Quentin Tarantino criticises 'Hunger Games' for similarities to Japanese film 'Battle royale'

Quentin Tarantino says 'The Hunger Games' borrows heavily from 'Battle Royale', prompting renewed debate among fans

Quentin Tarantino has criticised The Hunger Games franchise, arguing that the series mirrors the 2000 Japanese film Battle Royale.

Speaking on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast, the filmmaker said he believed the similarities between the two works were substantial and questioned why legal action had never been taken.

Tarantino has long included Battle Royale, based on Koushun Takami’s 1999 novel, on his list of favourite films.

“I do not understand how the Japanese writer didn’t sue Suzanne Collins for every fucking thing she owns,” he said. He argued that critics overlooked the resemblance when Collins’ books were released.

“Stupid book critics are not going to go watch a Japanese movie called Battle Royale so the stupid book critics never called her on it. They talked about how it was the most original fuckin’ thing they’d ever read. As soon as the film critics saw the film, they said, ‘What the fuck? This is just Battle Royale except PG!’”

Comparisons between the two stories have circulated since the first Hunger Games film, starring Jennifer Lawrence, premiered in 2012.

Battle Royale centres on students forced by a totalitarian regime to fight to the death, while The Hunger Games portrays a televised contest in which young representatives from each district of Panem must battle until a single victor remains.

Suzanne Collins has previously denied any connection to Battle Royale. In a 2011 interview with The New York Times, she said, “I had never heard of that book or that author until my book was turned in.” She added that her editor advised her not to read it to avoid influencing her work, saying, “Just continue with what you’re doing.”

Battle Royale received a sequel in 2003 titled Battle Royale II: Requiem. The Hunger Games franchise has produced five films since 2012, with a sixth entry, Sunrise on the Reaping, planned for release in 2026.