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Battle Royale (Batoru Rowaiaru) (2001)

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Movie Info

In a future where society is on the verge of collapse, the government takes drastic action against the problem of rebellious teenagers in this violent sci-fi opus from Japan. In the year 2002, Japan's economy has taken a dramatic turn for the worse, and massive unemployment and inflation have thrown most adults into a state of chaos; the nation's youth culture responds with unprecedented violence, delinquency, and truancy. Desperate to restore order, the Japanese parliament responds by creating

Jan 25, 2005

Anchor Bay Entertainment

Cast

All Critics (34) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (23) | Rotten (4) | DVD (23)

Pitched with the insatiable verve of a TV game show and the vacant regret of a Grand Theft Auto videogame.

July 19, 2011 Full Review Source: Projection Booth | Comment
Projection Booth

It gets no points for subtlety, but this confronting, devastating, hilarious and extremely fun film is a masterpiece all in its own right.

March 6, 2011 Full Review Source: What Culture | Comment

Gloriously sick and twisted.

November 24, 2009 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | Comment
Combustible Celluloid

A disturbing film to say the least, and definitely one that could never have been made in the United States.

June 17, 2008 Full Review Source: ESplatter | Comment (1)
ESplatter

A modern classic about the folly of violence.

July 23, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | Comment
eFilmCritic.com

What it does have is plenty of splatter, noise and energy.

November 7, 2006 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Os intertítulos e o excesso de flashbacks comprometem um pouco o ritmo do filme, mas, de modo geral, a ação é muito bem conduzida e os personagens, satisfatoriamente desenvolvidos.

May 26, 2006 Comment
Cinema em Cena

Une oeuvre faisant l'objet d'un véritable culte que l'on imagine mal voir sortir d'un studio d'Hollywood.

November 25, 2005 Full Review Source: Panorama | Comment

Races along with the swift, brutal precision of a samurai sword cutting through cotton.

May 3, 2005 Full Review Source: Lessons of Darkness | Comment
Lessons of Darkness

Anarchy, teen-terrorism, and a sensational cult film Hollywood will never remake.

February 16, 2004 Full Review | Comment (1)
FilmsInReview.com

The basic storyline just isn't very good, and any attempt to say anything meaningful or moving is ham-fisted and obvious, which quite simply isn't good enough for a film as in-your-face as this.

August 12, 2003 Full Review Source: Film Threat | Comments (6)
Film Threat

Its content will earn it a following from as many witless viewers as it will thoughtful ones, but that's no reason to condemn it

June 30, 2003 Full Review | Comment
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More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Battle Royale (Batoru Rowaiaru)

Made my stomach sick but I had to finish it. Its great and shows us the moral flexibilities of children. Its not just an action movie. Its something that can actually be interpreted towards human nature. A great find and probably worth a second viewing if you're up to it.

December 27, 2011
paul o.
paul oh

Super Reviewer

An excellent, extraordinary action film concerning a group of junior high Japanese students who are taken to a deserted island where they are forced by one of their teachers to fight to the death until there is only one man (or woman) standing. What sounds like a sick exercise in pointless violence is actually a

September 16, 2007
Dan Schultz

Super Reviewer

    1. Chigusa: God, can I tell him one more thing? You look really cool, Hiroki [dies]
    – Submitted by John E (3 months ago)

Movies Like Battle Royale (Batoru Rowaiaru)

Latest News for Battle Royale (Batoru Rowaiaru)

June 8, 2006:
New Line to Mount a "Royale" Remake?
For a flick that was SO controversially violent it couldn't even earn a domestic theatrical release,...

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Foreign Titles

  • Battle Royale (UK)
  • Battle Royale (FR)
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