The story of Coriolanus Snow, years before he would become the tyrannical President of Panem. He is young, very determined and though the Snow family has fallen on hard times, Coriolanus sees a chance for a change in his fortunes when he is chosen to be a mentor for the 10th Hunger Games only to have his elation dashed when he is assigned to mentor a girl tribute named Lucy Gray Baird from the impoverished District 12.
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- rg9400November 1, 2024I was not a fan of the original book, and so I went into this movie with very low expectations. Because of that, I was actually pleasantly surprised by it. I don't think it fixes all of my issues with the book. The ending feels like a separate story and is definitely rushed, and because of that, the characters make decisions that seem a bit odd. Snow is simply not an interesting character to follow, and the prequel nature of it means we know where things will end up. And some of the random origins and worldbuilding feel a bit fanservice-y. Also, Rachel Zegler's Southern accent was distracting and hurt her overall performance. So why am I positive about it with all those negatives? For one thing, the movie allows for the characters to feel more dynamic without having to be stuck in Snow's perspective and without voicing a ton of first-person narration. Their motivations get pushed into the interiority of the actors, which I think works better as it allows for more complexity in what the viewer might feel they are thinking. The movie is pretty entertaining and engrossing. Zegler's accent may not work, but she's a phenomenal singer with plenty of gravitas, which works very well for Lucy Gray's character. And most shocking of all, I really was impressed with how the movie looks. Instead of feeling like a 200m+ budgeted blockbuster that just sort of entails a CGI-fest, this movie is shot on location with plenty of wide angles. I am becoming more and more convinced that these large budgets are extremely unnecessary as movies with half the budget routinely end up looking significantly better than them. Overall, I think it's worth a watch.
- ArneyMarch 27, 2026This film brought nothing but irritation to the franchise. It's plot was convoluted, casting was questionable (I found myself having to fast-forward through almost all of Zegler's scenes. Her 'singing' was unneccessary and grating), and pacing was completely abhorrent. Overall it was a disappointing use of my time. Thank the Capital I didn't pay to see this drivelous shit-show.
- Kevin WardJuly 2, 2025Turns out Coriolanus and Sejanus….both assholes in the end. Kudos to the casting director. Tom Blyth as Coriolanus Snow has the perfect look, and is excellent in all aspects of Snow’s complicated origin story. Jason Schwartzman as Lucretius “Lucky” Flickerman is 🤌🏼🤌🏼. So funny and has substantially all of the funniest lines of dialogue. Plus, he seriously looks and sounds like a relative of the great Stanley Tucci. Rachel Zegler — —Holy f🤩k, can she sing. I mean we knew this, but still it’s always impressive to see and hear. Peter Dinklage period. End of sentence. But my goodness, Viola Davis is easily my favorite casting as Dr Volumnia Gaul. Sinister and menacing and just completely commands every scene she’s in. Just wish we had more and/or hoping we get more in the next one. As someone who wasn’t super excited to go back to the Hunger Games Franchise, consider me absolutely sucked back in. I really loved the story told here, so a lot of credit to author Suzanne Collins. Prequels always scare me especially when we’re doing things like turning antagonists into protagonists. I always fear that the new entry is going to essentially undo some of the narrative of the original films. So far, at least, I’m completely riveted by where this story has gone and where it can go from here. And I can see why Lionsgate seems to be pulling out all the stop in promoting this. On the negative side, film felt longer than it needed to be. After the conclusion of the 10th annual hunger games on a somewhat climactic story beat, the films pacing comes to a screeching halt and takes a bit to get going again. It eventually does, but it’s hard not to feel the pacing drag in that moment. The film looks and sounds excellent, particularly in IMAX. This is no where near as VFX heavy as the original 4 films. The games themselves essentially take place in a single gladiator style arena and naturally aren’t really cinematically interesting or varied as the “future” hunger games become. I appreciate the narrative consistency of having a more primitive take on the games, but it does make the event itself feel a bit underwhelming. We don’t even really get to know any of the other tributes. So, I would calibrate expectations accordingly. All in all, I’m very impressed with the story and cast and am excited to see where the future installments take us.
- Tiffie StarchildApril 21, 2025I’m obsessed with The Hunger Games and had to revisit this movie after finishing the latest novel, Sunrise on the Reaping. I still haven’t read the book for The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (I knoooow!) - so though I don’t know how closely it sticks to the source material, this movie is SO enjoyable in a very tense and dystopian kind of way 🙂.
- HakihikoOctober 11, 2025A Visually Rich Prequel with Uneven Emotional Impact "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" offers a visually captivating return to the world of Panem, exploring the early life of Coriolanus Snow. Directed by Francis Lawrence, the film provides insight into the character's origins, though its emotional resonance is inconsistent, resulting in a mixed but generally engaging experience. The cinematography effectively captures Panem’s stark contrasts, with sweeping shots that highlight the opulence of the Capitol and the hardship of the districts. Costume design, set pieces, and a carefully crafted score further immerse viewers in the world, creating a rich and detailed backdrop that enhances the story without overwhelming it. Performances are strong across the board. Tom Blyth portrays a young Coriolanus Snow with depth, revealing glimpses of the traits that define his later character. Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird adds charm and intrigue, though some aspects of her character feel underdeveloped. The supporting cast complements the leads, contributing to the film’s overall effectiveness. However, the film’s pacing can feel uneven, with segments that linger on world-building at the expense of deeper character exploration. At times, the emotional stakes feel muted, making certain moments less impactful than they could be. In conclusion, "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" is a visually impressive prequel that expands the lore of Panem and sheds light on Coriolanus Snow’s early years. While its narrative depth is uneven, it remains an engaging watch, particularly for fans of the franchise.
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The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes was released on November 15, 2023.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes was directed by Francis Lawrence.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes has a runtime of 2h 37m.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes was produced by Francis Lawrence, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson.
The story of Coriolanus Snow, years before he would become the tyrannical President of Panem. He is young, very determined and though the Snow family has fallen on hard times, Coriolanus sees a chance for a change in his fortunes when he is chosen to be a mentor for the 10th Hunger Games only to have his elation dashed when he is assigned to mentor a girl tribute named Lucy Gray Baird from the impoverished District 12.
The key characters in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes are Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth), Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), Dean Casca Highbottom (Peter Dinklage).
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is rated PG-13.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is an Action, Adventure, Drama film.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes has an audience rating of 8.9 out of 10.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes had a budget of $100M.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes has made $337.4M at the box office.