Kill Bill Faces Scrutiny Over Lady Snowblood Parallels

Quentin Tarantino’s reputation for inventive storytelling and genre-blending has rarely been in doubt, yet his much-lauded Kill Bill series has recently found itself at the centre of a rather pointed debate. A growing number of film enthusiasts have begun to argue that the saga owes more than a passing nod to the 1973 Japanese classic Lady Snowblood. The similarities, they claim, are not just in the stylised violence and revenge-driven plot, but run deeper—right down to the film’s structure and visual motifs.

Social Media Sparks a Fresh Row

The latest flare-up began when a user on X (formerly Twitter) posted a still from Lady Snowblood, simply captioned “Now watching.” The same user later retweeted their post, adding,

Put Tarantino in jail

—a tongue-in-cheek jab that quickly gained traction. Others soon joined in, not only accusing Tarantino of borrowing too liberally from Lady Snowblood, but also pointing out his own criticisms of other films for alleged plagiarism. One example cited was his remark about The Hunger Games being a “rip-off” of Battle Royale.

Yet, what many seem to overlook is that Tarantino has never shied away from acknowledging his influences. In fact, he’s been quite open about Lady Snowblood’s impact on his work, even crediting it as a major source of inspiration for Kill Bill.

Tarantino’s Own Words on Inspiration

It’s no secret that Tarantino is an admirer of Lady Snowblood. According to Criterion,

The first Lady Snowblood was a major inspiration for Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill saga.

In a 2004 interview with Screenwriter’s Monthly, he explained the origins of Kill Bill, saying,

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. She could easily by Angela Mao character Deep Thrust or Broken Oath.

He went on to highlight the influence of Meiko Kaji, the actress who played Yuki Kashima in Lady Snowblood, stating,

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. She could be that character. You could keep going down the whole list, but she falls in that whole long line of hell bent for revenge characters.

Tarantino’s comments suggest a deliberate homage rather than a covert act of copying.

Comparing the Two Films

From the perspective of many viewers, it’s not hard to see why the comparison persists. Lady Snowblood follows Yuki Kashima, played by Meiko Kaji, as she seeks vengeance for the brutal crimes committed against her family. Kill Bill, meanwhile, centres on The Bride, portrayed by Uma Thurman, who embarks on her own quest for retribution after a betrayal that leaves her in a coma.

There are unmistakable echoes between the two: the snow-laden duel between The Bride and O-Ren Ishii in Kill Bill is a clear visual parallel to a memorable scene in Lady Snowblood. Both films employ a chapter-based narrative and stylised swordplay, and even share musical cues—most notably, “The Flower of Carnage,” which features in both soundtracks.

The similarities extend to the protagonists themselves. Both women are driven by a relentless need to settle old scores, their journeys marked by patience, precision, and a willingness to go to any lengths for justice. It’s little wonder that some fans see Kill Bill as a modern reframing of its Japanese predecessor.

Homage or Imitation?

Despite the striking resemblances, Tarantino’s open admission of Lady Snowblood’s influence complicates the accusation of outright plagiarism. He has consistently credited the film, its lead actress, and the broader tradition of revenge cinema as foundational to his own work. Rather than a simple act of copying, Kill Bill emerges as a kind of spiritual successor—one that reinterprets familiar elements through Tarantino’s distinctive lens, blending genres and styles to create something recognisably his own.

For those interested in revisiting the debate, both films are currently available to stream: Kill Bill on Amazon Prime Video, and Lady Snowblood on HBO Max.