The Hunger Games

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2:31

The Hunger Games

PG-13

2012

2h 25m

Sci-Fi

Action

Adventure

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

314 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

In what was once North America, the Capitol of Panem maintains its hold on its 12 districts by forcing them each to select a boy and a girl, called Tributes, to compete in a nationally televised event called the Hunger Games. Every citizen must watch as the youths fight to the death until only one remains. District 12 Tribute Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) has little to rely on, other than her hunting skills and sharp instincts, in an arena where she must weigh survival against love.

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Critics Consensus

Thrilling and superbly acted, The Hunger Games captures the dramatic violence, raw emotion, and ambitious scope of its source novel.

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Julie and Brandy

Autostraddle

08/31/2021

[Rue's] presence gave the heart to the whole movie.

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J. Hoberman

ARTINFO.com

02/25/2019

The Hunger Games is undeniably progressive in making its protagonist so plucky, independent, and self-actualizing a young woman.

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David Thomson

The New Republic

06/17/2013

The film shows precious little hunger and no sense of game.

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Carla Renata

The Curvy Film Critic

Mar 24

I did not have the good fortune of reading the book THE HUNGER GAMES until after I viewed the film, which being a sci-fi, adventure, thriller kind of gal I thoroughly enjoyed.

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

10/18/2024

3/5

Collins' involvement enables the movie to retain the themes and tone of the novel while still delivering an exciting and interesting drama/thriller that works on the big screen. For those who don't know the

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

03/04/2023

I confess that for all my issues with the film (and there are many), I more impressed at how much it got right.

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Jadan S

04/08/2025

While it does leave out some key details from the original novel that I would have loved to have seen on the big screen, the movie adaptation of The Hunger Games is absolutely a solid film.

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.

02/27/2025

It was amazing! The theater was great, the screen quality and audio was great. I loved seeing this in a theater!

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Evelia S.

@3vel1a Jun 13

I just wish they added more details from the book. Such as Peeta losing his leg for example. Great acting though.

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Vaughn M.

@Chpow1010 May 31

Not as good as some of the other movies I watched but I still found it entertaining and obviously a great story but I don’t think I will take the time to watch the others.

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Matthew D

@OceanSage May 27

Riveting survival thriller with relevant dystopian commentary. Gary Ross’ coming of age, sci-fi, survival horror film The Hunger Games (2012) is a breathtaking achievement of engaging storytelling. He throws you right into the natural forest environment with gorgeous wide shots and striking close-ups. Suzanne Collins’ writing is strangely relevant for our turbulent political times. Her story combines compelling teen romance drama, throws it in the midst of social unrest in a dystopian district-segregated society. I love James Newton Howard’s score. He is exciting and tender as needed. He really adds a great deal of atmosphere to The Hunger Games. Katniss is portrayed by a young Jennifer Lawrence, which rose her to new heights as a star actress. Lawrence is so moving as a teenage girl thrust into challenges she never asked for, but rather volunteered heroically to save her little sister. Lawrence’s distraught blue eyes yield touching emotion in a gripping leading lady role.

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KerryWhite's S.

@KerryWhite77 May 23

10/10. 100/100. | Wish I would have watched it at the theater but thought it was a whole different movie when I was a kid. Either this one or the second one I had a chance to watch but I forced everyone to watch a different movie instead. I think maybe Evil Dead for like a 2nd or 3rd time, maybe. It was a few of us and my mom was saying it was supposed to be good. Wether it be this one or one of its sequels, they’re some of my favorite films now, so I really wish I had the theater experience of watching them.

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Gary Ross

Director

Jennifer Lawrence

Katniss Everdeen

Josh Hutcherson

Peeta Mellark

Liam Hemsworth

Gale Hawthorne

Woody Harrelson

Haymitch Abernathy

Elizabeth Banks

Effie Trinket

The Hunger Games: Official Clip - Cornucopia Bloodbath

2:19

The Hunger Games: Official Clip - Rule Change

2:06

The Hunger Games: Official Clip - They Don't Own Me

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The Hunger Games: Official Clip - The Kiss

2:32

The Hunger Games: Official Clip - Rue's Death

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The Hunger Games: Official Clip - Star-Crossed Lovers

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The Hunger Games: Official Clip - Tracker Jackers

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The Hunger Games: Official Clip - Hope

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The Hunger Games: Official Clip - Shooting the Apple

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The Hunger Games: Official Clip - Get People to Like You

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The Hunger Games: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In what was once North America, the Capitol of Panem maintains its hold on its 12 districts by forcing them each to select a boy and a girl, called Tributes, to compete in a nationally televised event called the Hunger Games. Every citizen must watch as the youths fight to the death until only one remains. District 12 Tribute Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) has little to rely on, other than her hunting skills and sharp instincts, in an arena where she must weigh survival against love.

Director: Gary Ross
Producer: Nina Jacobson, Jon Kilik
Screenwriter: Gary Ross, Suzanne Collins, Billy Ray
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Color Force, Lionsgate
Rating: PG-13 (Disturbing Images|All Involving Teens|Intense Violent Thematic Mat.)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 23, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 9, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $408.0M
Runtime: 2h 25m