid Game, etc.). The movie just throws you right into the thick of it with a very flashy and stylized opening sequence that explains the intriguing dystopian backstory behind the games (which admittedly feels rushed, but to be fair in a way it also pumps up your adrenaline with its fast pacing and uncertainty, much like the clueless student participants). The rocket fueled pacing throws you into the action as the students are hauled away within the first few minutes with that infamous bus gas mask reveal scene. The large ensemble cast is huge, but the student characters are all really likable and distinct, with a ton of personality. It's funny, cause I always wondered how Hunger Games would go down with guns, and this movie basically answers that, and it's amazing. The film carefully balances the tone between gruesome violence, depressing dystopian tension, and funny satire. The school room informal PSA video explaining battle royale had me in stitches. I liked the cool island setting for the battle royale. From the beginning in the classroom setting, the stakes are raised immediately as the villainous teacher explains and ruthlessly demonstrates the rules of the games. Guns, good and shelter may be a nice step up from the Hunger Games, but man, those location-sensitive necklaces and the 3-day time limit really add so much tension. There really is no hiding this one out. I loved the constant screen displays of each deceased contestant and how many remain. It's great for the pacing and really highlights how much closer the walls are caving in as the pool of contestants are whittled away one by one. Even at the very start, I was laughing with the confused fat kid with the crossbow panicking and immediately messing up. The fight scenes are very entertaining. Contestants are constantly slaying each other back and forth and it's such an adrenaline rush to watch. The morning anthem listing the dead REALLY reminded me of the Hunger Games. I wish the pacing was a little slower. On one hand, it keeps the movie frantic and exciting, but I do wish we spent a little more time with the characters and worldbuilding in the first act. The English voice dub is admittedly hit-or-miss. Most of the voices are fine, but man, the voice for the main contestants sounds so dorky and unenthusiastic. It sounds like a stoned Napoleon Dynamite or Jay Baruchel pretending to sound concerned. But I won't be too harsh, cause man was it funny and to be honest it just added to the film's sense of humor (even if a better voice actor would've been vastly preferred). Like Squid Game, you get a real sense of classroom social dynamics being played out on the arena with the different alliances, distrust, bullying, and vengeance. Some of the students find some creative ways to try to get rid of the shock collar. The survivor transfer student had a captivating backstory and gives a great performance that really makes you buy his gruff history. That one scene where the crazy student throws the head with the grenade in its mouth was brutal. I liked the hideout locale for the hacker trio. Even if their plans weren't successful, hacking the system was so satisfying with the plan to blow up the headquarters. The climax was epic and the ending was bittersweet, but hopeful for change with the new generation. Its tone and violence might not be for everyone, but I still found this to be a very captivating and entertaining dystopian action film. While I personally prefer the characters and world building of Hunger Games & Squid Game, I still really like this film and can't deny its incredible reach of influence on the battle royale genre (it's even in the title!). See more Read all reviews
Battle Royale

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Movie Info

Synopsis 42 9th graders are sent to a deserted island. They are given a map, food, and various weapons. An explosive collar is fitted around their neck. If they break a rule, the collar explodes. Their mission: kill each other and be the last one standing. The last survivor is allowed to leave the island. If there is more than one survivor, the collars explode and kill them all.
Director
Kinji Fukasaku
Producer
Akio Kamatani, Tetsu Kayama, Masumi Okada, Masao Sato, Kenta Fukasaku, Kinji Fukasaku, Kimio Kataoka, Toshio Nabeshima, Chie Kobayashi
Screenwriter
Kenta Fukasaku
Production Co
WOWOW, Toei Company, AM Associates, MF Pictures, GAGA, Kobi Co., Battle Royale Prod. Committee, Toho Company, Nippon Shuppan Hanbai (Nippan) K.K.
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Action, Comedy
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 16, 2000, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Oct 12, 2025
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 30, 2016
Runtime
1h 54m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
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