The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakesbr is a 2023 American dystopian action film directed by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by Michael Lesslie and Michael Arndt. Based on the 2020 novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins, it serves as a prequel to The Hunger Games (2012), and is the fifth installment in The Hunger Games film series. The film stars Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Peter Dinklage, Jason Schwartzman, Hunter Schafer, Josh Andrés Rivera, and Viola Davis. Set 64 years before the events of the first film, its plot follows the events that lead a young Coriolanus Snow on the path to becoming the tyrannical leader of Panem, including his relationship with the Hunger Games District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird during the 10th Hunger Games.br br Directed by:Francis Lawrencebr br Screenplay by: Michael Lessliebr Michael Arndtbr br Based on:The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesbr by Suzanne Collinsbr br Produced by:Nina Jacobsonbr Brad Simpsonbr Francis Lawrencebr br Starring:Tom Blythbr Rachel Zeglerbr Peter Dinklagebr Jason Schwartzmanbr Hunter Schaferbr Josh Andrés Riverabr Viola Davisbr br Cinematography:Jo Willemsbr br Edited by:Mark Yoshikawabr br Music by:James Newton Howardbr Productionbr companies:Color Force about:blankbr br Distributed by:Lionsgate Filmsbr br Release dates:br November 5, 2023 (Berlin)br November 17, 2023 (United States)br br Running time:157 minutesbr br Country:United Statesbr br Language:Englishbr br Budget:$100 millionbr br Box office:$255.8 millionbr br to District 12, where he and Sejanus begin Peacekeeper training.br br After a man is hanged, inspiring Lucy Gray's "The Hanging Tree" song, Coriolanus and Sejanus visit the Hob bar where Lucy Gray performs with the Covey, a nomadic band. Coriolanus overhears Sejanus helping rebels planning to escape; he uses a jabberjay to record Sejanus' voice and sends it to Gaul. Coriolanus finds Sejanus talking to rebel Spruce, Lucy Gray's old boyfriend Billy Taupe, and his girlfriend Mayfair, leading to an altercation. Coriolanus fatally shoots Mayfair and Spruce kills Billy. Sejanus and Spruce are subsequently hanged for treason while Lucy Gray and Coriolanus escape.br br Heading north, Coriolanus finds Spruce's weapons hidden in a lakeside cabin. Lucy Gray runs away after realizing Coriolanus betrayed Sejanus. As Coriolanus pursues her, a snake set in a trap bites him. Disoriented, he shoots his rifle blindly after hearing jabberjays mimicking Lucy Gray's voice. Coriolanus is unsure if she was hit, leaving her fate unknown.br br Coriolanus returns to the Capitol, where Gaul reveals she had him honorably discharged and enrolls him at the university. Sejanus' parents, unaware he caused their son's death, make him an heir, restoring the Snows' wealth. Coriolanus visits Highbottom, who confesses the Games were never intended to be reality; they were merely his drunken idea Crassus had stolen, and he set Coriolanus up as revenge for the bloodshed he indirectly caused. Coriolanus kills Highbottom by slipping rat poison into his morphine stash.