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When it comes to 2010s dystopian franchises, one film series dominated them all: The Hunger Games. The franchise, based on Suzanne Collins’s novels about Katniss Everdeen and her rise as the reluctant leader of a rebellion against the totalitarian Capitol of Panem, launched in 2012 and is now the 21st-highest-grossing film franchise. Unfortunately for fans, the four original The Hunger Games movies – The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 – are on Peacock’s “leaving soon list,” indicating a likely end-of-the-month removal not just from Peacock, but streaming altogether.
The Hunger Games Is the Definitive YA Dystopian Franchise
YA dystopian movies dominated the 2010s, and The Hunger Games films were a perfect storm in Hollywood that effectively set the template for the genre’s modern, post-apocalyptic boom. Released on the heels of Twilight and Harry Potter, the movies capitalized on the booming popularity of dystopian themes and YA fascination, all while pushing the envelope for YA with surprisingly dark and gritty themes, like sacrifice, trauma, and political commentary. Combined with a strong cast of up-and-coming actors paired with beloved Hollywood talent, a strong female lead, and incredibly realistic and immersive world-building, The Hunger Games was an instant hit that set a new, gritty standard for blockbuster teen fiction.
