Battle Royale

4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (338 customer reviews)
A group of students from a Japanese high school are forced to compete in a battle, killing one another until only one is left standing.
  • Starring: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda
  • Directed by: Kinji Fukasaku
  • Runtime: 1 hour 54 minutes
  • Release year: 2012
  • Studio: Anchor Bay
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Battle Royale

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Battle Royale [Blu-ray]
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Product Details
Synopsis: A group of students from a Japanese high school are forced to compete in a battle, killing one another until only one is left standing.
Starring: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda
Supporting actors: Taro Yamamoto, Chiaki Kuriyama
Directed by: Kinji Fukasaku
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Thriller
Runtime: 1 hour 54 minutes
Captions and Subtitles: Details
Release year: 2012
Studio: Anchor Bay
ASIN: B007MJSYF0
Rights & Requirements
Rental rights: 48 hour viewing period. Details
Purchase rights: Stream instantly and download to 2 locations. Details
Format: Amazon Instant Video (streaming online video and digital download)

Other Formats and Versions

Theatrical Release Information
  • US Theatrical Release Date: March 20, 2012
  • Production Company: AM Associates, Battle Royale Production Committee, Fukasaku-gumi, GAGA, Kobi Co.
  • Filming Locations: Hachijo Island, Tokyo, Japan

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Customer Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
(338)
4.1 out of 5 stars
See all 338 customer reviews
“ Watch the movie, if you enjoy it or want to understand it more fully read the book as well. ” William Black  |  86 reviewers made a similar statement
“ Very detailed story, many characters that you can feel for. ” Sasquatch  |  21 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
87 of 95 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The Shocking Japanese Classic Available As A Stand-Alone Or In Four Disc Set January 22, 2012
By K. Harris HALL OF FAMETOP 10 REVIEWER
Format:Blu-ray
With the emergence of "The Hunger Games" phenomenon of the last few years, the inevitable comparisons between that franchise and the cult novel "Battle Royale" by Koushun Takami have been plentiful. Sure, the two do share strong thematic and narrative similarities, but each has a distinctly unique vibe and explores the back story behind the violence in a different way. The film adaptation of "Battle Royale" by director Kenji Fukasaku garnered almost instant international notoriety in 2000 for its disturbingly bleak portrait of kids set upon one another in a violent death match. Despite being banned and reviled by many, the story's visceral and emotional punch was hard to deny. It was nominated for numerous Japanese Academy Awards including Best Film, Best Actor, Best Director and Best Screenplay and won that country's "Popularity Award." The rumor that Hollywood was flirting with an American remake has been circulating for years, but some seem to think that the film adaptation of "The Hunger Games" might have hurt the likelihood of this occurrence. In any event, I never had high hopes that an American interpretation could rival the original.

"Battle Royale" is being released in two incarnations, a film only DVD/ Blu-ray or "The Complete Collection" DVD/Blu-ray.

Film Only: This includes the Director's Cut of the film. First, the story is about a future Japan whose economy is in collapse and whose crime rate is spiraling out-of-control. In an effort to temper this uptick in violence by the juvenile population, the government has sanctioned an annual contest. In the movie, forty-two middle school aged students are dropped off and left to battle one another for survival. They are armed and coerced into fighting, for there can be only one winner left alive.... Read more ›
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65 of 71 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing Director's Cut June 10, 2007
By Alli
Format:DVD
Before you type out a retaliatory positive review- read on!

I want to start off by saying I absolutely LOVE Battle Royale- It is most certainly on my list of favorite movies. HOWEVER- this 'Director's Cut' is total garbage.

Sadly, as with the case for many 'Special Edition' DVDs, Battle Royale: Director's Cut adds unnecessary footage that does nothing to enhance the film. The end is extending by 8 minutes or so - and delves into a sort of epilogue and series of dream sequences.

The Battle Royale wiki explains the changes here: (...)

No attempt was made to clean up the subtitles: I can ignore misspellings and incorrect conjugations - however at one point the subtitles ran off the screen. The subtitles in the added scenes were far worse than that of the rest of the movie.

I am not bashing Battle Royale; I want people to buy the regular version and forget that this Director's Cut is even an option.
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46 of 50 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars We, who are about to die... September 21, 2005
By Zack Davisson HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
"Battle Royale" is a superb film, subtle and sad and over-the-top and loud all at the same time. The story is often compared to "Lord of the Flies," but that is a bit of a misnomer. "Lord of the Flies" was about reverting to primitivism, whereas "Battle Royale" is a futuristic cautionary tale in the tune of "1984" and "Brave New World." The caution at work here is the threat of absolute bureaucracy, and the dangers of the loss of the value of life and respect in a rules-dominated society. This is a threat quite apparent in modern Japan.

The actors in "Battle Royale" all deliver excellent performances, including the amazing talent "Beat" Takeshi Kitano playing the appropriately named "Kitano." The film was not directed by Takeshi however, so it lacks his beautiful visual style. It does however feature one of his riveting paintings. There is a good range of responses from the various actors playing the students, from outright suicide, to panic, to a drive to win to a drive to help. Unfortunately, the character of Kazuo Kiriyama (the machine gun boy) is woefully underdeveloped, and instead of the fierce, cold genius of the book he is a somewhat characterless villain.

While a violent film, I wouldn't characterize "Battle Royale" as an action film per se. Anyone looking for a Hong Kong-style action film should realize that Japan and China are quite different countries with different approach to movies.. "Battle Royale" retains the quietude and patient pacing that is the hallmark of Japanese cinema, and which leaves some viewers bored, who are used to a quicker pacing. The bloodshed, while in great quantity, is also more cartoony in nature, which is also more typical of Japanese films, which does not favor a naturalistic approach.... Read more ›
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37 of 44 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Movie October 4, 2003
By Joeseph Barborak
Format:DVD
Very good movie. I strongly reccomend this movie to anyone who enjoys strange movies, because you've never ever seen a movie like this.
It's the future... Kids have stopped going to class, and are becoming pests. So the government has started a new program called the "BATTLE ROYALE SURVIVAL PROJECT." What happens is that one class of 9th graders a year is chosen by impartial lottery to go onto a deserted island. The kids then get 'voted off' the island. And by 'voted off' I mean they kill each other. Each kid gets a bag, inside is food, water, a map, and a random weapon. With this weapon, they are ordered to kill each other until one remains.
This movie has everything. Violence, plot, character development (somewhat -- enough to satasfy me), and an amazing story. It'll keep you on the end of your seat, or couch, or whatever.

Oh, and if you go out and see the new Tarantino movie, KILL BILL, the actress that plays Liu's bodyguard is one of the kids from Battle Royale.
Buy this movie. I can't stress it enough.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars Overrated Schlock!
It looks like it was filmed as a soap opera, and the acting is worse. Perhaps the novel or manga is good, but this was a cheap slasher flick that thought it was high art --... Read more
Published 5 days ago by jtingermany
4.0 out of 5 stars Stop the comparisons!
I have read both books, seen both movies and the comparisons stop at they are both about kids killing kids. Read more
Published 15 days ago by Evil Donut
3.0 out of 5 stars Japanese high blood pressure
The main thing I learned from watching this movie was not that Susanne Collins might have stolen the idea for "Hunger Games", but that the Japanese people have a very high pressure... Read more
Published 27 days ago by DarthRad
5.0 out of 5 stars Love it
Great movie. Very violent. Not for the faint of heart. Children forced to battle it out in this international film.
Published 1 month ago by cwalt047
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Movie! :WARNING:
This is actually my favorite movie of all time -- it's just so...BEAUTIFUL~! ;D

WARNING: This DVD is only good in certain regions. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Amber
4.0 out of 5 stars Japanese Hunter Games
This is supposed to be the origin of the "Hunter Games" movie series and it is a good action movie even if the Japanese seem to make things seem funny when they are not... Read more
Published 1 month ago by inspectorudy
3.0 out of 5 stars Japanese Hunger Games
You can certainly see the similarities between this film and The Hunger Games but the latter is a much more riveting story whereas Battle Royale focuses more on moving from one... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Barb
4.0 out of 5 stars Very good, but not what you may be expecting.
A very good film. At times they have a tendency to slow things down and even reverse the original theme, but ultimately the battle for survival is driven through quite well.
Published 2 months ago by Michael P Chevalier
5.0 out of 5 stars It's a must see
I can die happy after seeing this. Truly did introduce something new to the scene. Before the Hunger Games was such a "revolutionary" concept.
Published 2 months ago by B. Garner
5.0 out of 5 stars nice
The storyline to the movie is nice,there is a lot of blood and action. It keeps you on your toes.
Published 2 months ago by LEOTIS
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