What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins · Book · 2008
If you loved The Hunger Games, start with The Hunger Games (Gary Ross, 2012) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 films, 2 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Hunger Games across media.
What hooked you in The Hunger Games was the chilling intersection of systemic inequality and the brutal, televised fight for survival.
Start with the source
Adaptation
The Hunger Games
Gary Ross · Film · 2012
Films on the same thread
The Running Man
Edgar Wright · Film · 2025
Explores: Corporate Control, Media Manipulation, Survival Against the Odds.
Just like the arena in The Hunger Games, this film explores the exploitation of the poor through a lethal, media-driven game designed for the entertainment of the ruling class.
The Maze Runner
Wes Ball · Film · 2014
Explores: Memory Loss, Survival, Conspiracy.
Fans of The Hunger Games will recognize the familiar tension of youth forced into a dangerous, controlled environment where they must navigate complex conspiracies to secure their own survival.
Divergent
Neil Burger · Film · 2014
Explores: Factionalism, Identity Crisis, Government Conspiracy.
Much like the rigid structure of the districts in The Hunger Games, this story features a stratified society where an outsider challenges the established order to ignite a necessary rebellion.
The Hate U Give
Film · 2018
Explores: Systemic Racism, Police Brutality, Identity.
If the political awakening of Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games resonated with you, you will appreciate this story of a young woman finding her voice against systemic injustice.
Series on the same thread
Squid Game
Hwang Dong-hyuk · Series · 2021
Explores: Economic Inequality, Desperation, Moral Dilemmas.
This series mirrors the central premise of The Hunger Games by pitting desperate, economically marginalized individuals against one another in a deadly competition that serves as a dark spectacle.
Game of Thrones
David Benioff · Series · 2011
Explores: Power Struggles, Moral Ambiguity, War and Politics.
The power struggles and moral ambiguity found here reflect the high-stakes political maneuvering that defined the resistance efforts and civil unrest seen throughout The Hunger Games.
Podcasts on the same thread
Here Comes The Guillotine
Podcast
Explores: social commentary, political satire, current events.
The subversive commentary provided here captures the same spirit of dissent and questioning of authority that fueled the rebellion against the Capitol in The Hunger Games.
The Archers
Podcast
Explores: family life, community, farming.
While the setting differs from The Hunger Games, you will find a similar focus on community dynamics and the complexities of life within a defined, often insular social structure.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Hunger Games suitable for a twelve-year-old?
Yes, the book and the 2012 movie adaptation of The Hunger Games are intended for audiences ages 12 and up. The story follows a girl fighting for survival in a dystopia on live television.
Should I read the book or watch The Hunger Games movie first?
You can start with either the 2008 book by Suzanne Collins or the 2012 movie adaptation. Both versions cover the same story of a girl forced to fight for survival in a televised dystopian competition.
What is the premise of The Hunger Games?
The Hunger Games is set in a dystopia where a girl must fight for her survival on live television. The original book was written by Suzanne Collins in 2008 and later adapted into a film in 2012.
When was The Hunger Games first published?
The Hunger Games was first published as a book by Suzanne Collins in 2008. The story depicts a girl fighting for survival in a dystopia on live television and was later adapted into a feature film in 2012.