Quentin Tarantino initially wrote Kill Bill as a single film. However, its runtime exceeded four hours, so Miramax had to split it into two volumes to ensure a manageable theatrical release. This decision allowed Tarantino to preserve his complete vision and avoid significant edits.
To authentically portray The Bride, Uma Thurman underwent rigorous training in martial arts and sword fighting. It was a difficult to do, but it contributed to the film's realistic and dynamic fight sequences.
In Kill Bill: Volume 2, David Carradine plays Bill, who uses a flute that originally belonged to Carradine's character in the 1970s TV series Kung Fu. This subtle homage adds depth to the character and connects the film to its martial arts roots.
The film pays tribute to the Shaw Brothers Studio, renowned for its martial arts films. It featured the ShawScope logo in the opening credits, and they also implemented a "crashing zoom" technique, a signature style of Shaw Brothers cinematography.
The anime segment detailing O-Ren Ishii's backstory draws inspiration from Japanese films, such as Golgo 13: The Professional and Wicked City. This stylistic choice adds a unique narrative layer and honors the genre's influence on the film.
The "House of Blue Leaves" fight scene's graphic violence makes it one of the most renowned scenes. Special effects creator Greg Nicotero revealed that "hundreds of gallons" of fake blood were used during production, so as to one of the most blood-intensive scenes in cinematic history.
The film's costume designer, Catherine Marie Thomas, collaborated with Tarantino to create memorable outfits, such as Uma Thurman's yellow tracksuit inspired by Bruce Lee. These designs have sustained cultural relevance and contributed to the film's lasting impact on fashion and pop culture.
The Kill Bill soundtrack features a mix of genres, including rock, surf music, and spaghetti western scores. This enhances the film's atmosphere and complements its diverse cinematic influence, so many people remember it even today.
Kill Bill: Volume 1 earned over $180 million worldwide on a $30 million budget. It received positive reviews and grossed over $180 million worldwide on a $30 million budget, achieving the highest-grossing opening weekend of a Tarantino film to that point.
The real name of the Bride is concealed throughout the film, but a plane ticket in the background reveals it as "Beatrix Kiddo." Additionally, Bill affectionately calls her "Kiddo," hinting at their deep past.
The character Hattori Hanzō is named in tribute to Sonny Chiba's former role as the historical 16th-century Iga ninja Hattori Hanzō in the 1980s Japanese TV series Shadow Warriors.
The plot of Kill Bill shares similarities with the 1973 Japanese film Lady Snowblood. In this film a woman kills off the gang who murdered her family. The film also uses Japanese-style animation to break up the narrative, which is similar to Lady Snowblood.
The Bride's iconic yellow jumpsuit pays tribute to Bruce Lee's outfit in Game of Death. Tarantino also recreates a headlock move from the film during a fight sequence.
In the scene where The Bride slices a baseball mid-air, the stunt was genuine, as Stuntwoman Zoë Bell performed the feat. This showcased her exceptional skills and dedication.
Before her duel with The Bride, O-Ren Ishii boasts, "If you haven't saved your energy, you might not last five minutes." Remarkably, she is defeated in exactly 4 minutes and 59 seconds.
