Recent years have witnessed the explosion of a series of major survival film franchises, earning huge profits for studios as well as creating a great influence in popular culture.
Battle Royale
Considered a “monument” of the survival film genre on the world screen, Battle Royale is adapted from the novel of the same name, set in the future when each year Japan will choose a high school class to participate in the battle. survival battle to limit law violations by minors. Male protagonist Nanahara Shuya’s class is suddenly chosen, leading to a series of bloody and terrifying battles until only one student remains alive.
Battle Royale was a huge success in both revenue and scores, bringing in nearly 8 times more than its budget. This is also the origin of the entire survival film genre.
The Hunt
The Hunt is considered one of the survival projects with a unique, even “black comedy” motif. The film tells the story of a group of upper-class people kidnapping working-class people, forcing them to be “prey” in a life-or-death hunt. The film still has many scary and haunting moments, but at the same time there are satirical messages.
As the Gods Will
Japan continues to show its leading position in the survival genre with As the Gods Will. The film is set in a school, when each class suddenly becomes entangled in the deadly Daruma game to choose the last survivor. Gradually, the battle between the remaining students began to become more difficult, with the ultimate goal of finding the new “god” of humanity. The special thing is that As the Gods Will is inspired by folk games, turning them into deadly arenas.
Alice in Borderlands
As one of the first series marking the partnership between Netflix and Japanese cinema, Alice in Borderland is set in a fantasy world similar to Tokyo, where players have to go through physical challenges. body and spirit to get a “visa” to extend life. As soon as they lose a game, their life will end. The film stars two famous faces Yamazaki Kento and Tsuchiya Tao, creating a huge craze and receiving high praise from critics.
Squid Game
When it comes to survival movies, audiences cannot ignore Netflix Korea’s “super hit” Squid Game, the movie that created a global fever, creating a series of new symbols in popular culture. The film revolves around an arena with 456 people competing for a prize worth 45.6 billion won. Players will participate in familiar Korean folk children’s games, the only difference is that if they lose, they have to pay with their lives. Squid Game’s popularity has spread across the globe with a series of records being set, incredible discussion on social networks, as well as helping lead actors such as Lee Jung Jae and Lee Ho Jung win awards. prestigious SAG.
The Hunger Games
Inspired by the series of books by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games is set in the dictatorial country of Panem, where the prosperous Capitol holds power over the remaining 12 impoverished districts. To impose punishment after an uprising, the Capitol organizes the Hunger Games, where each district must nominate a young man and woman to participate in slaughtering each other, until only one representative remains alive. The female lead Katniss is the one who volunteered to replace her sister, only to be drawn into the cycle of life and death, with the hope of overthrowing the Capitol like the released movies.
The Hunger Games film series achieved a huge global success with a total revenue of nearly 3 billion USD. In the near future, this franchise will return with the prequel film The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, with content focusing deeply on the life of Coriolanus Snow – the future leader of Panem. What made Snow become a cruel dictator with a thirst for power that transcends all moral boundaries? The prequel will give the audience a new look at this character, while still retaining the thrilling “survival” nature when bringing the audience to the 10th Hunger Games – where Snow is one of advisors.
THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES – Vietnamese title: THE HUNGER GAMES: THE SONG OF THE SINGING BIRD AND THE POISON SNAKES – opens November 17, 2023 with 2D, IMAX 2D formats.
