When you watch any kind of movie, you have to be invested in the stakes. Well, what are bigger stakes than life and death?Inside a battle royale movie, you know right away that if your character does not succeed in battle, they're going to die. And that sets up who you're rooting for and why right away. Today, I want to unpack my favorite movies of this genre and talk about what makes them great. Let's dive in. 1. Battle Royale (2000)Look, don't arrest me, but this was the first movie I illegally downloaded when i was in 8th grade. I was obsessed with the website, Mutant Reviewers From Hell, and they talked about it a lot, so I knew I had to see it. Widely considered the cornerstone of the genre, this controversial Japanese film directed by Kinji Fukasaku is a visceral and thought-provoking masterpiece. Set in a near-future Japan, a class of ninth-grade students is forced to fight to the death on a remote island until only one remains. Its unflinching violence, sharp social commentary, and compelling characters have cemented its legendary status.2. The Hunger Games (2012) and its sequelsThis is the movie everyone thinks of in this genre...if they have never heard of Battle Royale. This highly successful franchise brought the battle royale concept to a mainstream global audience. Starring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, the films depict a dystopian society where teenagers are selected as "tributes" to fight in an annual televised spectacle. 3. The Running Man (1987)Another absolute...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Yesterday