Nearly a decade after the final installment of the initial films was released, The Hunger Games franchise has started to trend on HBO Max, proving that it’s still a hit series. The blockbuster films are set in a dystopian world and were one of many young adult novel adaptations of its time. However, unlike most of those, including The Maze Runner and Divergent, The Hunger Games has shown remarkable staying power.

Part of the reason it remains so popular is the release of prequel books and now, prequel films like The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and the upcoming Sunrise on the Reaping. The franchise is again a hit on HBO Max, with 2012’s The Hunger Games ranking second on the streaming service’s charts, while 2013’s Catching Fire and 2014’s Mockingjay Part 1 rank third and eighth, respectively.

What This Means For The Hunger Games

The Franchise Is As Popular As Ever

The Hunger Games is far from the first young adult novel adaptation set in a dystopian future to find its way to a streaming service but it is one that is trending in a bigger way than most. From The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones to The Darkest Minds to the aforementioned Divergent and The Maze Runner franchises, they don’t find their way to streaming success so long after their initial release.

These numbers on HBO Max make it clear that there’s still very much a large audience who cares about The Hunger Games or are, at the very least, watching it for the first time. The recent arrival of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes helped spark new interest in the franchise, which has resulted in another prequel being on the horizon. This kind of sustained popularity has cemented The Hunger Games as the greatest of the YA novel adaptation craze and it doesn’t seem like it’s loosening its grip on that top spot.

Our Take On The Hunger Games Trending On HBO Max

The Future Is Bright For The Hunger Games

After grossing more than $1 billion, The Hunger Games proved itself to be one of the highest-grossing franchises in movie history but after Mockingjay Part 2 was released, it seemed like that would be the end. A successful series for sure, but one that had told its final story. Suzanne Collins’ release of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in 2020 breathed new life into the franchise and the 2023 adaptation of that book was a solid box office hit.

Combine that with the streaming success that the original four movies are now seeing on HBO Max and it’s clear that there’s still a huge desire for more from this world. Sunrise on the Reaping has a good chance to become another financial achievement for the franchise because of how popular it has remained. The Hunger Games is going to remain a household name for a while longer, especially with so many people rewatching the first films as they prepare for more.