

The first two films are also on Netflix while the anime series can be seen on both. Where to Watch: All three movies are on Hulu. Despite the slightly absurd storyline and over-the-top acting, the three movies have proved popular. Kaiji 2 followed two years later before Kaiji: Final Game premiered in January of last year. The first one, Kaiji: The Ultimate Gambler, in 2009 reunited him with fellow Death Note lead Kenichi Matsuyama. It was later adapted into a live action film trilogy starring Fujiwara. Nobuyuki Fukumoto’s manga series, originally published in 1996, amassed a cult-like following. If he can keep on winning, his money troubles will be over, lose and he’ll be forced into slave labor. Reluctantly, he takes up the challenge of a series of high-stake games on a cruiser, beginning with an elaborate version of rock, paper, scissors. Already down on his luck, his roommate has now run off, leaving him with considerable debts. His son Kenta, who wrote the screenplay for both, took over directorial duties.Īs with Seong Gi-hun in Squid Game, Kaiji Itō is a character in desperate financial straits.

Both returned for the sequel, but sadly director Fukasaku died of prostate cancer after shooting just one scene with Kitano. Beat Takeshi, playing the role of teacher, was the highest profile cast member, while Tatsuya Fujiwara played the hero Shuya. Sent to a desert island, they are given a map, food and some weapons. Set in the future, it follows 42 ninth graders forced to fight to the death by a totalitarian government.
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The Japanese government also tried to ban the movie and Koushun Takami’s novel, on which it’s based. That simply added to the intrigue. The intense violence perpetrated by high-school students made it so controversial, many countries refused to release it. Kinji Fukasaku’s final film became a cultural phenomenon. “If there’s any movie that’s been made since I’ve been making movies that I wish I’d made, it’s that one,” Quentin Tarantino once said of Battle Royale.
