Released in theaters : March 23, 2012
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Wes Bentley, Toby Jones, Alexander Ludwig, Isabelle Fuhrman, Amandla Stenberg, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland
Plot from Wikepedia
At an unidentified future date, the nation of Panem has risen out of the ruins of what was once known as North America. Due to an unsuccessful uprising by the districts of Panem, a raffle (known as the ‘reaping’) is held to choose one boy and girl, aged 12–18, from each district to risk their lives in the Hunger Games, a ruthless competition in which each contestant, or tribute, tries to kill the others until only one is left alive. The winner receives honor, gifts, and enough food and supplies to never worry about anything ever again. The Hunger Games, while entertainment for the Capitol’s exempt citizens, are a yearly reminder to the 12 districts of the Capitol’s authority, and punishment for their rebellion over 70 years ago.
In District 12, sixteen year-old Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) cares for her mother (Paula Malcomson) and her sister Primrose “Prim” (Willow Shields) since her father died in a mine accident when she was 11. Each year, since the age of 12, Katniss’ name has been placed in the reaping more than once. In return for taking this extra annual risk, she receives extra tessarae which is grain and oil for her family. In addition, Katniss has been illegally hunting for food outside the boundary fences of District 12 with her friend Gale (Liam Hemsworth), whose father died in the same mining accident as Katniss’.
Prim, now age 12, has her name placed in the reaping for the first time — only once — and it is unexpectedly drawn. Katniss volunteers to replace her sister in the Games. She competes against other tributes, including “Career Tributes” who have been training illegally for the Games their entire lives, as well as Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), the male tribute from District 12, who has secretly loved Katniss since childhood, and who once did her a kindness she could never forget.
Before the Hunger Games begin, she is given a stylist and a prep team to help her make a good impression with the sponsors. Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson), a drunk and the only living victor from District 12, mentors both Katniss and Peeta before and during the Hunger Games.