Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that Battle Royale is a super-violent Japanese sci-fi film from 2000, telling roughly the same story as The Hunger Games, but with a different perspective. The fights and killings are more over-the-top and cartoonish, with a great deal more blood. Some sexual violence is implied, and teen crushes develop though nothing intimate occurs. Language, in the English subtitles, contains a few strong words such as "f--k" and "s--t," and teens are seen both drinking and smoking. Thanks to high praise from some noted directors and critics, this movie is a considered a cult classic and may be on a must-see list for cinema-savvy teens. (Note: there is a 114-minute theatrical cut and a 122-minute, unrated cut.)
Sexual
Content
Many of the teens nurse crushes on one another, but most are very shy about admitting it. Some implied sexual violence.
Violence
The violence in the movie is over-the-top and unrealistic, but still very intense. It includes knives and stabbing, arrows, crossbows, guns of all types, shooting, grenades, explosions, fighting, poison, severed and/or exploding heads, an ax to the head, suicide, arguing, and lots of blood and gore. A teen discovers his father's dead body (hanging after a suicide). A teacher smacks (and kills) his teen students. A mother accepts money to allow a man to sexually abuse her daughter. A teen tries (and fails) to force himself on another teen girl.
Language
Language is in English subtitles, and foul language doesn't really start to appear until the last third. Words include "f--k," "s--t," "damn," "Goddamn," and "asshole."
Social
Behavior
There's an anti-totalitarian message that warns against brainwashing and the failure of critical thinking. Authority must be questioned sometimes.
Consumerism
A bottle of Tanqueray gin is seen in a flashback. Signs for Coca-Cola and Tower Records are seen in the epilogue.
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
Teens are seen smoking occasionally, and drinking from a flask. Adults also drink alcohol from time to time.
