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Quentin Tarantino is an outspoken fan of Kinji Fukasaku’s gruesome horror film Battle Royale. Like a lot of moviegoers, the director saw certain similarities to the cult classic in a certain blockbuster film. If you haven’t guessed, I’m talking about The Hunger Games.
Tarantino previously appeared as a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and spoke with Dana Carvey, who was standing in for the show’s host. The pair discussed Tarantino’s podcast, his son’s burgeoning appreciation for zombies, and the cinematic output of the Shaw Brothers. During the exchange, the pair briefly discussed Battle Royale and Tarantino took that as an opportunity to throw some shade at The Hunger Games.
“I’m a big fan of the Japanese movie Battle Royale, which is what Hunger Games was based on,” Tarantino told Carvey. “Well, Hunger Games just ripped it off.”
I can’t help but agree that there are striking similarities between the two properties. The Hunger Games film series (and the Suzanne Collins novels upon which the features are based) have an awful lot in common with the 2000 film Battle Royale and the 1999 novel by Koushun Takami from which it was adapted.
Of the two, I think there’s a lot more grit and a lot more depth to Battle Royale. The Hunger Games films come across as a sanitized version of Kinji Fukasaku’s visceral horror picture. Check out the plot crunches (and trailers) for the two properties below if you need further convincing.
The Hunger Games: In what was once North America, the Capitol of Panem maintains its hold on its 12 districts by forcing them each to select a boy and a girl to compete in a nationally televised event where they fight to the death until only one remains.
Battle Royale: 42 9th graders are sent to a deserted island. An explosive collar is fitted around their neck. 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.
To be fair, Suzanne Collins maintains that she’d never heard of Battle Royale prior to penning The Hunger Games. While that’s surprising, it’s perhaps less surprising than the idea that Collins knowingly aped someone else’s idea and expected that no one would notice. What say you? Hit us up with your thoughts on the similarities between the two properties on Twitter (X) @DreadCentral.
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