History Trivia / TheHungerGames

* WorkingTitle: The working title of the first novel was ''The Tribute of District Twelve''. Some foreign editions do this, like the German release, ''Die Tribute Von Panem'' (The Tributes of Panem). Catching Fire was originally called the Ripple Effect but that was deemed "too watery for the Girl on Fire". Mockingjay's working title had something to do with Ashes according to Collin's Tenth Anniversary Interview.

* WorkingTitle: The working title of the first novel was ''The Tribute of District Twelve''. Some foreign editions do this, like the German release, ''Die Tribute Von Panem'' (The Tributes of Panem).

* BabyNameTrendStarter: "Katniss" was unheard of as a given name before the release of The Hunger Games, which led a number of parents to give their daughters the name in the early 2010s. It enjoyed another boost in 2020 with the release of the prequel novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

** Graffiti reading "If we burn, you burn with us" appeared during the protests in Ferguson, Missouri regarding the shooting of Michael Brown.

** Katniss and Gale are brunettes played by blondes while Peeta is a blond played by a brunet. Otherwise averted with Katniss's skinny frame -- as Creator/JenniferLawrence refuses to starve herself for a role.

%%** Creator/SuzanneCollins approved of both Creator/JenniferLawrence and Creator/ElizabethBanks' casting.

** Elizabeth Banks, who plays Effie, actively sought the part, being a huge fan of the books. She's also a huge Hayffie shipper and has said in interviews that she's asked Suzanne Collins if [[spoiler:the two kiss in the final film. In the books, they're never shown as romantically involved. However in 'Mockingjay Part 2'', the film ends with Effie and Haymitch kissing each other]]. She even gave her character in ''Film/PitchPerfect'' the surname Abernathy.

* CreatorChosenCasting:
** Creator/SuzanneCollins approved of both Creator/JenniferLawrence and Creator/ElizabethBanks' casting.
** Music/LennyKravitz was cast as Cinna without auditioning after Gary Ross was impressed by his brief performance in ''Film/{{Precious}}''.

** Foxface's actress Jackie Emerson is a huge fan of the series.

* TheWikiRule: [[https://thehungergames.fandom.com/ The Hunger Games Wiki]], [[https://thegamesrp.fandom.com/ The Games Wiki]], and the [[https://hunger-games-news.fandom.com/ Hunger Games News Wiki]].

* CreatorChosenCasting: Creator/SuzanneCollins approved of both Creator/JenniferLawrence and Creator/ElizabethBanks' casting.

* StarMakingRole: Although Creator/JenniferLawrence had already gained a decent amount of recognition for her performances in ''Film/WintersBone'' (for which she was Oscar-nominated) and ''Film/XMenFirstClass'', it was the first ''Hunger Games'' film that made her a major household name worldwide.

* TrendKiller: The film adaptations of ''The Hunger Games'' (2012) and ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' (2008) killed the child-led blockbuster franchises that ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' had popularized. Young adult novels featuring child protagonists either aged up their protagonists (e.g. ''Film/TheGiver'' and ''Film/{{Seventh Son|2015}}'') or used teenage/adult protagonists instead.

* StarMakingRole: While Creator/JenniferLawrence had already gained a decent amount of recognition for her performances in ''Film/WintersBone'' (for which she was Oscar-nominated) and ''Film/XMenFirstClass'', it was the first ''Hunger Games'' film that made a major household name worldwide.

** President Snow is described in the books as short, but 6'4'' [[https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Aggressive-Way-Donald-Sutherland-Got-Himself-Cast-Hunger-Games-68143.html experienced and invested Donald Sutherland won the role]].

** Appears to be the case with Donald Sutherland, who read the books and then sought the role of Snow by writing Gary Ross a letter where he delved into the character's motivations in great detail (which ended up being the basis for some of Snow's scenes in the first film). The DVD of the first film has a bonus feature of Sutherland reading the letter.
** Elizabeth Banks, who plays Effie, actively sought the part, being a huge fan of the books. She's also a huge Hayffie shipper and has said in interviews that she's asked Suzanne Collins if [[spoiler:the two can end up together in the final film. In the books, they're never shown as romantically involved. They finish ''Mockingjay'' by kissing each other]]. She even gave her character in ''Film/PitchPerfect'' the surname Abernathy.

** President Snow is described in the books as short, but 6'4'' but [[https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Aggressive-Way-Donald-Sutherland-Got-Himself-Cast-Hunger-Games-68143.html the experienced and invested Donald Sutherland won the role]].

* CreatorChosenCasting:
** Creator/SuzanneCollins approved of both Creator/JenniferLawrence and Creator/ElizabethBanks' casting.
** Music/LennyKravitz was cast as Cinna without auditioning after Gary Ross was impressed by his brief performance in ''Film/{{Precious}}''.

* PlayingAgainstType: Alexander Ludwig had often been in KidHero roles such as ''Film/RaceToWitchMountain'' and ''Film/TheSeeker'', and was one of the actors in the running to play Peeta. He however jumped at the chance to play a villain for a change.

* ScullyBox: Creator/JenniferLawrence has a good two inches over Josh Hutcherson. In the film he is hoisted up to that they look the same height.

* Fanboy Promoted:

** Katniss and Gale are brunettes played by blondes while Peeta is a blond played by a brunet. Otherwise averted with Katniss's skinny frame - as Creator/JenniferLawrence refuses to starve herself for a role.

** A common criticism among bloggers is the fact that the storyline is supposedly identical to ''Literature/BattleRoyale,'' another book following children in a fight to the death.

** Strangely enough, the film was ''not'' banned in China itself, despite it being more authoritarian than Vietnam. This is possibly due to it being possible to interpret the film as a parable about "Western decadence".

** Peeta is described as having blond, curly hair, blue eyes and being taller than Katniss. Josh Hutcherson dyes his hair blond but keeps it straight instead of curly. There was also fan outrage over him not being "good looking enough" for Katniss to pick him over Gale. Suzanne Collins said that Hutcherson was perfect for the part. By the time the third and fourth movies came out most fans of the books agreed that he captured Peeta's character very well.