# Kill Bill: Volume 1

> 2003 film by Quentin Tarantino

**Wikidata**: [Q165325](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q165325)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kill_Bill:_Volume_1)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kill-bill-volume-1

## Summary
Kill Bill: Volume 1 is a 2003 film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, blending elements of martial arts, action, and thriller genres with a nonlinear narrative. It is the first installment in the Kill Bill duology, noted for its stylized violence and homages to samurai cinema. The film follows a woman's quest for revenge against her former assassin colleagues.

## Key Facts
- **Release Dates**: October 16, 2003 (USA), with additional releases on September 29, October 2, 7, and 10, 2003, in other countries.
- **Director**: Quentin Tarantino.
- **Production Companies**: Miramax and A Band Apart.
- **Genres**: Action film, thriller film, martial arts film, vigilante film, neo-noir, splatter film, crime film, drama film.
- **Awards**: Won the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain (Uma Thurman).
- **Preceded By**: None (first in the series).
- **Succeeded By**: *Kill Bill: Volume 2* (2004).
- **Part Of**: The *Kill Bill* duology.
- **Narrative Style**: Nonlinear storytelling.
- **Themes**: Revenge, female protagonist ("girls with guns" subgenre).
- **Cast**: Features performances by Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, and Japanese actors like Kenji Ōba and Juri Manase.

## FAQs
- **Who directed Kill Bill: Volume 1?**  
  Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed the film, known for his stylized violence and genre-blending approach.

- **What genres does the film belong to?**  
  It combines action, thriller, martial arts, neo-noir, and splatter film elements, with a focus on vigilante themes and nonlinear storytelling.

- **When was the film released?**  
  The primary release date was October 16, 2003, in the USA, with staggered releases in other countries between September 29 and October 10, 2003.

- **What awards did it win?**  
  Uma Thurman won the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain for her portrayal of The Bride.

- **How does it relate to *Kill Bill: Volume 2*?**  
  Volume 1 is the first part of a two-film series, followed by *Volume 2* in 2004. Both films form a complete narrative.

- **Who are notable cast members?**  
  The film stars Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, and Vivica A. Fox, with Japanese actors like Kenji Ōba and Juri Manase in key roles.

## Why It Matters
*Kill Bill: Volume 1* revitalized interest in martial arts and samurai cinema in Western audiences, while redefining action film aesthetics through its hyper-stylized violence and homages to international cinema. Tarantino’s use of nonlinear narrative challenged traditional storytelling conventions, influencing subsequent films and media. The film’s success also solidified Tarantino’s reputation as a genre innovator and cult icon, contributing to the resurgence of neo-noir and stylized revenge narratives in 21st-century cinema.

## Notable For
- **Genre Fusion**: Blends martial arts, action, thriller, and neo-noir elements with splatter film aesthetics.
- **Nonlinear Storytelling**: Employs fragmented timelines to heighten suspense and character development.
- **Homages**: Pays tribute to samurai cinema, anime, and 1970s exploitation films.
- **"Girls with Guns" Subgenre**: Centralizes a vengeful female protagonist in a male-dominated action framework.
- **Cultural Impact**: Revitalized global interest in martial arts films and influenced action choreography in subsequent films.

## Body

### Production and Release
- **Companies**: Produced by Miramax and A Band Apart, both American film/TV companies. Miramax, founded in 1979, handled distribution, while A Band Apart (established in 1991) supported production.
- **Release Strategy**: Premiered in the USA on October 16, 2003, with earlier releases in select countries (e.g., September 29 in Italy, October 2 in Switzerland).
- **Director’s Role**: Quentin Tarantino served as writer, director, and actor (cameo appearance).

### Narrative and Style
- **Structure**: The nonlinear narrative jumps chronologically, withholding key plot details to build mystery.
- **Violence**: Features exaggerated, stylized action sequences inspired by samurai cinema and Hong Kong action films.
- **Themes**: Revenge, betrayal, and redemption drive the plot, framed through a female-led vigilante lens.

### Genres and Influences
- **Primary Genres**: Action, thriller, martial arts, and crime film.
- **Subgenres**: Incorporates neo-noir aesthetics, splatter film gore, and "girls with guns" tropes.
- **Cinematic Homages**: References samurai cinema (e.g., *Lone Wolf and Cub*), anime (animated sequences by Production I.G.), and spaghetti Westerns.

### Cast and Crew
- **Lead Performances**: Uma Thurman stars as The Bride, with Lucy Liu as O-Ren Ishii. Japanese actors Kenji Ōba and Juri Manase appear in supporting roles.
- **Cultural Collaboration**: Blends American and Japanese talent, reflecting the film’s cross-cultural influences.

### Awards and Legacy
- **MTV Recognition**: Uma Thurman’s performance earned the 2004 MTV Movie Award for Best Villain.
- **Cultural Impact**: The film’s success led to increased Western interest in anime and martial arts media, while its choreography (e.g., the "Crazy 88" fight) became iconic in action cinema.

### Sequel Connection
- **Duology**: *Volume 1* sets up the narrative resolved in *Kill Bill: Volume 2* (2004), with both films designed as a single story split into two parts. The sequel continues The Bride’s revenge arc, focusing on her final targets.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0266697/)
2. [Source](http://www.ofdb.de/film/37636,Kill-Bill-Vol-1)
3. [Source](https://www.filmaffinity.com/en/film524439.html)
4. europeanfilmawards.eu
5. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0266697/fullcredits)
6. [Source](http://www.metacritic.com/movie/kill-bill-vol-1)
7. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
8. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0001892/2004)
9. [Source](https://icsfilm.org/our-yearly-awards/2004-ics-award-winners/)
10. The Movie Database
11. Kill Bill: Vol. 1. Rotten Tomatoes
12. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0266697/releaseinfo)
13. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0266697/releaseinfo)
14. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
15. [Source](https://www.europeanfilmacademy.org/2003.101.0.html)
16. [Source](https://www.netflix.com/title/60031236)
17. [Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0266697/)
18. Kinopoisk
19. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0266697/parentalguide/#certificates)
20. terjesztesre_kerulo_filmalkotasok_nyilvantartasa.xlsx
21. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
22. [Source](https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/visas-et-classification/109344)
23. Bechdel Test Movie List
24. mymovies.it
25. scripts.com
26. Kill Bill: Volume 1
27. [Source](https://imdaonline.imda.gov.sg/classification/Search/Film/SearchDetail.aspx?sType=Feature&sRowID=AAAgZnAAAAAACXYAAC)
28. [Source](https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/485E-0E15-5AF1-A4C1-2DA6-G)
29. Danish Film Database
30. [Source](https://www.acmi.net.au/works/94833)
31. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
32. [🔥 Kill Bill (2003) MBTI Personality Type - Movies](https://www.personality-database.com/profile?pid=2&cid=3&sub_cat_id=1928)
33. TheTVDB
34. Trakt.tv
35. FilmVandaag.nl