There are many differences between the Hunger Games book and the movie, but we’re covering the ones that we believe are the most obvious. WARNING: This article includes many spoilers. 

1. The Mockingjay pin. In this book, the Mockingjay pin is a gift from Madge, the mayor’s daughter. In the movie, Katniss finds the Mockingjay pin at a shop and gives it to her sister, Prim. Prim then gives it back to Katniss for good luck when they say goodbye. In the story, the pin becomes a symbol, and it has a meaning. However, the meaning of the pin was not covered in the film. 
2.  Haymitch. During the reaping, Haymitch, who was drunk, falls off the stage in the written version. In the film, this never happens. He wasn’t even introduced until the train ride. 
3. Peeta’s father. In the book, Peeta’s father visits Katniss during the goodbyes. He gives her a bag of cookies, which causes her to realize he liked her. On the train ride, she throws the cookies out the window because she realizes she might have to kill Peeta during the Games. In the movie, this also never happens. Peeta’s father never visited her, and she did not receive cookies. 
4. Haymitch’s advice. Peeta asks Haymitch for advice, in the book and the movie. Haymitch’s response in the story is, “‘Here’s some advice, stay alive.’” In the film, he says, “‘Embrace the prospect of your imminent death.’” The book version indicates Haymitch really doesn’t care about Peeta and Katniss yet, and he grows to be willing to work with them later. While in the film, he gets to point immediately.
5. The Stylists. Haymitch tells Katniss to let the stylists do their work and not to resist in the book. In the show, this scene doesn’t happen.
6. There are many scenes in the film with President Snow talking to the head game maker. These scenes reveal how evil Snow is, while in writing, you don’t really know what to think of President Snow.
7. Katniss recognizes the Avox girl. While being served, Katniss recognizes a red-headed Avox girl in the writing. She later explains to Peeta how she knew her, and this scene paints a picture of the Capital’s cruelty. In the movie, this never happens. Avoxes aren’t even covered to our knowledge. 
8.  Gamemaker control room. The Gamemaker’s control room isn’t covered due to the written version being in first person. While in the show, there are multiple scenes showing the control room and the Gamemaker’s decisions in the games. This gives the audience an idea of how the games are controlled. 
9. The parachutes. In the book, Katniss is given a parachute with an ointment for her burns, broth, food, and a vile of sleep syrup. She guesses what Haymitch would be saying when she receives them. In the film, Katniss only receives the ointment and broth. These also came with letters from Haymitch, which allowed the audience to know what he meant by the deliveries.
10.  Rue’s death. In the story, Katniss finds Rue in the trap with the spear already in her. Whereas, in the show, Katniss finds and frees Rue from the trap before she is impaled by the spear. 
11. Thresh letting Katniss go. In the written version, when Thresh was done with Clove, he turned around to Katniss, ready to deal with her. He had to be convinced that Katniss was good to Rue before he let her go. While in the filmed version, he already knows she was good to Rue.
12. The beasts. Katniss and Peeta realize that the Capital had turned the dead tributes into beastly hounds in the book. They were able to tell by their hair color and human eyes. While in the movie, the hounds all looked the same. 

Molly’s opinion: I didn’t like the movie because I thought it had a very slow pace, the camera film editing was choppy, the camera moved too much, and I just didn’t like it overall. Although, I did really like how much color and life the movie gives the training center with all of the different colors and how everyone has their own makeup, hair, clothes, etc. I just really liked all of the small details of the movie but, I don’t like how the movie itself was edited. I also didn’t read the book as Tatum did, so I can’t say which I’d prefer. Knowing what I know from what Tatum told me, I would prefer the book.

Tatum’s opinion: I definitely prefer the book over the movie, which I guess, the book is always better. Molly and I both agree that the camera was too choppy in the movie; you could tell the creators wanted to give you a sense of the setting and the characters, but they were too chaotic with the camera. 

Overall, most of the changes in the movie were done because of the third-person telling, rather than the first-person point of view in the book, and the need to cut time.