This weekend’s release of “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,” a prequel to the massive hit book and movie series “The Hunger Games,” is a reminder of the not-too-distant past, when adaptations of young adult novels ruled the blockbuster landscape. They’re still a rich territory for adaptation, even if the dystopian teen movies seem to have run their course, but perhaps “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” will usher in a new appetite for that subgenre, which ruled the 2010s.
So while you may be rewatching the “Hunger Games” in preparation for the prequel, here’s a list of some of the other YA movie adaptations of the recent past and where to stream them.
We have to start with “The Hunger Games,” the 2012 film adapted from the Suzanne Collins book, which ushered Jennifer Lawrence into true movie stardom over the course of four films. Set in the distant future, Lawrence plays Katniss Everdeen, a young woman who competes in the nationally televised event in which teenagers fight to the death. Stream the whole series of films, which includes “The Hunger Games,” “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” and “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Parts 1 and 2” on Peacock, or rent them on all digital platforms.
But before “The Hunger Games” took over, there were, of course, vampires. Stephenie Meyer’s book “Twilight” transported readers to the Pacific Northwest, where a vampire falls in love with a human girl. The movie adaptation in 2008 made Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson instant movie stars (they’ve since proven to be fascinatingly arty character actors). It is the 15th anniversary of the movie’s release date next week, so ring in the occasion with a rewatch or reread of the book. Stream “Twilight” on Prime Video, Tubi, or rent it elsewhere.