Fan reactions to The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the highly-anticipated prequel to the popular Hunger Games franchise, are generating a buzz of excitement among fans and critics alike.
The movie, which delves into the backstory of a young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) and his relationship with District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), has been screened for critics ahead of its world premiere on November 9.
Initial reactions on social media are overwhelmingly positive. Buzzfeed’s Lauren Garafano, a self-proclaimed Hunger Games enthusiast, expressed her excitement, stating that the film delivered the same magic she felt when watching the first movie as a 14-year-old. Next Best Picture’s Barry Hertz described The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes as the best Hunger Games movie to date, emphasizing its darker and more character-driven approach while remaining genuinely entertaining.
The positive sentiment extends beyond these initial reactions. Tessa Smith praised the entire cast and highlighted Tom Blyth’s exceptional performance. “Smells Like Teen Angst” lauded the film as possibly the best adaptation in the franchise, commending the acting, music, and costumes. However, not all responses were entirely without criticism. Barry Hertz suggested that the movie might have benefited from being split into two parts and criticized the final act as rushed. Stephanie Ramirez found the portrayal of the characters and the film’s adaptation to be refreshing and near-perfect on the big screen.
Explore a side-by-side comparison of the critic ratings, audience reviews, and global box office performances of the preceding films below:
| Title | RT Critic Score | RT Audience Score | Worldwide Box Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Hunger Games | 84% | 81% | $694.3 million |
| Catching Fire | 90% | 89% | $865 million |
| Mockingjay – Part 1 | 70% | 71% | $755.4 million |
| Mockingjay – Part 2 | 70% | 66% | $653.4 million |
As the embargo has been lifted, these reactions provide a tantalizing preview of what fans can expect when the movie releases on November 17. While early box office projections indicate a somewhat modest opening weekend, strong word of mouth and positive reviews may elevate its commercial success, similar to the franchise’s pattern in the past. The critical and commercial performance of the film will become clearer once full reviews are published closer to the premiere. Nevertheless, “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” has the potential to continue the franchise’s legacy of success, both artistically and at the box office.
Check out some of the Fan Reactions on X:
as a longtime obsessive of #TheHungerGames , oh boy, the ballad of songbirds and snakes really delivered for me. watching this made me feel the magic i felt when i saw the first movie as a 14-year-old — i literally cannot wait to see it again when it comes out pic.twitter.com/tc22webCXj
— lauren garafano✨ (@laurengarafano) November 5, 2023
‘#TheHungerGames: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’ is an overall triumph, expanding on the incredible world-building that the franchise is famous for.
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) November 5, 2023
Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler are great leads with very dynamic performances, and Viola Davis steals the show in a deliciously… pic.twitter.com/iWCdhJZdce
#TheHungerGames: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is a lucrative film that has all the right elements implemented to make it a successful book-to-film adaptation. It was refreshing to see the film and characters displayed almost perfectly on the big screen. pic.twitter.com/TodnX21M8e
— Stephanie Ramirez (@SweetnShy13) November 5, 2023
THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES: Sorry that Francis Lawrence regretted splitting MOCKINGJAY in two, but he should've done same with prequel. Thrillingly vicious first 2/3 of film upended by rushed, unsteady final act. REVENGE OF THE SITH comparisons inescapable
— Barry Hertz (@HertzBarry) November 5, 2023
#TheHungerGames The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is quite possibly the best adaptation we've had so far. There are a few changes I have issues with, but overall the casting is incredible, the acting is fantastic, the songs are fun, and the costuming is perfect.@TheHungerGames pic.twitter.com/oTzYl1Hgyw
— SmellsLikeTeenAngst (@SLTAngst) November 5, 2023
The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes perfectly delivers the downward spiral of who will become President Coriolanus Snow that fans love to hate. The entire cast is phenomenal. Tom Blyth gives the performance of a lifetime! #HungerGames #TheBalladOfSongbirdsAndSnakes pic.twitter.com/IuvCnfLyc3
— Tessa Smith – Mama's Geeky (@MamasGeeky) November 5, 2023
