Miike's theatrical debut was the film "The Third Gangster" ("Daisan no gokudō"). However, it was "Shinjuku Triad Society" (1995) that was the first of his theatrical releases to gain public attention. The film showcased his extreme style and his recurring themes, and its success gave him the freedom to work on higher-budgeted pictures. "Shinjuku Triad Society" is also the first film in what is labeled his "Black Society Trilogy", which also includes "Rainy Dog" (1997) and "Ley Lines" (1999). He gained international fame in 2000 when his romantic horror film "Audition" (1999), his violent yakuza epic "Dead or Alive" (1999), and his controversial adaptation of the manga "Ichi the Killer" played at international film festivals. He has since gained a strong cult following in the West that is growing with the increase in DVD releases of his works. His film "" premiered In Competition at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. His 2013 film "Straw Shield" was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.