Why The Hunger Games is NOT A Battle Royale Ripoff !!!
Whenever The Hunger Games is mentioned online, it's not hard for someone to quickly jump in and say something like,"The Hunger Games is just a ripoff version of Battle Royale!!!" Okay, for people who keep saying that, think about this... Suzanne Collins stated in multiple interviews that the inspiration for The Hunger Games trilogy was inspired by the ancient greek story, Theseus and the Minotaur. To summarize the story, the myth tells how in punishment for past deeds, Athens periodically had to send seven youths and seven maidens to Crete, where they were thrown in the Labyrinth and devoured by the monstrous Minotaur. If you actually watch The Hunger Games films, you will understand the connection between the greek story and the film!
Now, how do we know, if Battle Royale wasn't also inspired by the greek story??? In pretty much every school system around the world, you are taught World History, which includes Ancient Greek history! Many people, some who go on to be writers, find interest in greek mythology. So, there is a possibility that Battle Royale was also inspired by the greek story, Theseus and the Minotaur.
Comparing Battle Royale to The Hunger Games is like comparing EVERY zombie film ever made... You don't see people saying The Walking Dead is a ripoff of 28 Days Later or Night of the Living Dead! Pretty much all zombie films have the same plot; there's a zombie apocalypse, and a group of people struggle to survive and are in search for a safe haven. Also, you don't see people saying The Walking Dead's intro where Rick wakes up in a hospital is a ripoff of when the main character in 28 Days Later wakes up in a hospital after the epidemic happen...
Battle Royale focused more on the actual killing than The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games focused more on the political point of view than the killing. The two films have the same base, but different storylines. And, as you can see from the ratings, The Hunger Games storyline is much more superior than Battle Royale. :P Movies have similar plots all the time, some seem more similar than others *cough* White House Down *cough*!