BATTLE ROYALE - 25th Anniversary (SFFF 2025)

Friday, November 21, 2025
11:55 PM / Broadway Theatre

Battle Royale / Japan/ 2000/ Director: Kinji Fukasaku/ 113 Min

Prepare yourself for the ultimate survival game! This year, the Saskatoon Fantastic proudly presents a special 25th Anniversary screening of Kinji Fukasaku’s legendary shocker BATTLE ROYALE — the film that redefined dystopian cinema and shocked audiences around the world. Twenty-five years after its explosive debut, BATTLE ROYALE remains as raw, relevant, and razor-sharp as ever — a savage blend of black comedy, political allegory, and teen melodrama that feels disturbingly prophetic in our hyperconnected, competitive world. Long before the word “battle royale” became synonymous with video games and pop culture, Fukasaku’s vision laid down the blueprint — turning social anxiety and generational distrust into one of the most fearless, unforgettable films ever made.

Before THE HUNGER GAMES, before SQUID GAME, before a thousand lesser imitators, there was BATTLE ROYALE — the unflinching Japanese masterpiece that made the world ask, “Could I survive?” With its visceral violence, heartbreaking humanity, and shocking sense of humor, the film sliced through global audiences, sparking controversy and conversation in equal measure. Banned, censored, and celebrated in turn, BATTLE ROYALE became a cult phenomenon that continues to inspire filmmakers, artists, and storytellers decades later. Whether you’re returning to the island or experiencing it for the first time, this is your chance to see the film that changed the game, on the big screen, where it belongs.