15 Worst Changes the ‘Hunger Games’ Movies Made to the Books

The Hunger Games is a brutal, compelling YA story about children forced to battle to the death. As of now, there are five movies, four of which focus on Katniss Everdeen (played by Jennifer Lawrence) and a prequel about Lucy Gray Baird (played by Rachel Zegler). Although there’s a lot to love about these movies, a few changes were a little odd, and definitely not in the movies’ favor.

Missing characters, cut plot lines, and rushed scenes are just a few of the changes we wish could be changed back. With a new book coming out in March, we’ve compiled the 15 worst things that the Hunger Games franchise changed from book to movie.

15

Peeta’s Disguise

Of all the changes from book to movie, this is perhaps the most unintentionally hilarious. During the first book, Peeta disguised himself in the arena in order to hide from the Careers. It’s noted that his talent for decorating cakes transferred over to his camouflage abilities, allowing him to do such a good job hiding that Katniss couldn’t find him, either. However, when the movie adapted his skills, the result was really, really ridiculous.

On-Screen Limitations

To be fair, it’s possible that the hidden book-Peeta looked similar to what we got in the movie. However, most fans envisioned Peeta’s disguise looking more like normal camouflage. So, while we give credit to the makeup artists for what they accomplished, this is one of those instances where the book version simply works better because any real-life version doesn’t really make sense.

14

The Muttations

Toward the end of the first Hunger Games book, Katniss and Peeta were forced to flee muttations, or mutated dog-like animals. In the movie, these muttations were muscular, pitbull-like creatures that otherwise resembled normal, though terrifying, dogs. However, in the books, they were something far more sinister.

The Tributes’ Eyes

In the books, it was implied that the muttations were made to resemble each of the tributes, and that their eyes came from the tributes’ bodies. Admittedly, trying to give the muttations human eyes could have resulted in something as silly-looking as Peeta’s camouflage. Sometimes, a book concept simply doesn’t work as well on-screen, but even if that’s the case, there’s no denying that the idea of the stolen eyes was far more horrifying than the on-screen muttations’ appearances.

13

Removing Madge Undersee

During the original Hunger Games book, tributes were allowed to bring a token into the games to remind them of home. In the books, a friend of Katniss’, Madge Undersee, pulled a Mockingjay pin off her own dress and asked Katniss to wear it into the arena. However, in the movies, Greasy Sae gave Katniss the token instead. While a small change on the surface, it hugely changed the significance of the pin, as well as the implications for where the story heads next.

Madge’s Story

In the book, Madge was the niece of Maysilee Donner, a tribute who died during Haymitch’s games. The pin used to belong to Maysilee, and after Katniss wore it into the arena, the Mockingjay became a symbol of the rebellion. Thematically, this was touching, as the symbol brought a semblance of meaning to Maysilee’s death. However, with the new book set to take place during Maysilee’s games, it’s hard to understand how the character will have the same impact, given that Madge wasn’t there to introduce her to audiences.

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12

Removal of Haymitch’s Games

Even worse than Madge’s removal from the movies was the removal of Haymitch’s games. First explored in Catching Fire, he participated in the 50th Hunger Games (aka the 2nd Quarter Quell) where double the number of tributes were forced to fight in a poisonous arena. As Katniss and Peeta (played by Josh Hutcherson) watched footage of his games, they learned that Haymitch witnessed Maysilee’s death before tricking the District 1 finalist into taking an ax to the head. Gruesome, upsetting, and highly important to understanding Haymitch’s character, fans were outraged, and confused, when his games weren’t included in the film.

Fixing the Issue

As previously mentioned, the new book takes place during Haymitch’s games. While it was a long time coming, fans are looking forward to learning more about his games and seeing them adapted to the big screen.

11

Cutting Bonnie and Twill

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Although they don’t play a huge role in the books, Bonnie and Twill served an important purpose for Katniss, one that is left out of the movie. In Catching Fire, Katniss encountered the District 8 runaways in the woods, where they told her that she had inspired them to go find District 13. This interaction was important for two reasons: it made the possibility of District 13 even realer and it helped plant the seed of rebellion to come.

Cut for Time

Most likely, the characters of Bonnie and Twill were cut simply due to time restraints. In the grand scheme of things, their absence didn’t affect the story. However, for book readers, the absence was noticed, and not for the better.

10

Peeta’s Leg Amputation

One notable difference between the books and movies revolved around Peeta’s leg. In the book, he injured his leg fighting Cato, and after the first Hunger Games, the leg was amputated and replaced by a prosthetic. However, in the movie, the damage is far less severe, and his leg is never removed.

Representation Fail

To be fair, Peeta’s prosthetic leg didn’t greatly change the overall plot of the books, though it did make it more difficult for him to participate in the 3rd Quarter Quell. Additionally, it would have been difficult to give the character a prosthetic throughout the whole film series, which is likely why it didn’t happen. However, it could have been a great opportunity for more disabled representation, as lost limbs, and disabilities in general, aren’t portrayed enough on-screen (and when they are featured, the depictions often fall short).

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9

Katniss’s Hearing Loss

Like with Peeta’s leg, the Hunger Games took a physical toll on Katniss, resulting in her losing the hearing in her left ear after blowing up the Career tribute’s stockpile. In the books, this made the 74th Games even more difficult, and her hearing wasn’t restored until the games ended. However, in the movies, she was only deafened for part of a scene, and this moment had little impact on her surviving the rest of the Games.

Another Missed Opportunity

Unlike with Peeta’s leg, it would have been easy to portray Katniss’ deafness. All it would have taken was Katniss telling Peeta she couldn’t hear, and then, after the Games, she could have been told her ear had been operated on. So, unlike with Peeta’s leg, this removal doesn’t make much sense. Again, it would have been a great opportunity to advance disabled representation, and it wouldn’t have required much planning or coordination.

Interestingly, although Katniss’ own deafness never played a role in the movies, Jennifer Lawrence temporarily lost her hearing while filming Catching Fire.

8

Whitewashing

When Jennifer Lawrence was cast as Katniss, many fans took issue with the choice. They accused the movies of whitewashing the character, who had olive skin and dark hair, as opposed to Lawrence’s white skin and blonde hair. Even worse, the casting call specifically said they were looking for someone Caucasian, which meant that other actresses who perhaps better fit the description were banned from trying out for the role.

Other Casting Choices

Of course, Katniss wasn’t the only character who didn’t match her book description. Peeta’s build and eye color were different, as was Haymitch’s hair color and texture. At the same time, some characters, such as Rue (played by Amandla Stenberg) met racist backlash in spite of their casting choice being book-accurate (or sadly, and more likely, because of it).

7

Downplaying of Johanna and Katniss Friendship

When Johanna and Katniss first met, neither really liked or trusted the other. However, that all changed after Johanna was rescued from the Capitol—at least in the book. Here, Katniss and Johanna went on to develop a friendship after spending weeks training and healing together. However, the Mockingjay movie greatly reduced these scenes, making the connection much weaker, and less interesting.

Limited Run Time

Most likely, many of Katniss and Johanna’s scenes were cut due to the movie’s limited run time. In particular, Mockingjay – Part 2 needed to spend more time focusing on Peeta’s healing and less on Johanna’s. While this makes sense, it still deprived the movie of one of its most engaging friendships.

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6

Removal of the Avoxes’ Story

During their book-trip to the Capitol, Peeta and Katniss come across servants called Avoxes whose tongues were removed as punishment. Katniss knew two of them, Lavinia and Darius, the first being a runaway she’d met outside of District 12 and the second being a Peacekeeper who had defended Gale against a whipping. Both characters were later killed by the Capitol while Peeta was being held hostage, and the abuse and tragic fates they suffered not only showed the Capitol’s malice but also served as fuel for Katniss and Peeta’s rage.

Tragic Fate

Avoxes weren’t really acknowledged in the films until Pollux appeared in Mockingjay – Part I. While we appreciate that they kept his role, the only hint that viewers got of Avoxes earlier on was a strange, silent background character dressed in red. Apparently, this woman was Lavinia, but Katniss didn’t seem to recognize her, and she played no other purpose.

5

The Love Triangle

In The Hunger Games books, the love triangle was more of, well, a love triangle, than it appeared in the movies. Katniss’s feelings were complicated by the games and her need to survive, but it was clear she deeply cared for both Gale and Peeta (even if the exact nature of her feelings was uncertain). In the movies, however, Gale’s role is greatly reduced, and Peeta’s characterization is less compelling and thematically-relevant. The movies make it obvious that she’ll wind up with Peeta, but they also give the audience less reason to root for them.

Didn’t Love it

While the love story was never the main point of The Hunger Games, rushing and simplifying it was to the detriment of the movies, whereas it was an interesting focal point in the books. Of course, debates about who Katniss should have wound up with continue, but there’s no debating that, whoever she chose, the book-version would have been better.

4

General Violence and Darkness was Toned Down

The Hunger Games is already an intense series, and in order to keep the movies PG-13, the directors had to make some cuts. For example, the traps in Mockingjay – Part 2 were far less violent, as was Finnick Odair’s tragic death. In fact, the deaths in general were drastically toned down, as were numerous other moments involving the Capitol’s brutality.

An R-Rated Hunger Games

It’s interesting to consider what an R-rated Hunger Games might look like. However, since the books were originally intended for a YA audience, it seems unlikely that such a version will ever see the light of day.

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3

Clemensia’s Fate

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Clemensia Dovecote (played by Ashley Liao) is a somewhat minor character in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. In the book, she takes co-credit for a proposal that was written by Coriolanus Snow (played by Tom Blyth), and when Dr. Gaul (played by Viola Davis) senses she didn’t write it, she tells Clemensia to retrieve the essay from a tank of snake mutts. The snakes attack her after failing to recognize her scent, and their venom lands her in the hospital, where she begins to develop scales. Later, Clemensia mostly recovers, but she’s left physically and mentally scarred.

Overly Simplified Fate

In the movie, Clemensia tries to take full-credit for Snow’s work, as opposed to partial credit. Additionally, unlike in the book, the snake bites kill her. Her fate in the book was far more gruesome, even though she survived it, and her absence was noticeable for book fans who were invested in how her role would impact not just her tribute, Reaper, but also her once-friend Snow.

2

Maude Ivory’s Screen Time is Cut

Though not the biggest character in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Lucy Gray’s cousin, Maude Ivory, had some pretty important scenes. When Lucy Gray was picked for the Hunger Games, Maude Ivory experienced horrific nightmares, and after her cousin returned, she let Lucy Gray know that Coriolanus was in the audience at her show. Later, Maude Ivory defended Lucy Gray against Billy Taupe Clade, and eventually, she was the one who found his and Mayfair’s bodies. She also explained the significance of the Covey’s names to Snow, and she more generally offered readers insight into her family’s culture.

An Important Fan Theory

While Maude Ivory’s cut screen time didn’t overly affect the story, it did leave fans hungering for more. A popular fan theory suggests that Maude is Katniss’ grandmother. While currently unconfirmed, director Francis Lawrence supports the theory, and it would help explain Katniss’ musicality and knowledge of the Covey’s songs.

1

Ending of Songbirds and Snakes

The ending of the movie A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is intense, ambiguous, and overall, pretty great. However, the book version was even better. In both versions, Snow and Lucy Gray flee District 12 together after Mayfair Lipp’s murder. However, Snow finds the evidence linking him to this death, and realizing he can get rid of it and no longer be implicated, there’s only one loose end remaining: Lucy Gray.

Snow chases after Lucy Gray and shoots at her, and her fate is left unknown. While sinister, tragic, and exciting all at once, one small difference in the book makes the scene next level.

Snow’s True Colors

In the book version, Snow’s thoughts are shared with the reader, and he’s the one who realizes that Lucy Gray must die. In the movie, it’s Lucy Gray who refers to herself as a loose end, almost taunting him to do something about it. Thus, rather than reveal Snow’s true nature, as happens in the book, the scene seemingly reveals his worst nature. In other words, the book allowed readers to slowly learn who Snow was, whereas the movie, largely due to the lack of his thoughts, presented a kinder, softer Snow, who, in the end, suddenly (and less convincingly) turned ice-cold.

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