MovieChat Forums > Series 7: The Contenders (2001) Discussion > Did it inspire 'The Hunger Games'? *Spoi...

Did it inspire 'The Hunger Games'? Spoilers for both

posted 14 years ago by neo2005
9 replies | jump to latest

Of course, I know that both, this movie as well as the book, draw heavily on Robert Sheckley's ideas, as well as on a couple of first generation ripoffs (e.g. Running Man, Millionenspiel etc).

Nevertheless, there were several variations to the general themes that occur in this movie as well as in the book:
First, the contestants were not in it out of their own free will, but were chosen in a lottery from the general population. Second, the show is manipulated, which puts some contestants at an "unfair" disadvantage. Finally and most significantly, in both shows two contestants with a common history fall in love and decide, when they are the last two standing, not to kill each other (with different results...).

So, does anybody know whether Susan Collins ever mentioned this movie?

[–] eyerny 13 years ago

Fight to the death is as ancient as man. Do a little research. There are no ripoffs.

[–] praxis1966-1 12 years ago

I can't answer your question, but it does seem like a valid conclusion. Chuck in a little Mad Max, Running Man, Lord of the Flies and Series 7 and The Hunger Games is what you get. The whole thing (Hunger Games) seems completely derivative if you ask me.

[–] DisturbedPixie 12 years ago

I made a modest list for "Fight to The Death" Films.

http://www.imdb.com/list/Z2h_n8zUrxE/

The story may be old, but so far the oldest film I found is Battle Royale, which nobody (I've found) thinks ripped off anything in particular. So it wins, apparently, but of course it's inspired by cage fights with multiple competitors. Which is inspired by ancient gladiator battles, I guess.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] BertramWilberforceWooster 10 years ago

The story may be old, but so far the oldest film I found is Battle Royale, which nobody (I've found) thinks ripped off anything in particular.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093894/?ref_=nv_sr_1

--
Some days, you just can't get rid of a bomb.

[–] popvoid 11 years ago

I suspect that BATTLE ROYALE was the inspiration for HUNGER GAMES, not this film.

[–] activista 11 years ago

The antescendent to SERIES 7 would be the 1965 Italian satire THE TENTH VICTIM---that's definitely the one that started the "folks kill for prizes in a TV show by hunting down real people" idea---it's fun to watch though,sick humor and all. Also check out the 1970 German TV flick DER MILLIONSPIEL (THE MILLIONS GAME) which has basically almost the same plot to some extent.

[–] neo2005 11 years ago

Well, guess who wrote the short stories that these two films were based on...?

Sheckley was really pissed off though that the writer of "Das Millionenspiel" tried to pass it off as his own original idea in spite of it being a scene by scene recount of the short story (with a slight change in the last five minutes). For this reason, the movie is almost never shown in German television. Which is a bit of a shame, since it really is a very good film.

[–] mcgill_j 9 years ago

Wouldn't The Running Man predate Battle Royal or are you referring to the book? I'm not sure of when the book was published in relation to King's short story.

Did it inspire 'The Hunger Games'? *Spoilers for both*

Did it inspire 'The Hunger Games'? Spoilers for both