The Hunger Games Steelbook Collection (4K Blu-ray Review)
The blockbuster phenomenon The Hunger Games saga is out now, exclusively at Walmart on 4K Ultra HD™ + Blu-ray™ + Digital SteelBook® from Lionsgate. Starring Oscar® winner Jennifer Lawrence (2012, Actress in a Leading Role, Silver Linings Playbook), all four films will be available on this collectible format: The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1 and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2. The Hunger Games SteelBook® will be available on 4K Ultra HD™ + Blu-ray™ + Digital for the suggested retail price of $59.99.
–
Films 
OFFICIAL SYNOPSES
THE HUNGER GAMES
Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the Capitol of the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen volunteers in her younger sister’s place and must rely upon her sharp instincts when she’s pitted against highly trained Tributes who have prepared their entire lives. If she’s ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE
Academy Award® winner Jennifer Lawrence returns as Katniss Everdeen in this thrilling second adventure from The Hunger Games saga. Against all odds, Katniss and fellow tribute Peeta have returned home after surviving the Hunger Games. Winning means they must leave loved ones behind and embark on a Victory Tour through the districts. Along the way, Katniss senses a rebellion simmering – one that she and Peeta may have sparked. At the end of the tour, President Snow announces a deadly 75th Hunger Games that could change Panem forever.
THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY — PART 1
Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived. She awakens from the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell deep inside the bunkered catacombs of District 13. Separated from some of her closest allies and fearing for their safety in the Capitol, Katniss finally agrees to be the Mockingjay, the symbolic leader of the rebellion. Still uncertain as to whom she can trust, Katniss must help 13 rise from the shadows, all the while knowing that President Snow has focused his hatred into a personal vendetta against her—and her loved ones.
THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY — PART 2
One of the most celebrated movie series of all time comes to its thrilling conclusion in the last chapter of The Hunger Games. Jennifer Lawrence stars as Katniss Everdeen, who began her journey fighting to survive the brutal Hunger Games, and rose to lead the rebellion against Panem’s tyrannical president (Donald Sutherland). Now, Katniss and a team of rebels from District 13 prepare for the final epic battle that will decide Panem’s future.
Please click the links below to access the archival reviews of my colleague Brandon Peters whose spot-on reviews nail each film and their discs in great detail:
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
My own thoughts, in short:
I have honestly resisted watching The Hunger Games series since its iteration into film history over ten years ago. I had read a portion of the original novel in passing, and it didn’t hold my attention. Admittedly, I am much more taken with this subject matter in film over a book presentation. To say that this was a mistake is a huge understatement, as I was immersed immediately in this world of The Hunger Games and its districts. The premise is dark and nowadays in some cases feels like we are inching closer to this nightmare in our real lives… obviously not as extreme, but I digress.
The who’s who of actors in each installment becomes more eye popping each film and the story evolves in such a way that I genuinely cared for the people in the fight for better lives and survival. Jennifer Lawrence got the praise she deserved and casting controversies aside, I loved her character’s evolution through each film. It’s also fun to see Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tuck and Woody Harrelson chewing scenery here. This adds to the film becoming more down to earth and gives you some dark humor too.
Overall, The Hunger Games series leaves you compelled from film to film and engaged completely. I was wrong to shrug off these films and man, am I grateful I decided to check these out finally!
Video/Audio
Since the discs in this collection are the same transfers as the ones that have been available on the format since 2016, I will say that nearly 7 years since they were released, these 4 films look and sound wonderful all around. While visually, these films all have a fairly flat color palette, they pop with detail and clarity, with just a touch of film grain. The audio portion for each entry though, is a masterclass in Atmos sound imagery. The mixes are aggressive, immersive and still reference grade after all these years.
Extras 
As with the films themselves, extras are all very engrossing. Each film comes with a feature length documentary undergoing the process of the making of each film. With exceptional detail, we are taken into the world even deeper and our inner filmmakers are taken on a journey that we can’t help but be sucked into as we delve deeper in the making of each film. Documentaries and Features are as follows:
- THE HUNGER GAMES
- Audio Commentary with Editor Stephen Mirrione, Visual Effects Supervisor Sheena Duggal, and Supervising Sound Editor Lon Bender
- Game Maker: Suzanne Collins and The Hunger Games Phenomenon
- The World Is Watching: Making The Hunger Games
- Letters from the Rose Garden
- THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE
- Audio Commentary with Director Francis Lawrence and Producer Nina Jacobson
- “Surviving the Game: Making The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” Documentary
- Deleted Scenes
- THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY — PART 1
- Audio Commentary with Director Francis Lawrence and Producer Nina Jacobson
- “The Mockingjay Lives: The Making of MJ1” Documentary
- Straight from the Heart: A Tribute to Philip Seymour Hoffman
- Songs of Rebellion: Lorde on Curating the Soundtrack
- Lorde “Yellow Flicker Beat” Music Video
- Deleted Scenes
- THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY — PART 2
- “Pawns No More: Making The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2” — An 8-Part Documentary with an In-Depth Look at All Aspects of the Making of the Final Movie Including the Acting Ensemble, Visual and Costume Design, Special Effects, Post-Production, and More!
- The Hunger Games: A Photographic Journey
- Cinna’s Sketchbook: Secrets of the Mockingjay Armor
- Panem on Display: The Hunger Games: The Exhibition
- Jet to the Set (Blu-ray Only)
- Audio Commentary with Director Francis Lawrence and Producer Nina Jacobson
Summary
The Hunger Games series is one of great quality. It brings us into the weird and wonderful world of Katniss Everdeen and puts us in a whirlwind of adventure, hope and survival. While the series isn’t perfect, I find myself hard pressed not to ring its praises as a whole. This new steelbook set, exclusive to Walmart is a smart way to collect the films with a wonderful looking steelbook with matching slipcover and discs with matching screens on them, separating them from the individual releases. Worth a pick up for those of you (like me…) who have resisted these films over the years.
Get your copy of The Hunger Games Collection (4K UHD Steelbook) (Walmart Exclusive) HERE
