'Phenomenal' Netflix prequel storms charts just days after its arrival

An action-packed film that premiered on Netflix this week has swiftly climbed into the Top 10, with fans hailing it as the "best film in the franchise".

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, starring Rachel Zegler, was released in November 2023 and has won over a legion of fans.

Serving as a prequel to the 2012 blockbuster The Hunger Games, which starred Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson, the film also features Jason Schwartzman as Lucky Flickerman and Viola Davis as the formidable Dr. Gaul.

Since its release two years ago, the movie has steadily gained popularity, but its recent addition to Netflix has catapulted it to the top of the 'must watch' list.

The film's synopsis paints a vivid picture: "Years before he becomes the tyrannical president of Panem, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow remains the last hope for his fading lineage.

"With the 10th annual Hunger Games fast approaching, the young Snow becomes alarmed when he's assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird from District 12," reports the Mirror US.

It further reads: "Uniting their instincts for showmanship and political savvy, they race against time to ultimately reveal who's a songbird and who's a snake."

Upon its cinema release in late 2023, Songbirds and Snakes received mixed reviews, however, fans have embraced it wholeheartedly, with some asserting it surpasses the Jennifer Lawrence films.

With a respectable Rotten Tomatoes score of 64%, the film has sparked lively discussions on social media as fans express their admiration.

Over on Reddit, fans have been fervently discussing the latest addition to 'The Hunger Games' universe, with one admirer commenting, "I like how they made another strong female character without having to resort to Katniss' clone who fights good."

Fans have taken to Reddit to rave about the film's unique take on empowerment, with one saying, "I like how they made another strong female character without having to resort to Katniss' clone who fights good."

Another enthusiast expressed their unwavering preference: "In my opinion this hands down the best movie in the Hunger Games franchise."

Meanwhile, others lauded specifically the pacing and engagement, as one remarked: "In my opinion this hands down the best movie in the Hunger Games franchise."

The movie's ability to captivate was highlighted by another Redditor who confessed: "I was gripped the entire runtime and never felt an ounce of boredom. I just wish they went the extra mile and went a full three hours for the sake of the last act, but I'm still very pleased. I truly think this is leagues above the other four Hunger Games films."

Commenters also express wishes for a longer cinematic experience: "I was gripped the entire runtime and never felt an ounce of boredom. I just wish they went the extra mile and went a full three hours for the sake of the last act, but I'm still very pleased. I truly think this is leagues above the other four Hunger Games films."

Another stated:"It's hard to imagine a more captivating, thrilling, heartbreaking, all-around phenomenal #HungerGames prequel,"

The profound effect of the film was summarised succinctly by another fan who wrote: "You know it's a good movie when it haunts you. I watched it and I've been thinking about it all day."

Director Francis Lawrence, known for his work on Catching Fire and the Mockingjay films, once again took the helm for this blockbuster, which achieved an impressive box office haul of $349million (£255.6m) against its $100m (£73.2m) budget.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is available to stream now on Netflix.