15 Movies Like The Hunger Games You Need To Watch

If you’re searching for movies like The Hunger Games that deliver the same heart-pounding survival action and rebellious spirit, this expertly curated list reveals the top cinematic alternatives. Each selection captures the essence of Panem’s deadly games while offering unique twists.

What Makes These Movies Like The Hunger Games?

The best movies like The Hunger Games share these elements:

✔ Deadly competitions (Battle Royale, The Running Man)
✔ Oppressive governments (Divergent, Snowpiercer)
✔ Teen protagonists (The Maze Runner, The 5th Wave)
✔ Revolution themes (Children of Men, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes)

Now, let’s explore these 15 movies similar to The Hunger Games.

15 Movies Like The Hunger Games

1. Battle Royale (2000)

The Japanese classic that inspired The Hunger Games presents a more brutal version of deadly youth competitions. When a class of students is forced to fight to the death on an island, the psychological tension becomes unbearable. Unlike Katniss’s voluntary participation, these teens are drugged and abandoned with random weapons, creating shocking moments of betrayal between former friends. The film’s commentary on authoritarian control remains chillingly relevant decades later.

Starring: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Tarō Yamamoto
Directed by: Kinji Fukasaku
IMDb: 7.5/10

2. The Maze Runner (2014)

This sci-fi thriller offers a different flavor of survival drama that fans of The Hunger Games will appreciate. Teens trapped in a massive, shifting maze must solve its secrets while avoiding biomechanical monsters. The mystery-building and group dynamics create tension similar to Katniss’s arena battles, though with more emphasis on puzzle-solving than direct combat. The third-act revelations about WCKD’s true purpose add disturbing layers to the story.

Starring: Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster
Directed by: Wes Ball
IMDb: 6.8/10

3. Divergent (2014)

Set in a society divided by personality traits, this film explores themes of identity and rebellion that echo The Hunger Games. Tris’s journey from quiet Abnegation member to daring Dauntless warrior mirrors Katniss’s transformation, though with more psychological challenges. The fear simulation sequences provide surreal, visually striking tests of mental strength that differ from Panem’s physical battles.

Starring: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet
Directed by: Neil Burger
IMDb: 6.6/10

Movies like Thirteen to watch Movies like Divergent

4. The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)

This Hunger Games prequel explores President Snow’s origins, showing how the Games evolved into the spectacle Katniss would later face. The early, more primitive version of the competition feels shockingly raw compared to the polished arenas we know. Rachel Zegler’s performance as Lucy Gray Baird – a clear inspiration for Katniss’s persona – makes this essential viewing for fans.

Starring: Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Viola Davis
Directed by: Francis Lawrence
IMDb: 6.9/10

5. The Hunt (2020)

This darkly comedic thriller puts a modern spin on The Hunger Games’ elite-vs-poor dynamic. When wealthy liberals hunt “deplorables” for sport, one woman’s military skills turn the tables. The satire about media manipulation and class warfare feels especially sharp, while the brutal fight scenes rival anything in Panem’s arenas.

Starring: Betty Gilpin, Hilary Swank, Ike Barinholtz
Directed by: Craig Zobel
IMDb: 6.5/10

6. The Running Man (1987)

Arnold Schwarzenegger stars in this satirical action film that predicted reality TV’s dark future decades before The Hunger Games. The game show where convicts fight gladiator-style killers features Richard Dawson’s brilliantly smarmy host, who makes Caesar Flickerman seem tame by comparison. The creative kills and practical effects give the action a gritty charm missing from CGI-heavy modern films.

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, María Conchita Alonso, Richard Dawson
Directed by: Paul Michael Glaser
IMDb: 6.7/10

7. Snowpiercer (2013)

Bong Joon-ho’s dystopian masterpiece depicts class warfare on a train circling a frozen world. The rebellion’s journey from squalid tail section to luxurious front cars creates unforgettable imagery. Tilda Swinton’s grotesque bureaucrat and Chris Evans’ weary revolutionary make this one of the most politically charged movies like The Hunger Games.

Starring: Chris Evans, Song Kang-ho, Tilda Swinton
Directed by: Bong Joon-ho
IMDb: 7.1/10

8. The Giver (2014)

This underrated adaptation presents a “perfect” society that has eliminated pain, war, and emotion through strict control. The gradual introduction of color into the initially monochrome world creates one of cinema’s most beautiful visual metaphors for awakening consciousness. While less action-packed than The Hunger Games, it shares similar themes of challenging authority and discovering uncomfortable truths.

Starring: Brenton Thwaites, Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep
Directed by: Phillip Noyce
IMDb: 6.5/10

9. Ender’s Game (2013)

This sci-fi film explores the psychological toll of training child soldiers through brilliant tactician Ender Wiggin. The zero-gravity battle room sequences create some of the most inventive action in YA cinema, while the moral dilemma about justified violence gives the story surprising depth. The visual effects hold up remarkably well, particularly in depicting space battles and alien designs.

Starring: Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, Hailee Steinfeld
Directed by: Gavin Hood
IMDb: 6.6/10

10. The 5th Wave (2016)

Chloë Grace Moretz stars in this alien invasion thriller featuring survival tactics that would impress even Hunger Games tributes. The film’s strongest sequences involve solo journeys through abandoned suburbs and forests, creating tension through isolation rather than arena battles. The exploration of trust in crisis situations adds psychological complexity to the action.

Starring: Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson, Alex Roe
Directed by: J Blakeson
IMDb: 5.2/10

11. Nerve (2016)

A viral app dares teens to complete increasingly dangerous challenges for cash, updating The Hunger Games’ media critique for the digital age. The neon-lit NYC setting replaces wilderness arenas, but the commentary on performative violence and audience complicity remains equally sharp.

Starring: Emma Roberts, Dave Franco, Juliette Lewis
Directed by: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman
IMDb: 6.5/10

12. The Tournament (2009)

This underrated action flick features an underground competition where 30 assassins hunt each other through a locked-down city. The creative kills (exploding head implants, church shootouts) and international cast create a grittier version of battle royale concepts. While lighter on social commentary than The Hunger Games, the practical stunt work makes it a must for action fans.

Starring: Robert Carlyle, Kelly Hu, Ving Rhames
Directed by: Scott Mann
IMDb: 6.0/10

13. Lord of the Flies (1990)

This adaptation of William Golding’s novel presents a chilling precursor to The Hunger Games’ youth-led dystopia. Stranded boys descend into primal savagery without adult supervision, creating disturbing parallels to how the Capitol manipulates tributes. The gradual breakdown of democracy (from conch-shell meetings to tribal paint) mirrors Panem’s oppression through more organic, psychological means.

Starring: Balthazar Getty, Chris Furrh, Danuel Pipoly
Directed by: Harry Hook
IMDb: 6.4/10

14. Children of Men (2006)

Alfonso Cuarón’s masterpiece depicts a world facing human extinction with technical brilliance. The breathtaking long-take sequences create immersion unlike any other dystopian film, particularly during the climactic battle through a warzone. While more grounded than The Hunger Games, its themes of hope amidst collapse resonate similarly.

Starring: Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine
Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón
IMDb: 7.9/10

15. Squid Game (2021) (TV Series)

This Korean sensation updates The Hunger Games’ deadly competition for the modern era. Desperate contestants play lethal versions of schoolyard games, with the VIPs’ betting echoing the Capitol’s voyeurism. The series’ critique of debt-based oppression resonates even more sharply than Panem’s district system.

Starring: Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Wi Ha-joon
Directed by: Hwang Dong-hyuk
IMDb: 8.0/10

Final Thoughts

For fans seeking movies like The Hunger Games, this collection proves dystopian storytelling remains as compelling as ever. Each film captures the essence of what made Katniss’s journey iconic—whether through deadly competitions, revolutionary fervor, or unflinching social critique—while offering fresh perspectives on survival and resistance.

Quick Recommendations:

If you loved the arena battles: Battle Royale > The Tournament
If you preferred the rebellion: Snowpiercer > Children of Men
If you enjoyed the love triangle: Divergent > The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

These movies like The Hunger Games don’t just replicate its formula—they expand the genre with unique worlds, higher stakes, and thought-provoking twists