--- title: "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-hunger-games-the-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-hunger-games-the-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes" critics_score: 63 critics_reviews: 18 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023): what the critics said Critics' score 63 from 18 reviews: 7 positive, 8 mixed, 3 negative. Most critics find this prequel a respectable return rather than a triumphant one, and the reviews lean mixed rather than warm. Where they agree is on the cast. Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler’s chemistry is praised almost everywhere, and Viola Davis and Jason Schwartzman are singled out so often for their supporting turns that they come close to being the consensus highlight. The costumes and architecture earn approval too, and several reviews credit the film with taking the villain’s origin seriously rather than treating it as franchise filler. The reservations cluster on length and pacing. Many find the first half sturdy and the final third overstuffed or rushed, and doubt that Snow’s slide into darkness is made to track on screen. Some miss Jennifer Lawrence. The spread is wide: IndieWire calls it the best film in the series, while The Hollywood Reporter finds it dour and lumbering, with Empire and the Evening Standard closer to the latter. ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich Rating A. 9 November 2023. The critic calls it the rare Hollywood prequel that towers over the rest of its franchise and the best dystopian YA movie, praising its attempt to trace President Snow’s sociopathy back to its roots as making this intimate epic stand out. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/hunger-games-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes-movie-review-1234923868/) ## Radio Times — Dave Golder Rating 4/5. 14 November 2023. This bleak prequel impresses as a committed character study of young Snow's rise rather than a standard YA blockbuster, with a strong cast and emotional core. Pacing and tone issues, plus an uneven final third, prevent it from being fully satisfying. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/hunger-games-ballad-songbirds-snakes-review/) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 9 November 2023. The critic finds it a compelling backstory that expands the canon, balancing blood sport, young love, and political commentary, with strong chemistry between leads, though the film is half an hour too long. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/the-hunger-games-the-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes-review-1235785564/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 9 November 2023. The prequel offers a muddled but grimly compelling portrait of young Snow's turn to darkness, with fetching leads and thoughtful execution of its villain origin story. It lacks the magnetic presence of prior entries but enlivens the universe with new narrative turns. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-hunger-games-the-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes-review/5187565.article) ## The AV Club — Eric Francisco Rating C+. 10 November 2023. The critic describes it as a sappy Romeo and Juliet riff that squanders a potentially rich premise on a stock-issue tragic romance, though it remains semi-competent as fluff with believable chemistry between leads and deft direction in places. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/hunger-games-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes-review-1851001265) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 19 November 2023. The critic finds the prequel visually striking with impressive costumes and architecture, but considers the story undercooked and the central characters underdeveloped. Supporting turns by Viola Davis and Jason Schwartzman are highlighted as highlights. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/nov/19/the-hunger-games-the-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes-review-viola-davis-tom-blyth-jason-schwartzman) ## Time Out — Elizabeth Weitzman Rating 3/5. 7 November 2023. The film is a propulsive but formulaic origin story that showcases new leads effectively while feeling the absence of Jennifer Lawrence. Strong action and cultural parallels are undermined by a rushed, unfocused transformation arc for Snow. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-hunger-games-the-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes-2023) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 17 November 2023. The film feels like too many movies crammed into one overstuffed installment; while the first part works, the character development in the second half doesn't track well, though performances by Blyth and Zegler are strong. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-11-17/hunger-games-ballad-of-songbirds-snakes-review-prequel-rachel-zegler-tom-blyth) ## Little White Lies — David Jenkins Rating 3/2/1. 14 November 2023. The prequel is serviceable in its first half but becomes a turgid, overlong slog in the final act due to excessive lore and soul-searching. Supporting turns from Davis and Schwartzman provide some liveliness amid the uneven execution. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/the-hunger-games-the-ballad-of-songbirds-snakes) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 9 November 2023. The critic finds the prequel dour and short on excitement, missing Jennifer Lawrence's charisma as the central draw, and criticizes its lumbering pace, lack of emotional power, and predictable plot mechanics around the young Coriolanus Snow. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-hunger-games-the-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes-review-1235639233/) ## Empire — Hanna Flint 9 November 2023. The film is a disappointingly shallow and edge-free villain origin story that fails to breathe new life into the franchise. It singles out scene-stealing turns from supporting actors like Jason Schwartzman and Viola Davis amid otherwise superficial world-building and character work. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-hunger-games-the-ballad-of-songbirds-snakes/) ## Evening Standard — Simran Hans 17 November 2023. This prequel is unappealingly lukewarm and drab, failing to ignite with leaden exposition and a hard-to-root-for protagonist. It singles out the chaste, unconvincing romance and dull concrete arena action as key disappointments. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-hunger-games-the-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes-review-b1120593.html) ## Financial Times — Danny Leigh Rating ★★★☆☆. 16 November 2023. The critic notes the film is sturdy and sometimes very good, recapturing the franchise's epic groove with respect and tension. Supporting cameos from Viola Davis and Jason Schwartzman add fizz to the revival. [Read the review](https://www.ft.com/content/3a50da90-c3e6-49c0-b909-e5219d8b6939) ## The Times — Kevin Maher Rating ★★★☆☆. 17 November 2023. The critic praises muscular central performances and a strong finale that elevate the prequel beyond typical franchise weaknesses. The games sequences are seen as the weakest element, but the psycho-romance storyline is gripping. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/article/the-hunger-games-prequel-the-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes-review-xgtrrr0zg) ## Polygon — Petrana Radulovic Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 9 November 2023. The critic calls it a sharp, exciting movie that gives the YA dystopia genre the ending it deserves by reminding viewers of the series' brilliance in world-building and its sharp take on inequality and authoritarianism. They single out how the film strips away the spectacle to focus on propaganda and the evolution of the Games themselves. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23952899/hunger-games-ballad-songbirds-snakes-review/) ## Digital Spy — Ian Sandwell Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 9 November 2023. The critic calls the film a brutal, winning return that retains the series' impact and offers a fresh perspective through its setting and focus on young Snow. They single out the strong chemistry between Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler and the visceral games sequence for praise, while noting a slight dip in the final act. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a45762204/hunger-games-ballad-songbirds-snakes-review/) ## Film Stories — Maria Lattila Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 9 November 2023. The critic praises it as a satisfying villain origin story with phenomenal casting, especially Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler, and timely themes. The main praise is for the character study of Snow's descent and strong performances. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/the-hunger-games-the-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes-review-a-thrilling-tantalising-villain-origin-story/) ## Den of Geek — David Crow Rating 3.5/5. 15 November 2023. The critic finds the prequel a strong, entertaining return to the series that succeeds as an origin story for Snow while building a bleak yet plausible world. They single out Rachel Zegler's charismatic and melodious performance as Lucy Gray for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/hunger-games-the-ballad-of-songbirds-snakes-review-rachel-zegler/) ## The Ringer — Zach Kram Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 16 November 2023. The review deems it a worthy addition to the franchise with strong world-building details and supporting performances but finds it falls short of the originals due to an emotional disconnect in the villain origin story and a rushed final act. They single out the strong work from Viola Davis and Jason Schwartzman while noting the lack of humor and relatable emotional core. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2023/11/16/movies/the-hunger-games-the-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes-review) ## Deadline — Valerie Complex Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 15 November 2023. The critic praises the visually stunning production and standout performances, especially Viola Davis, but criticizes the uneven narrative, pacing issues in the third act, and an unsuccessful attempt to humanize the protagonist, resulting in a mixed overall verdict. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2023/11/the-hunger-games-ballad-of-songbirds-amp-snakes-review-a-tale-of-power-1235613182/) ## /Film — Jeremy Mathai Rating 5/10. 9 November 2023. It's a half-decent but overstuffed prequel that struggles with pacing and doesn't fully justify its existence, though Zegler's performance stands out. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1428884/the-hunger-games-the-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes-review/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 9 November 2023. The critic finds the prequel overlong and clumsily paced with mixed results, lacking real insights into human nature despite strong performances from Zegler and Blyth and impressive visuals. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/the-hunger-games-the-ballad-of-songbirds-snakes-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-hunger-games-the-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes.md