The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023)
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In a war-ravaged Panem, a young Coriolanus Snow must navigate the deadly politics of the 10th Annual Hunger Games while mentoring a tribute from District 12.
The story
In the war-ravaged nation of Panem, Coriolanus Snow is tasked with mentoring Lucy Gray Baird, a tribute from District 12, in the 10th Annual Hunger Games. Coriolanus seeks to win the Plinth Prize scholarship to restore his family's prosperity. As the two navigate the complexities of the Capitol and the dangers of the arena, they form a bond that is tested by the brutal reality of the Games. Coriolanus must navigate the political landscape of the Capitol while ensuring his survival and the survival of his charge amidst the escalating tensions of a society built on spectacle and violence.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Coriolanus Snow is assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird in the 10th Annual Hunger Games to win the Plinth Prize. During the preparation, they visit the Capitol Zoo and witness the death of another mentor, Arachne Crane. Before the Games, they tour the arena where an explosion kills several tributes, including the President's son. During the Games, Coriolanus intervenes in various incidents, including a rebellion by Sejanus Plinth. When a swarm of genetically engineered snakes is released to punish the rebels, Coriolanus uses a handkerchief to protect Lucy Gray. Following his discovery of cheating, Coriolanus is forced into the Peacekeepers and eventually moves to District 12. There, he confronts a group of rebels, resulting in the deaths of several individuals and the execution of Sejanus. He and Lucy Gray attempt to flee Panem, but they are separated in the woods. Coriolanus is bitten by a snake and eventually returns to the Capitol, where he is granted a pardon and a scholarship. He ultimately poisons Dean Highbottom, beginning his rise to power as the future president of Panem.
- First release year
- 2023
- Runtime (minutes)
- 157
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Francis Lawrence
- Writers
- Michael Lesslie · screenplay; Michael Arndt · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Tom Blyth · Coriolanus "Coryo" Snow; Rachel Zegler · Lucy Gray Baird; Hunter Schafer · Tigris Snow; Jason Schwartzman · Lucretius "Lucky" Flickerman; Peter Dinklage · Casca Highbottom; Josh Andrés Rivera · Sejanus Plinth; Viola Davis · Dr. Volumnia Gaul
- Genres
- dystopian; science fiction; action; survival
- Themes
- survival; power; social class
- Tone and mood
- tense; dramatic
- Setting
- The war-ravaged nation of Panem during the 10th Annual Hunger Games.
- Premise and plot tags
- prequel; origin story
- Source material / true-story basis
- The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
- Franchise connections
- The Hunger Games
- Content notes
- violence
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its depth as a prequel while others criticized its pacing and lack of excitement compared to the original trilogy.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 54 · scale: 100 · review count: 53; CinemaScore · score: B+ · scale: A+ to F; PostTrak · score: 87% · scale: percentage
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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