The Initial Social Media Reactions to The Ballad of Songbirds And Snakes

Article Overview

Reactions to the upcoming Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, have been released on social media.

Critics and pop culture pundits can now express their thoughts on the movie without giving away any spoilers prior to its release.

The movie will explore the background of President Coriolanus Snow and his involvement as a mentor to Lucy Gray Baird, the tribute from District 12.

Social media has seen the initial reactions to The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. This upcoming blockbuster serves as a prequel to the Hunger Games series, in which Jennifer Lawrence portrayed the protagonist Katniss Everdeen. The new film is set sixty years before, and it portrays President Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) as he mentors Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), a tribute from District 12 involved in an earlier version of the brutal event known as the Hunger Games.

Recently, the embargo on the film has been lifted, enabling critics and pop culture experts to share their thoughts on the movie, devoid of any spoilers. While some critics have commented on the pacing and runtime, the cast has received extensive acclaim. Some viewers have even suggested that this film may be considered one of the finest additions to the Hunger Games franchise. Take a look at a few selected reactions below:

Tessa Smith praised the exceptional performance from the entire cast and highlighted Tom Blyth's outstanding portrayal as a performance of a lifetime. According to Smells Like Teen Angst, the movie has been deemed as possibly the best adaptation to date, with commendations directed towards the acting, music, and costumes.

Barry Hertz, however, proposed that the movie ought to have been divided into two parts due to his disapproval of the "hurried and unsettled conclusion" that comes after the "exhilaratingly brutal initial portion."

Stephanie Ramirez expressed her delight at witnessing the film and characters portrayed flawlessly on the grandiose cinema display.

Jeff Conway described the film as a captivating story that blurs the distinction between good and evil, commending the impressive performances by Blyth, Zegler, and Jason Schwartzman in his role as Hunger Games host Lucky Flickerman.

Although Rama's Screen expressed disapproval towards the vague ending and lengthy duration, the reviewer did acknowledge that the movie was even more engaging than its predecessor.

Daniel Howat praised the movie as the best Hunger Games film to date, highlighting its intense plot, impressive action sequences, and exceptional performances. Pop Crave described it as a triumph, particularly applauding Viola Davis for her captivating portrayal of head gamemaker Dr. Volumnia Gaul.

Lauren Garafano said that, as a longtime Hunger Games fan, "I literally cannot wait to see it again when it comes out."

How Will The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Compare To The Other Hunger Games Movies?

With the initial hype at full force, there is a possibility for the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie to attain considerable success both critically and commercially within the franchise. However, as of now, estimates suggest that its opening weekend at the box office may only reach a modest $50 million. This figure falls short of even half the earnings of the lowest-grossing Hunger Games film (Mockingjay - Part 2 debuted with $102 million). Nevertheless, positive word of mouth could potentially alter the situation.

So far, the performance of the Hunger Games sequels at the box office has consistently aligned with their respective rankings among critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. This indicates that both the critical and commercial success of the movies peaked with the second installment, Catching Fire, before experiencing a decline with the final two entries, which adapted the third book, Mockingjay, into two separate parts. Below is a comparative ranking of the previous movies' scores from critics, audience, and worldwide box office:

The critical reception of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes remains uncertain until full reviews are published closer to its premiere. If the connection between the scores of the previous movies and their box-office success holds true, the prequel's financial performance will rely heavily on the reviews it receives. However, the cast of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes has been granted special permission by SAG-AFTRA to actively promote the movie, potentially providing an additional boost through interviews and other pre-release promotion. Nevertheless, the reviews will play a crucial role in generating excitement for a new Hunger Games film.

Editor's P/S

As a passionate fan of The Hunger Games series, I am thrilled to see the release of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The prequel explores the origins of President Coriolanus Snow, a character we all love to hate. Tom Blyth's portrayal of Snow is exceptional, and I can't wait to see how his character develops. The film also introduces us to Lucy Gray Baird, a tribute from District 12 who becomes Snow's mentor. Rachel Zegler brings a fierce and determined spirit to the role, and I'm excited to see her journey unfold.

Overall, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a well-crafted and entertaining film that lives up to the high standards set by its predecessors. The cast is excellent, the story is engaging, and the action sequences are thrilling. I highly recommend it to fans of The Hunger Games series and to anyone who enjoys a good dystopian story. While some critics have expressed concerns about the pacing and runtime, I believe that these issues do not detract from the overall enjoyment of the film. I can't wait to see what the future holds for this new chapter in The Hunger Games franchise.