The Hunger Games

In Movie Theaters March 23, 2012

The About face: Katniss, a young girl, is forced into a survival contest in order to save her community in an insane world - way in the future.

The Wild side: In a very distant future, North America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games.

Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss' young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district's female representative, Katniss (2011 Best Actress Oscar nominee, Jennifer Lawrence) volunteers to take her place.

She and her male counterpart, Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives. Rue and Thresh are played by newcomers Amandla Stenberg and Dayo Oekniyi, respectively.

The Movie facts: The first in The Hunger Games trilogy (which Lionsgate is hoping will be at least as big as the Twilight franchise of Summit Entertainment, whom they bought in December 2011 for $450 million).

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Amandla Stenberg, Dayo Oekniyi
Director: Gary Ross
Movie Studio: Lionsgate
Rating: PG-13 (For violence, adult situations)