Our Favorite Scenes from the Hunger Games Books and Movies

‘Mockingjay, Part 2’ is upon us! Next week we’ll catch up with Katniss and the rest of the tributes for one final film.

It’s no secret that we’ve grown to love The Hunger Games books and movies here at Bookstacked. There are so many horrific, inspiring, and touching moments throughout the series that have resonated with us.

In honor of the final movie’s release next week, we’ve compiled this list of our favorite moments from both the books and movies!

Book: For me the best scene from the books is no doubt Peeta’s declaration of love for Katniss during his early interview with Caesar. I recall reading the book super late at night. I was getting tired and wanted to go to sleep, so I figured that I would stop at the end of the chapter. And then Suzanne Collins dropped this bombshell on me. I couldn’t go to sleep after that, and it was that point in the book that I knew I was going to be hooked.

Movie: This one definitely goes to the breaking down of the arena in ‘Catching Fire’. The music and the drawn out suspense are so captivating. To top it off, that look of defeat on Snow’s face is priceless. I saw the movie twice in theaters, and each time the audience applauded in response to that scene. It’s just that good.

~ Saul

Book: Catching Fire probably has my favorite moments of the series. From Peeta dropping the bombshell of Katniss’ “pregnancy” to all the snarky, sarcastic dialogue from the characters, to hitting all the Everlark feels (“Will you stay with me?” “Always.”) Catching Fire also introduces us to all these new aspects of the Victors of previous Games and an insight into what life in Panem is like for the other Districts as well. I remember reading the book and being so invested in what I was happening, I had to force myself to slow down and not skip ahead to see what was next.

Movie: In my case, I think ‘Mockingjay Part 1’ has the best moments. While the tone of the film is mainly dark and solemn, the fact that there is underlying humor makes it all the better, especially Effie’s one-liners (“You know what can use a revolution? That hair.”) The musical score just helps give the film that extra umph that makes you feel the mood as it changes in the film. But the best scene was the transition from Katniss singing The Hanging Tree to the workers from District 5 marching to blow up the hydroelectric dam, just thinking about it gives me chills. I saw it twice in theaters and both times I remember that when the scene came on there was just pure silence.

~ Addie

Book: My favorite scene from the books is a conversation between Katniss and Finnick in ‘Mockingjay’. They were down in the bunker, and Katniss finally realizes how Snow is using Peeta against her just like he’s using Annie against Finnick. I always loved their friendship and I think Finnick helped Katniss feel less alone, especially when he told her “it takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart”. I think this conversation was a turning point for both of them, it helped motivate them in order to get Peeta and Annie back from Snow.

Movie: Rue’s death was one of the most important scenes for me in the movies. It still gives me chills when Katniss covers her in flowers, and when she turns towards the camera to show her respect to District 11. I think her death was heartbreaking and strong, it helped motivate Katniss to win the games for the both of them.

~ Kristy

Book: For me, it’s in Catching Fire when Katniss hears a sound but doesn’t know what it is, and Peeta tells her to go and that he will deal with it. It turns out an officer is beating Gale. I like this scene because I could feel how much Peeta loves Katniss, because even though he knows Katniss shares a special bond with Gale, he is willing to deal with the officer instead of having Katniss deal with him.

Movie: When Katniss volunteers for Prim in Hunger Games, the way she screams after Prim is taken. I think it’s one of the most important parts of the trilogy because everything that Katniss did was to keep Prim alive.

~ Rebeca

Book: My favourite scene in the entire trilogy is the opening to the first book, from Katniss waking up to find that Prim has snuck out of bed to be with her mother, right up to her conversation with Gale in the woods after she goes hunting. It opens the series in such a delicate way, it introduces us to Katniss, and it gives us our first glance at the world of Panem. From the very first page, I was hooked on Katniss’s voice and Suzanne Collins’s writing style; very few books have captivated me like that straight away, and so that’s always been my favourite scene.

Movie: There are so many I could pick for this, but it has to be from ‘Catching Fire’, when Katniss is being interviewed by Ceaser to the moment the victors join hands on stage. Katniss has just, literally, become the Mockingjay, and the victors have shown solidarity against the Capitol. The acting in that scene is incredible, and it gives me chills every time I see it!

~ Michael

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS IN THE HUNGER GAMES BOOK AND MOVIES?