‘Fire is (re)-catching’

The renewed popularity of ‘The Hunger Games’ series

MEI FLORY / MANAGING EDITOR / THE USD VISTA

On a rainy night in March, my roommates and I decided to watch the entire “Hunger Games” series from beginning to end. With all of us on the brink of graduation (and soon post-grad life), we sought comfort in the nostalgia of our middle school days through Young Adult (YA) dystopian movies, which I personally believe were at their peak in the year 2014. That was the year when “Divergent,” “The Maze Runner” and “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” were all released. Nearly a decade later, it seems like these YA dystopian films are making a comeback. One series in particular is making its rounds on social media, especially TikTok: “The Hunger Games.” Of all the dystopian adaptations to be released, this one is by far the best. 

Based on the popular book series by Suzanne Collins, “The Hunger Games” has withstood the test of time. It remains the best YA dystopian film adaptation due to its commercial success, its faithfulness to the text and its cultural impact, which relates to its relevance to American society. 

Soon after my roommates and I completed our “Hunger Games” movie marathon, a message from Netflix popped up on our TV screens: “Last day to watch on Netflix: March 30.” Knowing our time with Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence), Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), Gale (Liam Hemsworth), Haymitch (Woody Harrelson), Effie (Elizabeth Banks) and — our personal favorite — Finnick (Sam Claflin) was limited, we re-watched the first two films nearly five times each. Themes and plotlines that were lost on me as a 12 year-old suddenly became more relevant as I re-watched the series at 22 years-old.

The trilogy was adapted into four films, with the third novel of the trilogy split into two parts. Director Gary Ross handled the first film, while Francis Lawrence directed the rest. The series earned $2.97 billion at the box office, according to Box Office Mojo. Unlike  other dystopian counterparts, “The Hunger Games” series ended as the director intended: with all the major plotlines carried out on the screen. Other series such as “Divergent” and “The 5th Wave” didn’t receive this opportunity due to lack of public interest and profit. 

A major contributing factor to the success of “The Hunger Games” was how closely the films stuck to the original text. Direct quotes from the film such as “Want a sugar cube?” from “Catching Fire” and the ending of the final film match the dialogue and writing of the books nearly word for word. 

The films also portray how Katniss and Peeta handle their traumas, by finding comfort in each other.  

These scenes in the books were not only important to the overarching plot but also demonstrated the severity of the abuse that both characters endured. More importantly, the films do not shy away from the topic of PTSD and the horrors of the Capitol. By the end of the  series,   Katniss   has children of her own, showing that she feels safe enough to bring children into the world, where they will never be placed into such violent games. 

Including other details such as the “real or not real?” scenes between Katniss and Peeta, as well as Peeta’s humor and physical strength, also caught fans’ attention. Ross and Lawrence did well in preserving these moments that could have very easily been lost in the writing for the films. This is where adaptations like “The Maze Runner” fall short, since the films diverge early on from the books, therefore missing the complexities of the world-building that the authors work hard to create within a few hundred pages. 

But what really made “The Hunger Games” movies and the books stand out were how closely they resemble our own society. The Capitol, meant to be a place of excessive material wealth and extreme lifestyles, actually represents the greed of living within a capitalist society. The contrast between the Capitol and the impoverished District 12 (where Katniss is from) emphasizes class inequality. Whereas the wealthier districts can afford to train  their   children to    prepare     for the games, poorer districts such as District 12 barely make ends meet, leaving the children disadvantaged and more likely to die during the games. 

The emphasis on the love triangle between Katniss, Peeta and Gale was also heightened in the films and the focus of almost every teen magazine in 2014. Yet, as many TikTok users point out, Katniss was never going to choose Gale, because he was too much like her — too cruel and desensitized to violence. One TikTok user posted a video with her take on the character.

“I was watching the Hunger Games yesterday and noticed that at the beginning, when Katniss says that she’s only ever shot animals with her bow, Gale replies ‘it’s no different,’ with humans. And I realized that in that single line from the start of the trilogy we are shown exactly who he is, his disregard for human life. Which is why he has no issue bombing innocent people in the war with the Capitol.”

Unlike “Twilight,” the focus of the books and the films were never about siding with either boy (Team Peeta vs. Team Gale), but rather demonstrating how manipulative our media can be, both in fiction and reality. The latter films highlight the battle between the Capitol and District 13 through propaganda and communication instead of through violence and gun power. 

According to an article written by Sarah El-Mahmoud for CinemaBlend, the shortcomings of the film franchise are directly related to the real-world media focusing on the love triangle, rather than the concept of a government employing punishment in the form of a battle royale between children.  

“There was something about the marketing or perceived notions about what women/teen girls should be interested in when it comes to plot lines that brought attention to Hunger Games’ weaker points instead of its strength as a dystopian thriller. The Hunger Games movies serve as a commentary on how people in places of power can corrupt generation after generation,” El-Mahmoud said.

The article also noted that the revolutionary action within the world of “The Hunger Games” translated into real-life political activism. El-Mahmoud wrote, “Since the movie’s release, the famed three-finger salute Katniss gives in the franchise was used by activists in Thailand and Myanmar.”

Upon secondary viewing, I realized how much of an impact “The Hunger Games” had on pop culture when I was still in middle school. For most of 2012 and 2013, I recalled how popular archery became, how many girls I saw sporting a side braid like Katniss, the mockingjay pin sold in every store and listening to songs from the movie soundtracks on the radio. Everyone knew Rue’s mockingjay whistle by heart, and if you ask any Gen Z, they can probably tell you where the phrase “I volunteer as tribute” came from, often repeating it ironically in humorous situations. 

“The Hunger Games” film series, with its likable (and very, very unlikable) characters and more grim take on our own society cements its ranking as the best YA dystopian adaptation to date.

The last day to watch “The Hunger Games” on Netflix is, unfortunately, Mar. 30. Luckily, the prequel film, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” will be released in theaters on Nov. 17. Until then, give the books another read. And, as always, may the odds be ever in your favor.