25 Years Later, The “Unforgettable” & “Intense” Action Thriller That Was Once Banned Lands on Free Streaming

One of the most violent action movies of the 21st century is about to stream for free! One look at the image above should instantly give it away to anyone who has seen it. But the film has been adored by some of the most prolific filmmakers of all time, including Quentin Tarantino, and was even the inspiration for The Hunger Games (although the author alleges otherwise) and the litany of Fortnite-esque games that are continuously trending. The film is none other than Battle Royale, and it’s about to stream for free.

Battle Royale will stream for free on Tubi in 2026. That might sound like a long way away, but in just two short weeks, action fans can stream the hit Japanese action movie for free. The film lands on Tubi on January 1. Released in 2000, Battle Royale was directed by Kinji Fukasaku and adapted from the novel of the same name by Koushun Takami. The novel was already a controversial bestseller in 1999, but the 2000 movie took its trepidatious success to new heights.

The film follows 42 9th graders who are taken on a field trip to a deserted island. With just a map, food, and some weapons, they are forced to fight and kill each other until there is only one left. Chjiaki Kuriyama led the film as Takako Chigusa, one of the 9th graders, alongside Tatsuya Fujiwara as her classmate Shuya Nanahara. The official synopsis reads:

“42 9th graders are sent to a deserted island. They are given a map, food, and various weapons. An explosive collar is fitted around their neck. If they break a rule, the collar explodes. Their mission: kill each other and be the last one standing. The last survivor is allowed to leave the island. If there is more than one survivor, the collars explode and kill them all.”

Why Was ‘Battle Royale’ So Controversial?

Toei

If over 40 9th graders murdering each other on a deserted island doesn’t sound the slightest bit problematic, we recommend you speak to someone. The contents of the original and the novel were lambasted by critics who were opposed to the excessive violence enacted against children. The film doesn’t hold back in its depictions of gore and violence, from the various kills by other students to the exploding collars, it’s all shown on screen to watch with gritted teeth. Battle Royale was so violent that it was even banned in countries like South Korea (which, ironically, is famous for hyper-violent action cinema) and Germany.

But, as is often the case with these kinds of films, the deeper meaning of the movie agrees with a lot of the criticism leveled against it. Takami’s novel and Fukasaku’s movie were cautionary tales about the responsibility adults bear for many of the problems the younger generation causes (placing them all on an island to kill each other takes that idea to the extreme, but you get the point), while also highlighting relevant Japanese social issues like juvenile crime and oppression.

Despite those who protested against the movie, Battle Royale was a major critical success. The film holds a tremendous 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with a similarly great 88% user score. “This movie is a shocking, intense, and unforgettable dystopian thriller that mixes social commentary with intense action, earning its cult status,” read one recent user review on RT.