‘The Hunger Games’: Tapping an Ancient Archetype

The burning symbol of the movie is pictured during the “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1” preview event at Kraftwerk Mitte, in Berlin, Germany, on Nov. 11, 2014. Christian Marquardt/Getty Images

We have a recurring dystopian nightmare about 99-percenters fighting to the death for the entertainment of 1-percenters. Think of early Christians getting thrown to the lions for the viewing pleasure of the Roman aristocracy.

In “The Hunger Games,” the oligarchs amuse themselves by watching the underclasses assigned to different territories kill each other in a high-tech biosphere. Here are a few films along the same lines:

James Caan in 1975's "Rollerball." United Artists

‘Rollerball’
(1975)
By 2018, there’s a global “corporate state.” The Energy Corporation globally controls access to all transport, housing, communication, and food. Wars and sports no longer exist, but there is Rollerball. Kind of like roller derby. Teams are named after their respective cities and owned by the global corporations. They say it’s just entertainment, but the Energy Corporation knows Rollerball exists to show the futility of individual effort.

Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1987's "The Running Man." Tristar

‘The Running Man’
(1987)
By 2017, the global economy has collapsed and America’s got a police state. The government pacifies the people by broadcasting games in which criminals fight for their lives. One of these is The Running Man, where “runners” evade “stalkers” and death for a chance at being pardoned.

Rutger Hauer in 1989's "The Blood of Heroes." New Line Cinema

‘The Blood of Heroes’
(1989)
In a Mad-Maxian post-apocalyptic future, there’s no more war. What do they do for fun? Watch and participate in a brutal sport called “The Game.” Roving teams called juggers challenge local teams. Their trophy is the dog skull from the defending town (they all eat dogs.) The subterranean-dwelling aristocracy live in nine underground cities, each of which has its own team of pro juggers. This conglomerate is known as The League—like the NFL. It’s every above-earth dog-town jugger’s dream to get into The League and live large.

A scene from 2000's "Battle Royale." Anchor Bay Films

‘Battle Royale’
(2000)
This one’s about Japanese junior high-school students forced by the government to compete in a game where they have to kill each other to win. They wear explosive collars that detonate if they enter a danger zone, and which also discourage defection.

Steve Austin in 2007's "The Condemned." Lionsgate

‘The Condemned’
(2007)
A death-row inmate is purchased and transported to a deserted island, along with other similarly bought criminals from other prisons. They have the opportunity to avoid execution and win their freedom by fighting to the death in an illegal game to be filmed and broadcast live over the Internet.

Jason Statham in 2008's "Death Race." Universal Studios

‘Death Race’
(2008)
In the year 2012, the U.S. economy collapses. Unemployment and crime rates skyrocket, leading to more criminals, in turn leading to privatized profit-prisons. A modern gladiator game called “Death Race” starts up—prisoners are players. The reward? Drivers winning five races in a row will be granted their freedom.