9. The Hunger Games = Battle Royale
Right, only two entries down on this list, we might as well get it out of the way now. I think pretty much everyone knows this one. When The Hunger Games hit last year cine-hipsters were quick to highlight its overriding similarities with the Japanese fan favourite Battle Royale; both tell the story of a world where kids must fight to the death for the pleasure of a TV audience, with only one rising victorious. I personally was always irritated by the criticisms for the similarities; once you get past the initial concept the two ideas have little in common. With Hunger Games writer Suzanne Collins denying any knowledge of Battle Royale before writing (she even explains the books origins in a little authors note) and the overall dystopian sci-fi slant of the trilogy, its likely a coincidence. But that doesnt stop her critics and it certainly doesnt stop the films being remarkably similar. Really though, fans of Royale should be happy - all the talk surrounding The Hunger Games boosted the films popularity to a level it had never been. But again, being cine-hipsters, this crowd was annoyed at their niche darling being trotted out before the general populace.