Quentin Tarantino's epic revenge saga Kill Bill has been re-released as a single four-and-a-half-hour film titled Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair. The movie debuted on over 1,000 screens across North America this weekend, more than 20 years after the original two-volume release. This version includes tweaks, expanded sequences, and restores elements cut for the split format.
Release Details
Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair combines the original Kill Bill: Volume 1 and Volume 2 into one feature-length film running approximately 270 minutes. It premiered in theaters starting December 5, 2025, with screenings in both standard and select 70mm formats. The release fulfills a long-standing fan desire for an official unified version, following limited festival showings like at Cannes in 2006 and occasional runs at Tarantino's New Beverly Cinema.
The original films, released in 2003 and 2004, grossed $330 million worldwide after being split due to runtime and budget concerns pushed by producer Harvey Weinstein. Tarantino's story follows The Bride (Uma Thurman), a former assassin seeking revenge after a wedding massacre, drawing from kung fu, exploitation, and revenge cinema influences.
Key Changes and Additions
This cut undoes some alterations made for the two-part structure. For instance, a major revelation about The Bride's daughter is no longer teased at the end of the first volume; instead, it unfolds naturally in the latter half alongside the character. The animated backstory of O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu) gains an extra action sequence, while the House of Blue Leaves fight—where The Bride battles dozens of henchmen—expands with full color and additional gore, avoiding the black-and-white censoring from Volume 1 to prevent an NC-17 rating.
Volume 2 loses a brief black-and-white intro by Thurman. A deleted scene of Bill (David Carradine) in martial arts action remains absent, but a post-credits bonus features an animated 'lost' chapter involving Gogo's sister Yuki, created for Fortnite with game cameos. This non-canonical addition highlights the film's digressive style but may feel out of place for some viewers.
Context and Reception
Tarantino's pivot to action with Kill Bill marked a shift from his crime dramas. The unified version emphasizes Uma Thurman's multifaceted performance, blending physicality, charm, and emotion. While the core story could fit in under two hours, the extras—like sword-maker scenes and Bill's monologues—elevate it to a cinematic epic. Fans appreciate the restored vibrancy, though the full experience isn't essential for those familiar with the originals.