In the future, the Japanese government captures a class of ninth-grade students and forces them to kill each other under the revolutionary "Battle Royale" act.
Intense, violent and thrilling sci-fi satire never lets go of its fast-moving narrative full of twists, but also manages to transport a political, pacifist message.
Halliwell**: "Bracing, violent, blackly humorous satire on the bleaker aspects of modern society that manages to be more than merely an excuse for a killing spree."
Maltin***: "Unexpectedly convincing and involving, this tense, energetic, and very serious movie...Though violent, it is clearly opposed to violence and to war."
