The Hunger Games is a series of movies based on the book trilogy by Suzanne Collins. The movies begin with The Hunger Games in 2012, which sees teenagers Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) fight in the Hunger Games, an annual contest that puts tributes from each district against each other in a fight to the death. Their survival entangles them in a relationship and launches a rebellion that continues in the franchise’s remaining movies, Catching Fire, Mockingjay – Part 1, and Mockingjay – Part 2. The movies were well-received, and praised for how they adapted the source material. Still, as with any book-to-movie adaptation, there are things that don’t make the leap from page to screen. Here are some things from The Hunger Games books that didn’t appear in the movies.
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10 Effie’s Backstory
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As Katniss and Peeta’s escort, Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) is known for her cheerful spirit and bold outfits, which easily makes her one of the franchise’s most fashionable characters, per ScreenRant. However, much of her role isn’t fully explained; as escort, she guides Katniss and Peeta to the Capitol and instructs them on the social aspects of the Games. In one case of the movie adding to the book, she is actually much more present in the final two films, and actively contributes to the rebellion.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
9 The Prep Team (Octavia, Flavius, and Venia)
In the movies, Katniss gets made up and has her outfits designed by Cinna (Lenny Kravitz). Kravitz is great in the role, and shows real kindness to Katniss. In the book, Katniss has a whole team that glamorizes her for the Games – Octavia, Flavius, and Venia – and though their roles are small, they’re a point of comfort for Katniss. Kravitz, however, gives such a strong performance as Cinna that he’s really all that’s needed in the movie.
8 Peeta’s Prosthetic Leg
Peeta receives a serious leg wound that gets infected in the movie, though he survives and makes a full recovery. While he recovers in the book, his injury is so bad that his leg is partially amputated, and replaced with a prosthetic. It’s a small detail, but it would have added so much to Peeta’s character, and physically shown a long-lasting effect of the Games that follows him through the books.
7 Origins of the Mockingjay Pin
This is only a partial omission, as the Mockingjay pin is included, and becomes a symbol for Katniss and the rebellion throughout the franchise. In the movie, Katniss receives the pin from her district’s black market before the Games. However, in the book, the pin is given to Katniss by Madge Undersee, daughter of the District 12 mayor. The pin belonged to Madge’s aunt, who died in the Games. It’s a small change, but the pin’s book origin gives it added weight and emotional depth, and further shows the widespread damage of the Games.
6 The Captured Avox
In the Hunger Games universe, Avoxes are rebels who are caught by the Capitol and have their tongues cut out. In the first book, Katniss and her friend Gale (Liam Hemsworth) are hunting for food when they see two people who are presumably runaways from the Capitol. Later, the girl they saw appears as an Avox servant to Katniss while she’s in the Capitol, preparing for the Games. It would have been an earlier introduction to life in the Capitol and the dangers of rebellion.
5 Peeta Getting Beaten on TV
In Mockingjay – Part 1, Peeta is imprisoned in the Capitol. His experiences there are largely left implied in both the book and movie. However, in the book, he does interviews that the Capitol broadcasts to mess with Katniss. In one of them, Peeta begins warning Katniss of an upcoming attack, and Katniss sees him beaten on TV. This is left out of the movie, though we still see the toll that the imprisonment took on Peeta.
4 Katniss Remains Deaf in One Ear
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In Katniss’ first Games, she blows up some of the other tributes’ supplies, and the explosion makes her ear bleed. She eventually loses the hearing in that ear for the remainder of the Games, until doctors at the Capitol restore it. This is never mentioned in the movie, and similar to Peeta’s leg, isn’t strictly necessary. However, it would have shown how the Games changed Katniss, and addressed their real repercussions.
3 More of Haymitch’s Alcoholism and Past
Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) is a former Hunger Games victor who struggles with alcohol abuse. As a victor, he mentors Katniss and Peeta, and lowers his gruff persona to help them. Harrelson does a great job at bringing depth to the character, and making him likable even through his meaner aspects. The movie lacks some of the background that is present in the books, however. For example, we see more of his alcoholism, like when he falls off the stage at the Reaping. In Catching Fire, Katniss and Peeta also watch footage of young Haymitch winning his own Games, and how he drew the wrath of the Capitol by outsmarting the arena. It gives more insight into what he went through, and how it made him who he is.
2 The Muttations
The first movie grows to an end with the memorable scene of Katniss and Peeta being attacked by giant dogs. In the book, these mutts were engineered by the Gamemakers, with eyes and fur to match the eyes and hair of the fallen tributes. The movie doesn’t mention this, and while it doesn’t affect the story, it’s a missed chance to show how vile the Gamemakers are – and another example, per Comic Book Resources, of how much darker the books can be.
1 The Extended Cave Scene – and Much of the Games’ Severity
The first movie sees Peeta and Katniss hiding in a cave while Peeta recovers from a leg injury. The movie doesn’t dwell on this, but it’s a significant part of the book. In the book, Peeta’s injury nearly kills him, and he and Katniss grow closer while they hide; Katniss also truly begins to care for Peeta. The movie cutting the scene reflects how they removed much of the Games’ severity. For example, Katniss nearly dies from dehydration in the first Games, while Peeta kills someone with the other tributes. The Games are still violent in the movies, but they’re missing that extra bit of despair and bleakness.
