Why The Hunger Games’ Two-Part Finale Was a Cautionary Tale for Other YA Franchises on Splitting Final Films

The Hunger Games franchise’s decision to split its concluding film into two parts sparked considerable debate within the film community. While the movies overall enjoyed tremendous box office success, the choice to divide the adaptation of Mockingjay has drawn criticism, particularly regarding the pacing and engagement of Mockingjay – Part 1. This experience could serve as a cautionary tale for other popular young adult franchises considering a similar split for their final films.

The Issues with Mockingjay: Part 1 Highlighted the Downsides of Two-Part Finals

An Anticlimactic Narrative and Slow Pacing

The move to split the final installment of The Hunger Games series inevitably led to complications for Mockingjay – Part 1. The film suffered from pacing issues that detracted from its overall impact. The original story by Suzanne Collins builds gradually without needing to be divided, making the sequence of events feel drawn out when presented in a two-part format. The first film largely consisted of political maneuverings and lacked the thrilling scenes that characterized the franchise, leaving audiences yearning for the more action-packed content relegated to Part 2.

Even memorable moments, like Katniss’s stirring “If we burn”speech, could not elevate the film’s sagging narrative. The absence of significant interactions between key characters, such as Katniss and Peeta, further diluted emotional engagement, reducing the film to little more than a setup for its successor. Many viewers felt that they were watching more of a preliminary rundown than a standalone movie.

The Divergent Series: A Cautionary Tale of Split Adaptations

Ascendant’s Cancellation Left the Series Unfinished

Despite the narrative hurdles encountered by Mockingjay – Part 1, the film’s continuation did not deter other franchises from adopting a similar strategy. The Divergent series sought to mirror this approach, inevitably leading to a more severe outcome. The decision to split Allegiant into two segments resulted in an unfinished story, culminating in the cancellation of its sequel, Ascendant, after poor box office returns.

The adaptation headed for a disappointing conclusion for fans eager to witness Tris and Four’s full journey on screen. By following the same troublesome path laid by The Hunger Games, the Divergent series faced analogous setbacks: a slow start and insufficient action throughout the film. This ultimately left viewers without a satisfying resolution, something that should have been apparent given the earlier franchise’s experience.

Hollywood’s Risky Move to Two-Part Movies Continues

The Challenges of Splitting Narratives

Both The Hunger Games and Divergent indicate that executing two-part films poses significant challenges. Yet, the Hollywood trend shows little sign of waning, with recent films like Fast X, Across the Spider-Verse, Horizon, and Rebel Moon employing a similar format. The outcomes of these films vary greatly; for instance, Across the Spider-Verse‘s cliffhanger conclusion has generated excitement, but it also risks viewers losing interest over extended waits.

In contrast, projects like Horizon and Rebel Moon carry an additional risk as they are not sequels. Generally, sharing a complete story in one installment proves more effective than splitting narratives in pursuit of financial gain. While the two-part format can succeed—as seen with Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame—it requires a solid and compelling execution. More often than not, however, such endeavors resemble the lackluster nature of The Hunger Games’ finale.

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