{ "id": "ep4j6wqtjp", "slug": "gantz-gantz-2011-film", "title": "Gantz (GANTZ) (2011 film)", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": 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films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Gantz (ガンツ), 2011 Japanese live-action sci-fi action film directed by Shinsuke Sato, first of a two-part adaptation of Hiroya Oku's manga, starring Kazunari Ninomiya and Kenichi Matsuyama, released by Toho January 29, 2011, 130 minutes, followed by Gantz: Perfect Answer.", "snippet": "Gantz (ガンツ), 2011 Japanese live-action sci-fi action film directed by Shinsuke Sato, first of a two-part adaptation of Hiroya Oku's manga, starring Kazunari Ninomiya and Kenichi Matsuyama, released by Toho January 29, 2011, 130 minutes, followed by Gantz: Perfect Answer.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.science-fiction-fantasy.science-fiction-and-fantasy-films-of-the-5.science-fiction-films-of-the-2010s.alpha-symbols-to-i", "markdown": "# Gantz (GANTZ) (2011 film)\n\n**Gantz** (ガンツ) is a 2011 Japanese live-action science fiction action film directed by Shinsuke Sato, the first installment of a two-part adaptation of Hiroya Oku's manga *Gantz*, which had run in Shueisha's *Weekly Young Jump* magazine since 2000. It stars Kazunari Ninomiya and Kenichi Matsuyama as two young men who die on subway tracks and are recruited by a mysterious black orb to hunt aliens, and it was released in Japan by Toho on January 29, 2011.[1](https://www.ntv.co.jp/english/pc/2011/03/gantz.html) • [2](https://eiga.com/movie/54943/)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Japanese release | January 29, 2011, nationwide Toho theaters; rated PG12[2](https://eiga.com/movie/54943/) |\n| Runtime | 130 minutes (Nikkatsu's page lists 128 minutes)[1](https://www.ntv.co.jp/english/pc/2011/03/gantz.html) • [3](https://www.nikkatsu.com/movie/32320.html) |\n| Director and writer | Directed by Shinsuke Sato; screenplay by Yusuke Watanabe; music by Kenji Kawai[1](https://www.ntv.co.jp/english/pc/2011/03/gantz.html) |\n| Stars | Kazunari Ninomiya (of the group Arashi) as Kei Kurono and Kenichi Matsuyama as Masaru Kato[1](https://www.ntv.co.jp/english/pc/2011/03/gantz.html) • [4](https://www.nz.emb-japan.go.jp/culture_education/images/movie_images/GANTZ%20flyer.pdf) |\n| Source material | Hiroya Oku's manga, serialized in *Weekly Young Jump* since 2000, over 16 million copies of 27 volumes sold, published in 12 territories[1](https://www.ntv.co.jp/english/pc/2011/03/gantz.html) |\n| Sequel | *Gantz: Perfect Answer*, released April 23, 2011, running 141 minutes[1](https://www.ntv.co.jp/english/pc/2011/03/gantz.html) |\n| Production | \"GANTZ\" FILM PARTNERS; production companies include Nippon Television Network and Shueisha[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gantz_2011) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Plot\n\nCollege student Kei Kurono (Kazunari Ninomiya) encounters his childhood friend Masaru Kato (Kenichi [Matsuyama](https://www.edgepedia.org/matsuyama)) on a subway platform. Kato, a strong sense of justice, jumps onto the tracks to help a drunk man who has fallen there, and Kurono spontaneously joins him; both are run down by the oncoming train.[1](https://www.ntv.co.jp/english/pc/2011/03/gantz.html)\n\nIn the next instant the two wake in a strange apartment with others who should also be dead, including the high schooler Nishi (Kanata Hongo), Kishimoto (Natsuna), and the salaryman Yoshikazu Suzuki (Tomorowo Taguchi). At the center of the room sits an enigmatic black orb called GANTZ, which enlists them on missions to hunt down and exterminate \"aliens,\" providing fighting suits and weapons. Kato is anguished by the slaughter, while Kurono gradually finds satisfaction as he discovers his own fighting ability.[1](https://www.ntv.co.jp/english/pc/2011/03/gantz.html) • [6](https://chlotrudis.org/review/gantz/) The first mission targets the so-called \"onion alien,\" and survivors are returned to the room for further hunts; accumulating 100 points allows a survivor either to erase their memory and escape or to resurrect someone of their choice.[6](https://chlotrudis.org/review/gantz/) • [7](https://www.tohokingdom.com/reviews/romero/gantz_us.html)\n\n### Sequel and related adaptations\n\nThe story continued in *Gantz: Perfect Answer*, released on April 23, 2011, running 141 minutes, in which Kurono, having lost Kato and Kishimoto, carries on their fight to protect the team and seek revival.[1](https://www.ntv.co.jp/english/pc/2011/03/gantz.html) • [13](https://movie.maeda-y.com/movie/01566.htm) The manga has since been adapted further: a full-3DCG anime film, *[Gantz: O](https://www.edgepedia.org/gantz-o)*, directed by Yasushi Kawamura, appeared in 2016, and a Hollywood live-action film was reported in 2021 to have found a director, with creator Hiroya Oku saying the rights deal dated to 2020.[14](https://www.uniqlo.com/jp/ja/contents/feature/common-lifewear/ut-magazine/pdf/260212_26ss_en.pdf?open_target_android=browser&open_target_ios=browser) • [15](https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2021/11/2/gantz-hollywood-live-action-film-finds-its-director)\n\n## Production and adaptation\n\nAccording to Nippon Television, which led the project, a live-action adaptation of the manga was long considered impossible because of its intense action and strikingly original story. The success of NTV's adaptations of *Death Note* and *20th Century Boys* made the project feasible, with Shinsuke Sato directing and Ninomiya and Matsuyama, known for *Letters from Iwo Jima* and *Death Note* respectively, in the double lead.[1](https://www.ntv.co.jp/english/pc/2011/03/gantz.html) A production announcement event for the two-part film was held on August 5, 2010.[8](https://www.nikkatsu.com/report/archives/201008/000792.html)\n\nThe film tones down the manga's more exploitative content: the sexual elements are largely excluded and the main characters are no longer teenagers, which the Chlotrudis review credits with letting the filmmakers focus on how ordinary people can be pushed into violence. Its structure is built like a video game, with three large action sequences separated by downtime that develops characters and seeds the mysteries around GANTZ. The monsters are mostly practical effects, and the black-suited fighters remain grounded rather than replaced by digital stunt doubles.[6](https://chlotrudis.org/review/gantz/) The special effects were supervised by Makoto Kamiya, whose earlier credits include *[Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack](https://www.edgepedia.org/godzilla-mothra-and-king-ghidorah-giant-monsters-all-out-attack)* (2001).[7](https://www.tohokingdom.com/reviews/romero/gantz_us.html)\n\n## Release and reception\n\nBefore the Japanese opening, a special world premiere was held simultaneously in movie theaters across the United States on January 20, 2011, reflecting the producers' intent to reach the manga's overseas audience.[9](https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/47679) Coverage of that American premiere recorded mixed reactions, with critics and audiences agreeing chiefly that the English dub was poor.[10](https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0029935)\n\nIn Japan, the film opened on January 29, 2011 on Toho screens.[2](https://eiga.com/movie/54943/) The Japan Times reviewer Mark Schilling described it as twisting the Japanese \"murder game\" formula, established by *[Battle Royale](https://www.edgepedia.org/battle-royale-film)* (2000) and the *Death Note* films, in ways provocative and strange.[11](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2011/01/21/films/film-reviews/gantz/) On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds a 58% Tomatometer from two critic reviews, with more than 500 audience ratings; one critic called it an ill-paced array of stops and starts with okay special effects, while another noted that Sato retained the surreal atmosphere of the manga and anime while almost completely excluding the sexual and much of the violent content.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gantz_2011) A Japanese review praised the film for compressing the absurd world's essence into two hours and for pushing its actors hard rather than merely showcasing stars.[12](https://secure.eiga.com/movie/54943/critic/)\n\n## References\n\n1. [GANTZ, Nippon Television Network program catalog](https://www.ntv.co.jp/english/pc/2011/03/gantz.html)\n2. [GANTZ: 作品情報・キャスト・あらすじ, 映画.com](https://eiga.com/movie/54943/)\n3. [GANTZ, 日活](https://www.nikkatsu.com/movie/32320.html)\n4. [GANTZ flyer, Embassy of Japan in New Zealand](https://www.nz.emb-japan.go.jp/culture_education/images/movie_images/GANTZ%20flyer.pdf)\n5. [Gantz, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gantz_2011)\n6. [Gantz, Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film](https://chlotrudis.org/review/gantz/)\n7. [Review: GANTZ (2011), Toho Kingdom](https://www.tohokingdom.com/reviews/romero/gantz_us.html)\n8. [日活レポート, 日活](https://www.nikkatsu.com/report/archives/201008/000792.html)\n9. [Gantz (Live Action), DVD Talk](https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/47679)\n10. [『GANTZ』アメリカ人観客を直撃！, シネマトゥデイ](https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0029935)\n11. ['Gantz', The Japan Times](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2011/01/21/films/film-reviews/gantz/)\n12. [GANTZ: 映画評論・批評, 映画.com](https://secure.eiga.com/movie/54943/critic/)\n13. [超映画批評『GANTZ: PERFECT ANSWER』](https://movie.maeda-y.com/movie/01566.htm)\n14. [Hiroya Oku, UNIQLO UT Magazine](https://www.uniqlo.com/jp/ja/contents/feature/common-lifewear/ut-magazine/pdf/260212_26ss_en.pdf?open_target_android=browser&open_target_ios=browser)\n15. [GANTZ Hollywood Live-Action Film Finds Its Director, Crunchyroll News](https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2021/11/2/gantz-hollywood-live-action-film-finds-its-director)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Science fiction and fantasy films (individual works) › Science fiction and fantasy films of the 2010s › Science fiction films of the 2010s › Titles symbols to I*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/gantz-gantz-2011-film", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/gantz-gantz-2011-film.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Gantz (GANTZ) (2011 film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/gantz-gantz-2011-film. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Gantz (GANTZ) (2011 film)](https://www.edgepedia.org/gantz-gantz-2011-film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/gantz-gantz-2011-film](https://www.edgepedia.org/gantz-gantz-2011-film). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Gantz (GANTZ) (2011 film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/gantz-gantz-2011-film. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Gantz, 2011 Japanese live-action sci-fi action film directed by Shinsuke Sato, first of a two-part adaptation of Hiroya Oku's manga, starring Kazunari Ninomiya and Kenichi Matsuyama, released by Toho January 29, 2011, 130 minutes, followed by Gantz: Perfect Answer." }