It's wild to think that the last time a Hunger Games film came out was eight years ago! I've seen and read the entire series: The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1, and The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 2 dozens of times and I always find something new to love (Also, yes, I still cry at Rue's death).
With the upcoming release of The Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in November, it's the perfect time to rewind and pick apart six moments that were better in The Hunger Games films and six that were better in the books, so let's get started!
1. BETTER IN THE MOVIE: The start of the games/Cinna's death in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Cut to Katniss entering the Games — the cinematography in this scene is *chef's kiss* as the camera spins around Katniss to convey her feeling of disorientation.
2. BETTER IN THE BOOK: When Thresh saves Katniss’s life in The Hunger Games
In the book, Thresh and Katniss discuss her actions involving Rue's death and he contemplates letting her go, which makes the moment more emotional and heartfelt.
"'We teamed up. Blew up the supplies. I tried to save her, I did. But he got there first' I say. Maybe if he knows I helped Rue, he won't choose some slow sadistic end for me. 'And you killed him?' he demands. 'Yes I killed him. And buried her in flowers,' I say. 'And I sang her to sleep.' Conflicting emotions cross Thresh's face. He lowers the rock and points at me, almost accusingly. 'Just this one time, I let you go. For the little girl. You and me, we're even then. No more owed. You understand?'"
3. BETTER IN THE MOVIE: The victory tour in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
In the movie, Katniss gets dragged away by guards as she pleads for the man's life (again, shoutout to JLaw's acting)
The main difference between the book and the film is that in the film, Katniss watches as the man is executed for his rebellious actions.
4. BETTER IN THE BOOK: The poison fog scene in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
5. BETTER IN THE MOVIE: Peacekeepers punishing Gale in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
This causes him to be sent to the square for lashings because the Peacekeeper wants REVENGE. (In the book, Gale is punished for getting caught poaching a wild turkey, which is way less exciting).
Katniss stands in front of Gale to protect him from the Peacekeeper but gets threatened with a gun (in the book it was just a whip), which proves she is willing to die to protect Gale.
6. BETTER IN THE BOOK: Boggs's death/black wave in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2
7. BETTER IN THE MOVIE: The "If we burn, you burn with us" speech in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1
Katniss's speech directed at President Snow is the best monologue in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1. This close-up shot of her with flames in the background is mesmerizing as she says the iconic line: "Fire is catching, and if we burn, you burn with us."
8. BETTER IN THE BOOK: The "I volunteer as tribute" moment in The Hunger Games
"Now I am truly in danger of crying, but fortunately Haymitch chooses this time to come staggering across the stage to congratulate me. 'Look at her. Look at this one!' he hollers, throwing an arm around my shoulders. 'I like her! Lot's of...' He can't think of the word for a while. 'Spunk!' he says triumphantly. 'More than you!' he releases me and starts for the front of the stage. 'More than you!' he shouts, pointing directly into the camera."
In the book, this is the start of the complex friendship between Haymitch and Katniss, but in the movie we are robbed of this interaction.
9. BETTER IN THE MOVIE: Destroying the arena in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
This shot of Katniss being electrocuted on the ground in a spotlight makes her look peaceful, even though the whole world is crumbling around her (this whole scene was way harder to follow in the book).
And, the best shot of the entire series — Katniss being lifted out of the arena by the rebels in slow motion, with explosions all around her. So sad, yet so beautiful.
10. BETTER IN THE BOOK: Saying goodbye to Prim in The Hunger Games
In the book, Peeta's father is an angel and promises to look after Prim for Katniss:
"Someone else enters the room, and when I look up, I'm surprised to see it's the baker, Peeta Mellark's father. I can't believe he's come to visit me. After all, I'll be trying to kill his son soon. Why has he come to see me?"
The book's version shows how many people truly care about Katniss and her family.
11. BETTER IN THE MOVIE: Rue’s death in The Hunger Games. This moment still breaks me, but shoutout to Amandla Stenberg for her amazing acting as Rue at just 14?!
In the movie, after Rue dies and Katniss raises her three fingers towards the camera, there is an added scene (not in the book) of Rue's home district watching on the monitor. The crowd raises their fingers in solidarity with Katniss.
This protest scene of Rue's district fighting the Peacekeepers in the film after her death is proof that there is becoming less and less public support for the Games.
12. And finally, BETTER IN THE BOOK: When Katniss attacks Peeta in The Hunger Games
"After the anthem, the tributes file back into the Training Center lobby and onto the elevators. I make sure to veer into a car that does not contain Peeta. My elevator stops to deposit four tributes before I am alone and then find the doors opening on the twelfth floor. Peeta has only just stepped from his car when I slam my palms into his chest. He loses his balance and crashes into an ugly urn filled with fake flowers. The urn tips and shatters into hundreds of tiny pieces. Peeta lands in the shards, and blood immediately flows from his hands. 'What was that for?" he says, aghast."
In the book, Katniss went OFF on Peeta, making that man bleed.
What other moments from The Hunger Games series do you think were better in the movie vs. better in the book? Let us know in the comments!
