The Hunger Games has undoubtedly made its mark as an exceptional dystopian franchise. With a protagonist as strong and sympathetic as Katniss Everdeen, the audience found an instant connect, applauding her courageous act of replacing her sister Prim in the deadly Arena. The gripping storyline of the franchise escalates towards an ultimate rebellion, intending to dethrone President Snow. However, the performance of each movie installment, and their adherence to the original books, varied, leading to differing levels of success.
Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer exhibits a significant divergence in the ratings of the individual films. Comprising four cinematic adaptations to narrate the trilogy, each film delves deeper into the lives of key characters – Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, Gale Hawthorne, and Haymitch Abernathy. The movies skillfully expanded the narrative, going beyond the limited first-person perspective of Katniss in the books, offering the audience a broader view of the world beyond the Arena. This approach further enabled the depiction of the Gamemakers’ decision-making process and the reactions of District citizens to the on-screen events.
4. Mockingjay: Part 1 (2014) – 69%
The first part of Mockingjay effectively showcased the talents of its actors, with Jennifer Lawrence masterfully capturing the myriad emotions experienced by Katniss upon the discovery of District 12’s obliteration and her introduction to District 13. Lawrence’s performance, coupled with Josh Hutcherson’s emotionally charged portrayal of Peeta, slowly tortured and ultimately hijacked, shone through in the film. However, it was also a prime example of how splitting the final book into two may not have been necessary. Much of the film is setup, and unfortunately, lacks much-needed excitement.
Echoing the novel, the film, at this point, doesn’t elicit much thrill. It’s understandable that the franchise would want to extend the story over two films for increased box-office revenue and to offer a more comprehensive understanding of District 13’s dynamics. However, the stakes during this film weren’t escalated enough to justify the slow-paced narrative between the action-filled Catching Fire and the concluding war in Mockingjay: Part 2.
3. Mockingjay: Part 2 (2015) – 70%
This final installment of the franchise doesn’t rank significantly higher than its predecessor. The audience’s anticipation for a large-scale rebel war is met with a more subdued, sacrificial ending, which isn’t what was expected. The movie concludes with a revelation from President Snow to Katniss, telling her that he is already dying and warning her to watch out for President Coin. Despite being filled with commendable performances, the movie seems to focus more on preparing for the impending rebellion rather than the actual war.
Mockingjay: Part 2 appears to be more concerned with reaching the end than highlighting the emotional moments the series required as it neared its climax. While the series fulfilled the book’s promise of showing Katniss and Peeta married with children, the film didn’t quite manage to give the characters who met their end the emotional tribute they deserved.
2. The Hunger Games (2012) – 84%
The first movie in the franchise, The Hunger Games, carried a lot of responsibility. It had to introduce characters, the universe, and the stakes involved, enticing the audience to invest in the characters and their relationships. This foundational film mostly succeeded in conveying the terror of the Arena, the pervasive fear, and the complex relationships amongst the Tributes.
Katniss and Peeta’s relationship needed to be convincing enough to win over both the Capitol and the audience, setting the tone for the rest of the franchise. The game-changing moment occurs when Katniss forces the Gamemakers to decide the fate of herself and Peeta. It’s clear from the film’s conclusion that, although Katniss and Peeta have survived the Arena, their struggles are far from over.
1. Catching Fire (2013) – 90%
Catching Fire, the sequel, surpasses the original in a rare feat. The movie ventures deeper into the narrative, bringing the audience back to the Arena, but this time with experienced surviving Tributes. The fear and trauma Katniss and Peeta experienced during their time in the Arena is palpable, making their relationship’s core shine through.
With Katniss and Peeta on the same side from the start and the introduction of new allies, there’s an opportunity to change the game. One of the film’s high points is its ending – it had to differ from the previous one to set the stage for the upcoming installments, and that turning point arrives when District 12 is found to be destroyed. The ongoing battle between Katniss and President Snow reaches a climax in Catching Fire, masterfully laying out the consequences of the impending face-off.
