The kids of Third Year Class-B Shiroiwa Junior High School are back, in a 4K restoration of the classic cult shocker adapted from the controversial novel by Koushun Takami.

Presenting an alternate dystopian vision of turn-of-the-millennium Japan, Battle Royale follows the 42 junior high school students selected to take part in the government’s annual Battle Royale programme, established as an extreme method of addressing concerns about juvenile delinquency. Dispatched to a remote island, they are each given individual weapons (ranging from Uzis and machetes to pan lids and binoculars), food and water, and the order to go out and kill each other. Every player is fitted with an explosive collar around their neck, imposing a strict three-day time limit on the deadly games in which there can only be one survivor. Overseeing the carnage is ‘Beat’ Takeshi Kitano (Sonatine, Hana-bi, Zatoichi) as the teacher pushed to the edge by his unruly charges.

Playing like a turbo-charged hybrid of Lord of the Flies and The Most Dangerous Game, the final completed work by veteran yakuza-film director Kinji Fukasaku (Battles without Honor and Humanity, Graveyard of Honor) helped launch a new wave of appreciation for Asian cinema in the 21st century.

4K ULTRA-HD SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS

4K restoration of the Original Theatrical Version and Special Edition Director’s Cut of Battle Royale from the original camera negative by Arrow Films, approved by Kenta Fukasaku

4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation of both versions in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)

Original 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and 2.0 stereo audio on both cuts

Optional English subtitles on both cuts

Reversible sleeve featuring two artwork options

DISC ONE – BATTLE ROYALE: ORIGINAL THEATRICAL VERSION

Audio commentary by critics Tom Mes and Jasper Sharp

Coming of Age: Battle Royale at 20, a 42-minute documentary about the legacy of Battle Royale

Bloody Education: Kenta Fukasaku on Battle Royale, an interview with the film’s producer and screenwriter

The Making of Battle Royale: The Experience of 42 High School Students, documentary featuring footage from the shooting of the film and cast and crew discussions

The Slaughter of 42 High School Students, a look behind the scenes of the shoot

Behind the scenes footage with comments from the cast and crew

Filming on Set, a look at the shooting of key scenes from the film

Conducting Battle Royale with the Warsaw National Philharmonic, archive footage of Masamichi Amano conducting the soundtrack rehearsal

DISC TWO – BATTLE ROYALE: SPECIAL EDITION DIRECTOR’S CUT

Shooting the Special Edition, on-location featurette with footage of the cast and crew reuniting for the shoot of the Special Edition

Royale Rehearsals, featurette on Kinji Fukasaku directing the film’s young cast

Masamichi Amano Conducts Battle Royale, archive featurette

Takeshi Kitano Interview, filmed on location with the Japanese star

The Correct Way to Fight in Battle Royale, instructional video explaining the rules of the game

The Correct Way to Make ‘Battle Royale’: Birthday Version, a new version of the original instructional video made to celebrate Kinji Fukasaku’s birthday

Premiere Press Conference, preceding the film’s first public screening

Tokyo International Film Festival Presentation, with footage from the gala screening at the Tokyo International Film Festival

Opening Day at the Marunouchi Toei Movie Theatre, archive footage of the Japanese opening

Special Effects Comparison showing how the film’s violent killings were created

Original Trailers and TV spots

Kinji Fukasaku trailer reel, a collection of original trailers for Fukasaku’s classic yakuza films from the 70s

Image Gallery