How To Watch The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes At Home
Would it be a stretch to call "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" a surprise success? Between Hollywood's many (and sweaty) failed attempts to score a hit tentpole this year and eight years having passed since "Mockingjay — Part 2" ended the original "Hunger Games" tetralogy on a box office low, there was fair reason to suspect "Songbirds and Snakes" would prove to be yet another financially disappointing return to the well. Yet, despite that, the "Hunger Games" prequel has done alright by itself since its opening last month, trucking along to a global box office haul in the vicinity of $300 million.
It absolutely helped that director Francis Lawrence (who's helmed every "Hunger Games" film to date after the first movie) kept his budget down to a relatively modest $100 million. "Songbirds and Snakes" itself was perhaps the most divisive entry in the series thus far, earning a mixed response from critics (in his review for /Film, Jeremy Mathai wrote that it "feels caught between its humbler, more character-driven aims and the blockbuster expectations of reinvigorating a brand") and a respectable, though not fantastic, B+ CinemaScore. At the same time, it landed in second place on our ranking of all the "Hunger Games" films and the /Film staff have heard from many people individually arguing that it's the best "Hunger Games" film (and not just in a "There are dozens of us!" kind of way).
If you've been waiting to check out "Songbirds and Snakes" for yourself on the home market or simply keen on revisiting it, we have good news! The film will become available to buy or rent digitally just in time for the winter holidays ... because nothing says holiday cheer like teenage gladiatorial competitions and oppressive totalitarian governments.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes heads to PVOD
Much like the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy revealed how a young, innocent, podracing boy grew up to become Darth Vader, "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" serves as an origin story for Coriolanus Snow, the dictatorial president of Panem played by Donald Sutherland in the "Hunger Games" tetralogy. Picking up 64 years before Katniss Everdeen became "The Girl on Fire," the film follows a young Coriolanus or "Coryo" (Tom Blyth, channeling Sutherland with all his might) as he mentors District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler) in the 10th Hunger Games. The two actors are joined by fellow youngster and "Euphoria" sensation Hunter Schafer as Snow's cousin Tigris, as well as a star-studded ensemble of veterans doing their best to consume every piece of scenery in sight as the citizens of Panem's eccentric, privileged upper-class, including Viola Davis, Peter Dinklage, and Jason Schwartzman.
Beginning December 19, 2023, "Songbirds and Snakes" will become available to buy for $24.99 and rent for $19.99 on several Premium Video On Demand services, including Apple TV, Vudu, Google Play, and Prime Video. The film will also stream on subscription platforms like Netflix in the coming months, in addition to, undoubtedly, becoming available to buy on Blu-ray and DVD down the line. One imagines Lionsgate plans to bundle the film with the other "Hunger Games" movies in the foreseeable future, given there are currently no plans for another installment after "Songbirds and Snakes." That being the case, all you hardcore "Hunger Games" enthusiasts and collectors may want to hold off on picking up your hard copy until then. Speaking of which...
Let the games begin on 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD
"The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" will be available on 4K Ultra HDA, Blu-ray, and DVD starting on February 13, 2024, with a special SteelBook version available at Walmart. Each will come with a digital copy, but if you're not in the market for the physical media, you can buy the digital version two weeks earlier on January 30. However, there is a benefit for rabid "Hunger Games" fans to get the physical media version of the movie.
The 4K/Blu-ray version of "The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" will come with an exclusive eight-part documentary called "Predator or Prey: Making The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes," which will provide an in-depth look at many facets of the film's production. Furthermore, the 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD versions will also be the only way you can check out the audio commentary with producer-director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson. Neither of those special features will be on the digital version of the movie.
Here's a breakdown of all the special features, including some that will only be available on the Amazon version of the Blu-ray:
4K UHD / Blu-ray Special Features
- Audio Commentary with Producer-Director Francis Lawrence and Producer Nina Jacobson (Not Included on Digital)
- "Predator or Prey: Making The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" 8-Part Documentary (Not Included on Digital)
- Songbirds & Snakes (The Acting Ensemble)
- Pure as the Driven Snow (The Music of Lucy Gray Baird)
- A Palette of Tactics (On Location in Poland and Berlin)
- Humanity Undressed (Costume, Makeup & Hair)
- To the Victor Go the Spoils (Stunts & Weapons)
- Inner Sanctum (The Post-Production Process)
- Snow Lands on Top (Reflections)
- "The Hanging Tree" Song by Rachel Zegler
- A Letter to the Fans
- Theatrical Trailers (4K Only)
DVD Special Features
- Audio Commentary with Producer-Director Francis Lawrence and Producer Nina Jacobson
- Welcome Back to Panem
- The Music of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
- The Costumes of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
- The Casting of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
- "The Hanging Tree" Song by Rachel Zegler
- A Letter to the Fans
Apple TV Special Features
- Finding a Different Sound: The Music of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
- Welcome Back to Panem
- The Music of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
- The Costumes of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
- The Casting of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
- "The Hanging Tree" Song by Rachel Zegler
- A Letter to the Fans
Amazon Blu-ray Exclusive Special Features
- Imagining a Retro Future: The Look of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
- The Arc of a Tyrant: Creating Coriolanus Snow in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes