The Hunger Games (2012)

Most people think so. 81% of audiences gave it a thumbs up, by Google's archived audience score. Critics agree, scoring it 76%.

In a dystopian society where the Capitol forces each district to send two young tributes to fight to the death in a televised spectacle, a girl volunteers to take her sister’s place, setting the stage for a struggle of survival and defiance. Wikipedia ↗

The Hunger Games is a 2012 American dystopian science fiction film directed by Gary Ross, based on Suzanne Collins' bestselling 2008 novel. Set in the post-apocalyptic nation of Panem, the film follows sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence, who volunteers to take her younger sister's place in the annual Hunger Games — a televised death match in which 24 children from Panem's twelve impoverished districts are forced to fight to the death for the entertainment of the wealthy Capitol. The film launched Jennifer Lawrence into global superstardom, with her portrayal of the resourceful, reluctant heroine earning widespread praise for its emotional authenticity.

The Hunger Games sparked a wave of young adult dystopian adaptations in Hollywood and inspired real-world political movements, with the three-finger salute from the film being adopted as a symbol of resistance by protesters in Thailand and other countries. The film was notable for its unflinching exploration of media manipulation, wealth inequality, and the ethics of violence as entertainment — themes that resonated powerfully in an era of reality television. Shot on a relatively modest $78 million budget, The Hunger Games earned $694 million worldwide and launched a four-film franchise that collectively grossed nearly $3 billion.

The film's success also helped establish the template for splitting final book adaptations into two films, a practice that became standard in franchise filmmaking throughout the 2010s.