Tarantino: 'Battle Royale' Ripped Off by 'Hunger Games'

Quentin Tarantino has begun revealing his top 20 films of the 21st century on 'The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast,' with 'Battle Royale' notably ranking at number 11. Tarantino expressed surprise that the creators of the 2000 Japanese dystopian film did not sue Suzanne Collins, author of 'The Hunger Games,' asserting that the latter directly copied 'Battle Royale.' He argued that while book critics praised Collins' work as original, film critics immediately recognized the plot's resemblance.

Known for his deep appreciation of cinema, Tarantino recounted being among the first to see 'Battle Royale' in Japan, thanks to his friendship with director Kinji Fukasaku. He described the private screening as an overwhelming and impactful experience. He later experienced the film again at a midnight screening in America, finding joy in knowing how much the audience would be captivated by its intensity.

Tarantino also lauded Steven Spielberg's 'West Side Story' as a film that revitalized the director, even suggesting it surpassed anything Martin Scorsese has made this century. Furthermore, he cited 'Jackass: The Movie' as the funniest film he has watched in the past 20 years, even showing it to his crew during the making of 'Kill Bill' due to its immense comedic impact.