The 2012 release of The Hunger Games, directed by Francis Lawrence and Gary Ross, is arguably one of the most significant films of the 21st century. The various elements of The Hunger Games make it stand out as the blueprint for the dystopian genre. In fact, I would go as far as to say, the dystopian genre would not be as prevalent if not for the contributions of The Hunger Games, and the movies that followed after.  
 
The Hunger Games is the first film of a trilogy (Book Adaptation) that follows the main protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, in the ruins of the United States [Panem]. In the film, Katniss volunteers as tribute, to take her sister’s (Primrose Everdeen) place in The Reaping, and the subsequent Hunger Games. To prepare for the brutality and homicidal nature of the Games, Katniss and the male tribute of District 12, Peeta Mellark, travel to the Capitol, where they will fight to the death with the male and female Tributes of the 11 other districts. While there, Katniss will have to survive numerous attempts on her life, and sort through the feelings of her heart.
 
            One of the most striking aspects of this film, is the cinematography. The work done by cinematographer Tom Stern, really pushes the main themes of the movie: class division, oppression, corruption, rebellion, and poverty. With those themes, it’s expected that there would be a clear distinction between the wealthy, and less fortunate, and Stern delivers that beautifully. Each district looks somewhat similar, but still has differences that is unique to that particular place. For example, District 12 is a coal mining district, and is well represented by the gray interior, and various mines. The streets of District 12 are dirty, and what some might describe as scruffy. This choice in set design, is to make it clear to the audience that District 12 is one of the poorest in Panem, which also sets up a background to where Katniss comes from, and the struggles she might face.
 
The unappealing aura of District 12 contradicts the luxury and pretentiousness of the Capitol. From the scenes that feature the Capitol, it is apparent that the only the wealthiest and most affluent people live in this display of a utopian society. It is only fair that the antagonist and President of the story, Coriolanus Snow, lives here. Which also serves part in the power dynamic between Katniss and Snow, and the motivation for a free Panem, void of the Hunger Games.

The dynamic is also shown through the camera shots/angles chosen by the director. The first scenes of The Hunger Games show, in my opinion, the entire motivation of the games; To punish the Districts’  for their defiance during the first war of Panem.

The first scene of the movie is an interview held in the Capitol prior to the Reaping of the Hunger Games. This is understood by the bright colors, and distinct fashion of Caesar Flickerman, commentator for Hunger Games, and Seneca Crane, Head Gamemaker. Both individuals converse enthusiastically in front of a live studio audience, as Flickerman interviews Crane about the history of the Games, and his aspirations for it.
 
Before Crane is able to answer this question, he is abruptly cut off, and the camera is now focused on a gray, empty District 12. Along with this visual contrast comes an auditory one. The calmness of the previous scene is overtaken by a loud shriek echoing in the near empty street of District 12. Another scene cut, and the audience is now presented with Primrose distraught, and a frantic Katniss trying to calm her down. Katniss whispers to her sister that it’s unlikely that she should be picked for the Reaping, and to calm down. When the camera cuts to Prim (Primrose) the audience feels the pure fear that is coursing through her.
 
By putting these two scenes side by side, it shows that to the Capitol, the Hunger Games, is a source of entertainment, and the citizens of Districts are less human, and more puppets. One of the easiest things to do in a film is prolong the message or reason for the inciting action, to the middle. The Hunger Games does an amazing job avoiding that. Even if the viewer hadn’t read the books, they would still be able to understand the bridge between Capitol and District society, that motivates them to rebellion.

In terms of score and musical embellishments, the film does an adequate job evoking emotion during certain scenes. Although to me, the absence of traditional score is what stands out the most. Jumping to the Cornucopia scene, where all the tributes are scrambling for a weapon, the scene is near empty, almost quiet. Typically, a director would chose to put in fast paced music, that evokes a sense of danger and franticness in the audience, but in this scene we see the opposite, until the end. The music crescendo’s upwards when Katniss realizes her need to grab the bow, and goes back down to unsettling siren sound, when another tribute’s neck is slashed open. This crescendo and de crescendo, is the first time, in my opinion, where the audience sees any semblance of worry (apart from the Reaping scene) within Katniss.
 
Of course, to back track, it’s important to note two of the most iconic parts of the film trilogy. One being the anthem “Horn of Plenty”. Anyone who has watched the series, can recognize this as score specifically made for The Hunger Games. The unique musical composition serves as an opener for the scene where the tributes are presented to the Capitol, and plays a big part into the “glory” of Panem (and President’s Snow aura of “holiness”). It also plays in the background, when the deceased tributes are displayed on TV every night. Making such an anthem that is unforgettable, is another reason that the Hunger Games film adaptation stands out as the first of its kind. The genre might be new, but the anthem joins other recognizable score from films like Star Wars, James Bond, and Jurassic Park. The heavy drums, brass instruments, and chanting in the background provide a confident and divine atmosphere to not only President Snow, but Panem itself. This especially applies to the Capitol, because as the audience learns from the movie, the Districts are suffering, and do not share this same sentiment  Playing this theme over and over, at times where the Capitol is mentioned, reminds the tributes that they are sacrificing themselves for the glory of Panem. Essentially, it’s Panem (or the Capitol) above all else.
 
The other notable score is the one Katniss sings herself, “The Hanging Tree”. This song not only serves to be part of the score, but also as a piece of the Rebellion. The most famous lyrics of the song read as,
 
“Are you, are you comin' to the tree?
Where they strung up a man, they say, who murdered three
Strange things did happen here, no stranger would it be
 If we met at midnight in the hanging tree.”
 
With context provided in the 2023 film, The Hunger Games: The Ballad Songbird and Snakes, it is understood that the song was originally written by the District 12 tribute, Lucy Gray, during the 1st official Hunger Games. The song was written in response to a hanging Lucy Gray had witnessed earlier. At the time the song had no major use, but as decades passed and it came to Katniss’ time, the song evolved into something else. It passed through the generations of District 12, and became a silent song of rebellion.
Outside of the “Horn of Plenty” this might otherwise be the most recognizable song from the entire score. It provides an aura of uneasiness, and portrays a history that was otherwise forgotten (the death of the man who inspired it). It’s catchy lyrics, and slow tempo, not only make it a good fit for the film, but also as it’s own self. This one song went on to be remixed numerous times, and even made it into clubs, for people to enjoy without the constraint of the film. Because the song was so widespread, at the time of it’s release, the impact of the film only grew. It began to infiltrate non-film like spaces, and directors began to see the potential gain that could come from mimicking a movie like this. A movie solely based on a dystopia, with a hint of romance. One of the most popular examples of a movie mimicking The Hunger Games would be Divergent. Divergent is also a book adaptation, and follows the story of Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) living in a post-apocalyptic society governed by a faction system.

The film was released two years after The Hunger Games and is known to be notoriously bad.  People regard it as a quick money grab that fell off after the first sequel was released. It’s obvious with a star studded cast with Theo James, Zoë Kravitz, Kate Winslet, and Miles Teller, the film was at least trying to do well. Secretly, Divergent is my favorite of all the dystopian era films, but even I can appreciate that it isn’t necessarily the best. The acting, and execution in what otherwise would have been a good movie, held it back from receiving the same acclaim The Hunger Games did.
In regards to acting, Jennifer Lawerence who play Katniss Everdeen, was instrumental in the making of this film. Of course, as a main character, there wouldn’t be a film without her, but I believe Lawerence made the film. She added a flair, and aura that can’t just be replicated by anybody. Her subtle acting choices set apart this particular film from all the rest, and immerse the audience into a whole new world. Which is another reason why The Hunger Games as a series was/is popular. Ordinary people got caught up feeling empathy for characters they’ve never met, and were swept away into a whole new world, where their problems seem so minuscule compared to Peeta’s or Prim’s, which is why the actor is so important. A script is just words on a piece of paper, you need an actor to breathe life into them, and that’s exactly what Lawerence did.
Lawerence, herself, is nothing like Katniss. She’s free, wild, and funny, while Katniss is more reserved and cautious. Mostly in part due to the trauma she faced in her childhood, and her standard of living. Living in the poorest district isn’t an easy task, and it wouldn’t be natural for Katniss to be exuding rays of sunshine, while everybody starves. In this way Lawerence, does a great job with how she portrays her [Katniss].  

Jennifer Lawerence skyrocketed to fame after The Hunger Games. One could even argue that this one film made her career, and continues to be the support in all her major roles. For example, it’s fairly common for interviewers to ask questions about previous roles during the press tour of another film, but for Lawerence it seems to be a constant. Her new 2023 film, No Hard Feelings, was bombarded with questions about the 2012 release of The Hunger Games, and her feelings on the upcoming prequel to the series.
Although it is nice to see that her career didn’t die after the end of the trilogy, and that she is known for more than just this one film. Actors like Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter in the Harry Potter franchise for a numerous amount of years, often have trouble finding new roles because the public remembers their face for that one particular character, and often are unable to let go of that. It just shows as a testament to her acting skills, and mold-ability to each character that she plays, and the districting twists she puts to them. There is no character in Lawerence’s playbook that comes even close to Katniss. Katniss is her own character, and making that distinction is set up the The Hunger Games to be one of the best movies of all time.
 
Even 11 years after it’s release The Hunger Games has done well for itself. Most recently with the 2023 release of the prequel The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes featuring actors Rachel Zegler, and Tom Blyth, which was received with widespread approval, much like it’s namesake. The dystopian era, for unknown reasons, has died off as a genre but the influence of The Hunger Games lives on. In the 2010s, the dystopian genre ruled, and would not have even started if not for the contributions of the The Hunger Games.