Team Katniss

If you're reading this (and are, therefore, a person with internet access), I'm thinking you've heard something about The Hunger Games. News of this new film release has been obsessively reported in trailers, TV spots, interviews, magazines, websites, and more (you may even remember us mentioning it in a post from last January). Wherever you go, the Games have been impossible to miss.

That's pretty much in keeping with the original idea of the Games themselves, as presented in Suzanne Collins's popular young adult trilogy of novels. The books tells the story of Katniss, a sixteen-year-old girl living in post-apocalyptic America. Throughout the first novel, Katniss has one goal: to be the champion of the 74th annual Hunger Games, a contest run by the government and broadcast live (reality-TV style) to the population of the twelve Districts. (Viewing of the Games by the Districts' citizens is strictly mandatory.) How to win the Games? Simple: be the last person left alive.

The books have been best-sellers for several years -- but a best-selling novel doesn't always guarantee a box office blockbuster. For every Harry Potter or Twilight film franchise, there's failed attempts like The Golden Compass, Eragon, and A Series of Unfortunate Events. And yet, when it comes to The Hunger Games, something about the story has truly caught audiences -- and film critics -- on fire.

The movie opened to rave reviews, with critics praising the strong story, acting performances, and attention to detail given in the book-to-movie translation. And it's not just critics who are impressed. The debuting Hunger Games has smashed box office records, earning $19.74 million at its initial midnight showing alone (and making it the highest-grossing midnight release ever for a non-sequel film). Its final opening weekend pull was $152.5 million, making it the third-largest all-time opening weekend for a movie ever (behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 and The Dark Knight). With a $78 million dollar budget, The Hunger Games had already made back its budget nearly twice over in a single weekend and is rapidly continuing to climb.

So if you've seen the movie and are looking to learn more about the world of The Hunger Games -- or, if you haven't yet made it to the theater -- check out some of the buzz surrounding what is already one of the biggest box office blockbusters of the year.

And may the odds be ever in your favor.

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)


-- The Hunger Games: The Official Website


-- Weekend Report: 'The Hunger Games' Devours $152.5 Million - One of many BoxOfficeMojo.com articles on the Games' records-smashing success.


-- Gary Ross Answers Reader Questions About ‘The Hunger Games’ - A New York Times-featured interview with the director of the film.


-- Watching ‘The Hunger Games’ Through a Racial Lens - The Washington Post on the unexpected racist backlash over the movie casting.


-- Hunger Games: Be Easter Now! - An op/ed from the Huffington Post exploring the spiritual truths behind The Hunger Games.

-- 'The Hunger Games' Fans Filling Up Lanes at Queens Archery Ranges - The stories are inspiring a popularity boom for an old-time hobby -- archery!


-- The Hunger Games Themes That Apply to Our World Today - Reality TV? Occupy Wallstreet? A look at how Collins's story may be a particularly timely one.


-- Suzanne Collins - The author's official website.


-- Katniss Everdeen of 'The Hunger Games' vs. Bella Swan of 'Twilight' - From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Which heroine would come out on top?



-- Post by Ms. B