Netflix recently dropped a new dystopian sci-fi movie, UglyStarring Joey King and based on the YA book series by Scott Westerfeld. While the Ugly Books have long been a popular addition to the genre, the initial reception of the film was not positive. Ugly is the latest in King’s disappointing Rotten Tomatoes streak, but there are still plenty of fun moments in the movie, especially for audiences who read the books. however, When compared to standouts of the YA genre, vi The Hunger GamesIt is clear that Ugly Can’t compete.
The last payment of The Hunger Games franchise, The Ballad of Songbirds and SnakesMade over $3.3 billion at the worldwide box office (via Box Office Mojo). This is difficult to compare UglyAs it is equal to streaming, but this level of success and interest is on par with the notoriety of The Hunger Games. in many ways, The Hunger Games is one of the last vestiges of the YA genre. Based on the performance of Netflix’s latest star vehicle for King, Ugly Will likely go the same way as other YA franchises that ended after one movie.
The negative reviews of Uglies prove that interest in YA Stories is fading outside of The Hunger Games
The heyday of YA adaptations in movies and TV is over
The 2010s were a landmark time in film history, especially for film adaptations of YA dystopian novels that were a hit with the next generation of films. Divergent, The Maze Runnerand of course, The Hunger Games All defined this era, but nothing was as popular as The Hunger Games. To this day, there is still a huge appetite for new movies in the world of The Hunger Games, But there was no renewed interest in her journals. The Ugly Adaptation came a decade too late and fails to live up to the high bar The Hunger Games Set.
Ugly Examples include the decline in popularity of the YA genre. Although it adheres to the tropes and visual style of the older films, it does not recapture the magic. Audiences have not demonstrated excitement for Ugly On a level close to The Hunger Games movies, and this may indicate that the YA genre is on its way out. While The Hunger Games may continue to be an exception to this trend, Few films that fall into the IA category have been made, and even fewer have been well-received. If Ugly Get a sequel, it has to work hard to differentiate itself.
|
Movie |
Rotten Tomatoes Critical Score |
Rotten Tomatoes audience score |
|
Ugly (2024) |
15% |
50% |
Why the Hunger Games franchise remains so popular while other YA movies struggle
It was clear from the first book that The Hunger Games stood apart
The Hunger Games Franchise has never struggled to transcend the YA genre and be taken seriously by audiences and critics. Susan Collins released the first book in 2008, and four years later, the film adaptation with Jennifer Lawrence was on the screen and transformed a generation of audience members. Many other franchises tried to capitalize on the success of The Hunger GamesBut none reached the same level. Even in the 2010s, Divergent is often compared to The Hunger GamesBut the overall world-building was lacking and character dynamics to be treated as a memorable work of cinema.
There is a timelessness to it The Hunger Games that don’t rely on tropes or gimmicks to grab the audience’s attention.
The most important scenes in The Hunger Games They are all thematically serious and tackle nuanced themes that other YA novels and movies only scratch the surface of. Tali (King) and her struggle in Ugly Lacks the depth and urgency of Katniss’s story in The Hunger Games. There is a timelessness to it The Hunger Games that don’t rely on tropes or gimmicks to grab the audience’s attention. Although the last movie, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakescame out eight years later Mockingjay – Part 2It was just as thrilling to return to the world of Panem.
|
Movie |
Rotten Tomatoes Critical Score |
Rotten Tomatoes audience score |
|
The Hunger Games (2012) |
84% |
81% |
|
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) |
90% |
89% |
|
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014) |
69% |
71% |
|
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015) |
69% |
66% |
|
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023) |
64% |
89% |
Uglies doesn’t have the same franchise potential as The Hunger Games
The world of uglies is not as compelling as Panem
Among the success of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in 2023 and the upcoming Haymitch prequel Sunrise on the rippingWhich will get a movie adaptation the year after the book’s release, The Hunger Games has no shortage of material to explore. Collins created a world that felt lived in and could exist in many iterations regardless of which characters brought the story to life. Even after Katniss and Peeta’s arc, Panem’s story itself was interesting enough To justify highly anticipated prequels. The movie iteration of Ugly Doesn’t establish a universe nearly as compelling.
The Ugly Books have four novels in the series, which is on par with The Hunger GamesBut having multiple installments is not enough to justify a franchise. When you compare Katniss to Tally, there is only one character that is interesting and well-developed Enough to carry a story across several books and films. Although Katniss is reluctant to lead her revolution, every step she takes aligns with her journey, and the character’s motivations are clear. The rules and consequences in Tally’s world feel underwhelming when compared to the high stakes of The Hunger Games.
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On paper, it may seem that Ugly Has much in common with the dystopian