Tarantino Faces Plagiarism Claims Over Kill Bill Origins
Social media users are calling out the acclaimed director for allegedly stealing from a 1973 Japanese samurai film, but the full story reveals a more complex creative relationship.
Social media erupted this week with accusations against Quentin Tarantino, claiming his acclaimed Kill Bill films directly stole from the 1973 Japanese masterpiece Lady Snowblood. The controversy gained steam when Twitter user @iloveairbagged posted about watching the original film, then added a provocative follow-up: "Put Tarantino in jail."
The tweet sparked hundreds of responses from movie fans who pointed out striking similarities between the two revenge sagas. Critics noted that Tarantino has previously slammed other films for copying, including his criticism of Hunger Games as a Battle Royale ripoff.
Director Previously Acknowledged Japanese Influence
What many accusers don't realize is that Tarantino openly discussed Lady Snowblood's impact on his work years ago. According to Criterion Collection documentation, the 1973 film served as "a major inspiration for Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill saga."
In a 2004 Screenwriter's Monthly interview, Tarantino explained his creative process: "It's coming from, in it's basic form, all of these different revenge genre movies that I was jumping off from. The Bride could easily be this cowboy character from this spaghetti western."
He specifically credited Japanese actress Meiko Kaji, who starred as vengeful protagonist Yuki Kashima in Lady Snowblood. "There's two characters that Japanese actress Meiko Kaji played. One was a character named Scorpion. She did about four movies with that, and she did a great revenge samurai movie called Lady Snowblood," Tarantino said.
Striking Visual and Narrative Parallels
The similarities between both films are undeniable. Lady Snowblood follows Yuki Kashima seeking revenge against men who assaulted her mother and murdered her half-brother. Kill Bill centers on The Bride, played by Uma Thurman, pursuing vengeance against her former boss and associates after awakening from a coma.
Several specific scenes mirror each other closely. The snowy confrontation between The Bride and O-Ren Ishii directly references a famous Lady Snowblood sequence. Both films use chaptered storytelling and choreographed sword fighting. Most tellingly, "The Flower of Carnage," a key musical theme from the Japanese original, plays during The Bride's victory over O-Ren.
Both protagonists share similar character traits. They pursue long-term revenge missions with methodical patience, willing to sacrifice everything for their cause.
Homage Versus Theft Debate
Film scholars generally view Kill Bill as homage rather than plagiarism. Tarantino blended elements from Lady Snowblood with Western genres, creating something distinctly his own while acknowledging his sources.
The director has built his career on referencing and reinterpreting classic films. His transparency about influences suggests artistic tribute rather than deceptive copying. Lady Snowblood earned a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes compared to Kill Bill's 85%, though both received strong audience scores.
Currently, Kill Bill streams on Amazon Prime Video while Lady Snowblood is available on HBO Max.