Quentin Tarantino Accuses ‘The Hunger Games’ of Ripping Off ‘Battle Royale’

Quentin Tarantino has reignited a long-simmering debate over literary and cinematic influences by labeling Suzanne Collins’s ‘The Hunger Games’ a direct rip-off of the 2000 Japanese film ‘Battle Royale.’ The director, a vocal admirer of Kinji Fukasaku’s dystopian thriller, expressed frustration during a recent appearance on ‘The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast’ while unveiling his list of the 21st century’s top 20 films. He placed ‘Battle Royale’ at number one, praising its originality based on Koushun Takami’s 1999 novel, where a class of junior high students is forced by the government to kill each other on a remote island until one survivor remains.

Tarantino recounted showing an early cut of ‘Battle Royale’ to American critics, who hailed it as groundbreaking. He contrasted this with their reaction to ‘The Hunger Games,’ the 2008 novel that spawned a film franchise grossing over $3 billion worldwide. “They talked about how it was the most original thing they’d ever fucking read,” Tarantino said. “As soon as the film critics saw the film they said, ‘What the fuck! This is just Battle Royale except PG!’”

The filmmaker questioned why Takami or Fukasaku’s estate never pursued legal action against Collins. “I do not understand how the Japanese writer didn’t sue Suzanne Collins for every fucking thing she owns,” he stated. “They just ripped off the fucking book! Stupid book critics are not going to go watch a Japanese movie called Battle Royale, so the stupid book critics never called her out on it.” Both stories center on teens compelled to fight to the death in a government-orchestrated spectacle, with ‘The Hunger Games’ featuring annual events in the dystopian nation of Panem, where districts send tributes to compete in an arena.

Collins has previously acknowledged drawing inspiration from multiple sources, including the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur, Roman gladiatorial games, and her father’s Vietnam War experiences. In a 2010 Scholastic interview, she described the concept emerging from channel-surfing between reality TV and war coverage, blending survival elements without directly citing ‘Battle Royale.’ The film’s cult status in the U.S., bolstered by Tarantino’s advocacy, saw it gain a limited release in 2002 after initial distribution hurdles due to its violent content.

Tarantino’s comments arrive amid renewed interest in ‘Battle Royale,’ which influenced later works like ‘The Condemned’ and battle royale video games such as Fortnite. Fukasaku, who died in 2003 at age 88, directed the film as a critique of Japanese youth alienation and authoritarianism, earning acclaim at festivals like Toronto. The sequel, ‘Battle Royale II: Requiem,’ followed in 2003 under his son Kenta’s direction but received mixed reviews for deviating from the original’s sharp satire.

No response from Collins or Lionsgate, the studio behind ‘The Hunger Games’ films, has surfaced as of the podcast’s release on November 26. The franchise, starring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, concluded with ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’ in 2023, grossing $337 million globally. Tarantino’s broader list includes ‘West Side Story’ at number 20, which he credited with revitalizing Steven Spielberg’s career.

The accusation underscores ongoing discussions about adaptation ethics in Hollywood, where cross-cultural borrowings often evade lawsuits due to differing legal standards on ideas versus expression. Takami’s novel sold over 2 million copies in Japan alone, while ‘Battle Royale’ holds a 92 percent Rotten Tomatoes score from critics. Tarantino, whose own films like ‘Kill Bill’ nod to Asian cinema, has long championed Fukasaku, once calling ‘Battle Royale’ a “masterpiece of action filmmaking.”

As Tarantino continues revealing his rankings, the ‘Battle Royale’ entry highlights his preference for boundary-pushing narratives over mainstream blockbusters. The podcast episode, running 90 minutes, also covers his views on Spielberg’s evolution and the state of contemporary cinema. Fans of both franchises have taken to social media, with some defending ‘The Hunger Games’ as a distinct commentary on inequality and media spectacle.

This clash of influences reflects broader tensions in global storytelling, where ‘Battle Royale’s’ raw edge contrasts with ‘The Hunger Games” young adult accessibility. Tarantino’s blunt assessment may spur reevaluations, potentially boosting streams for the underseen Japanese classic on platforms like Criterion Channel.