It’s spring break. A lot of my college friends have chosen to vacation away from the quaint walls of my college campus. Some are sipping piña coladas while poking their toes into the sand, and others are snapping cute, pink-nosed selfies on Colorado ski slopes. Not me. I am huddled in my basic, white, Urban Outfitters bedspread, and staycationing with none other than the ruggedly charming Josh Hutcherson.
Not actually, but let me explain. If you’ve been MIA for the past couple of weeks, or perhaps hibernating since the clock struck 12 a.m. on March 1, Netflix recently re-added the entirety of The Hunger Games series to its hub, and I’ve been rewatching ever since. And this isn’t just a hyperfixation of mine: it seems the entire TikTok algorithm is re-obsessed with the YA classic. On social media, Gen Z fans have resumed their Panem obsession — my entire Instagram explore page and TikTok FYP have been taken over by Hunger Games fan pages, edits, and memes.
On TikTok #HungerGames has over 6.8 billion views. Along with creating tear-inducing Hunger Games edits, Hunger Games enthusiasts have also wielded their creative powers into making insane cosplay costumes. The hashtag, #hungergamescosplay is also trending with 5.5 million views. Loyal fans are spending their spring breaks dressing as the iconic Tigris and creating legendary Katniss costumes. Be prepared to see tons of unique Capitol fashion this Halloween.
For the most part, Gen Z is revisiting the series for a dose of nostalgia.
Some are even doing a full rhetorical analysis of the series. Seriously.
For the most part, I’m just here thirsting after Finnick.
Whichever Hunger Games star you choose to fangirl over, the films are only available until the end of March, so you better sit down and get that popcorn popping.
Fans are speculating that Netflix briefly added the series to rekindle the love for the games before the Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, comes out in November 2023. If you’ve ever watched the series and paused halfway thinking, “wait what even is the purpose of the Hunger Games?” you aren’t the only one.
The new movie centers around the young President Snow before he becomes the authoritarian leader of Panem. (How’s that for an anti-hero story?) The story takes place six decades before the timeline of our beloved Katniss Everdeen, so it’s likely we won’t be glimpsing the OG cast members. Maybe we won’t get to swoon over our original hunger games crushes, but Tom Blyth playing teenage Snow just might have you falling in love. Until then, catch me spending my spring break binge-watching Everlark edits in bed.