5 Teen Dystopian Movies That Defined the Genre & 5 That Were Just Ridiculous

[@MsMojo]

What is YOUR opinion on these movies and the genre as a whole? Let us know below, and check out our video of the Top 30 Best Teen Movies of the 2000s - kzbin.info/www/bejne/haDWomuIbNCnh6c

[@NicoleAlexander-r8e]

So The Host was excellent, easily one of the best movies. Maze Runner diverted too far from the book to be enjoyable. And face it: the Hunger Games wasn't dystopia. It was just a girl with untreated codependent syndrome, just like Fifty Shades of Gray.

[@doktoruecker]

I must admit, I like "The Host", Movie and book.

[@scottsummers4234]

Suzanne Collins ATE with the Hunger Games

[@nmoney6655]

Katniss basically became what I was looking for in a main character

[@GameAholicsVideo]

Great series -- but a silly society. An ultra-advanced high-tech capitol is not possible with 12 districts producing just basic resources.

[@isaacmartinez6904]

The Hunger Games is a classic.

[@grahamdamberger7130]

There will most likely never be another teen dystopia quite like it.

[@TheLegendaryMovieCritic]

The Hunger Games & The Maze Runner & Divergent revolutionized the entire Dystopian genre forever!

[@DaryndaJonesOfficial]

Agreed!

[@chadrowin2956]

Divergent: In a world that genetically assigns you into a faction by your traits, you are not only tested for which faction you should be placed in, YOU GET TO CHOOSE?? I'm sorry, at that point, the fat Lady is screaming stupid.

[@dreamsteddybearsmaster]

Feel like The Maze Runner was also the most realistic

[@NatReads]

I’d argue that the Mortal Instruments isn’t a dystopian, but yes, still ridiculous.

[@Kayjee17]

Definitely NOT dystopian.

[@briannastultz1468]

I agree. I loved the book but the movie was so bad.

[@luna13198]

I was asking myself the same thing. Where did they get this from?

[@coastiewoody]

While the movie certainly wasn't that good, I absolutely love Jamie Campbell Bower. In my personal opinion, he makes unwatchable movies and shows actually watchable. From Sweeney Todd to the Twilight movies to Winter in Wartime to Mortal Instruments - he is a phenomenal actor. His newest movie, Witchboard, honestly looks like crap, but he's in it, and I'm going to watch it. I'm sure he can make it watchable.

[@lisablue7219]

Came here to say this. They could easily swap it out with The Giver, which could be considered dystopian AND is ridiculous.

[@trinaq]

Saoirse Ronan was the best part of "The Host", though not even she could save it from mediocrity. At least she later got Oscar nominated twice afterwards.

[@Kayjee17]

She did a great job playing the nuances of a very mature and empathetic alien living inside a very young and angry teen girl with both of them questioning their prior assumptions about the situation the whole planet is in - and I bought it. However, literally no one else in the movie is anything other than a dull, cardboard cutout place filler character acted either too blandly or with Shatnerian levels of stilted emotions. Too bad, because with a better storyline and actors (besides the main actress who's name I can never spell), the basic concept that maybe some of the "body-snatchers" are good is a more interesting idea for modern audiences than the OG horror movie.

[@HenshinHeroesMedia]

For a better story about two people in the same body, watch dragonball z abridged. It's a funny scenario

[@ckarts1225]

I preferred the book over the movie myself.

[@briannastultz1468]

I agree.

[@KirstineOtte]

You are everywhere :)

[@YtuMamaTambien22]

Wait, The Mortal Intruments is NOT a dystopian. And Meryl Streep wasn't on The Host, she was in The Giver...

[@h2odivr]

We know Meryl Streep wasn't in The Host. Meryl Streep is, however, the most nominated actress for Oscars, hence the mention of 'even she couldn't save this movie'. Even with all her talent, had she been in the movie, it still would have flopped.

[@hellowendy1029]

I think they were just trying to make a joke that the writing was so badly written that not even the best actor could make it sound good. 😊

[@joyunicycle]

The Giver should have been on the "Just Ridiculous" list. I don't forgive how they messed up the dystopian story.

[@hellowendy1029]

@joyunicycle I agree! They butchered it!

[@dannielletravers1599]

Exactly. I was so confused when they said Mortal Instruments. It's definitely not a dystopian. It's urban fantasy

[@trinaq]

I feel like the "Uglies" film missed the entire point of the original novels. None of the characters were actually ugly, but constantly told they were, which fed into their insecurities. You'd also be forgiven for thinking that they're a rip off of "The Hunger Games" or "Divergent", but they've been around longer than those series.

[@Kayjee17]

True, but the books were pretty bland too except the last one.

[@EmmySwimmy-j2e]

It felt like "Hey there fellow kids! let's talk about body image"🤦🏻‍♀️🙄

[@jasminetaylor9678]

I think that was the point the film was trying to make. Their natural looks are considered “ugly” in their future dystopian society. And the mandatory surgery will make them feel “pretty” and that they have a wonderful life and are accepted. The books that were released on the early 2000s explain this more. ln my opinion, the movie isn’t that bad. It definitely reflects/relates to what people feel in real life that are insecure in with their natural looks. Thinking that just by changing the way they are will be more acceptable and fit in more. Especially teenagers. Hence why it says in the books all the “uglies” that turn 16 year that get the mandatory surgery.

[@carolynadams340]

yeah I thought Uglies followed the book well. it was OK. Simple concept. Not complex at all. The others are.

[@dumbdumb2574]

tbh it would be more believable if chase stokes 1) wasn’t still ugly after being made “pretty” and 2) not over 30 playing 16

[@izzyeasy]

Mortal Instruments isnt dystopian, its just fantasy

[@dianetraughber9316]

I kinda liked The Host!!😊

[@annavee6956]

I loved it. The book, too. It was better than Twilight.

[@sherrychu3916]

The book was one of my top 5

[@bookjunkie5314]

The book is definitely better than the movie, but I do love the movie, too; it wasn't that bad.

[@calicokaels]

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones was not dystopian, its just fantasy. Much like Harry Potter, it just takes place in a world "hidden" from normal humans. And as much as people criticize it, I love it. One of my comfort movies, tbh I also liked The 5th Wave. As with most book to movie adaptations, I liked the books better. But I enjoyed the movie. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@kerisamoonsamy6002]

Agree. I enjoyed the mortal instruments books and the movies

[@tracyfitch4873]

Although I agree with the quality of the movies listed, the aren’t all Dystopian. Mortal Instruments is Fantasy and Fifth Wave and The Host are Science Fiction (alien invasions).

[@alleriapython]

But one could argue the hunger games and divergence are science fiction too. Dystopia covers a wide range of genres. However the mortal instruments series is magical realism like Harry potter and not Dystopia at all.

[@rosebookfan7677]

And I absolutely disagree on The Host. It was a fair adaptation to its original book & the actors were on-point, the complex love square of Wanda Ian Melanie & Jared was highly compelling, & thematic messages of life & what it means to be human is universally poignant😆

[@lauriivey7801]

I think they really blew it for Wanda's 'body' ... the rest was okay, but could've been so much better. The book was great!!

[@annettereynolds7457]

I loved it

[@pipkin3]

City of Ember is so underrated!

[@vanessaochoa4508]

We read it with our students in 4th grade and watched the movies. The book is way better.

[@ComedyPlastic]

The Hunger Games is the best in my opinion.

[@nmoney6655]

The concept is just too interesting to ignore and the love triangle is so interesting I have to say it’s a living masterpiece and basically shaped the way I read to this day

[@mysticvaulttv]

the 5th wave was honestly good, i liked it. wished there were more parts

[@E.S.2006]

The maze runner triology are my favorite movies. I love the question of the series: do you sacrefice a few to save the rest or do you let the rest die and leave some alone. I love the adaptation of the books, because I think, that those changes in the story were neccerary for thr movies. I love that we are going to get another movie of the maze runner series.

[@nataliebateman1151]

I liked the original Divergent movie. Then it just went downhill

[@vicentemariani8730]

I liked all of them

[@michellebermingham2350]

Yes I agree with you there. There wasn't any source material to work with as the allegiant book is brutally bad.

[@laurenregnier3710]

It's too bad the Divergent series never finished , so close , one more movie . 😢

[@Kayjee17]

Yeah, but the book ending sucked! She didn't need to be teen-girl martyr... she needed to be teen- girl Moses who lead her people to a better way of being.

[@trenae77]

@@Kayjee17Thing is, regardless of what the movies would want you to think, Triss wasn’t the real focus of the story. Her death was needed for the true focus find his purpose in the end.

[@MsMojo]

I know, right? It’s such a bummer that we didn’t get to see the full story unfold. It would have been great to wrap it all up with one last movie! What were you hoping to see in that final installment?

[@rosebookfan7677]

@@MsMojo Chicago Vs. The Bureau, Tobias inadvertently getting into Nita’s plan that caused Uriah’s fatal accident, seeing Evelyn grow as a character & bond with her son, Tris leading the way, MORE 4TRIS!!!😍, and of course, the book ending. Hard & painful as it was to read I still believe in respecting the authors story & craft, plus it comes full circle to Tris’s character arc👱🏻‍♀️🥹

[@rosebookfan7677]

@@MsMojo oh and seeing Peter trying to weasel his way to either the Bureau or Tris & her friends, & getting the snot beaten out of him by Tobias for shooting his mother. Oh!!! And seeing Amar & George! Which if you’ve read the Allegiant book would know how essential they are to the story & its characters 😎😁

[@AngelVoice23]

Um, Ender's Game was actually not that great of an adaptation if you read the book. They got the major plot beats, but the details were all wrong. And Harrison Ford sleep-walked through his role.

[@hanzitheauthor]

Agree. They could have done so much better if they'd stuck closer to the original characters' ages. Also, they completely ruined Bean's character for me. Music was great though.

[@purple.ayskrim]

But they were referring to the best movies. Not adaptations.

[@Kessik8]

I can only suggest everyone to read the books or listen to the great audio book

[@usha9807]

Enders Game was brilliant and I agree with your picks.

[@StLProgressive]

Loved it. Harrison Ford doesn’t play too many villains, but when he does he’s superb. Then again, when is he not? The kid who played Ender was excellent. They did a great job bringing that world to life.

[@MsMojo]

Ender’s Game really is a classic. What was your favorite part?

[@usha9807]

@@MsMojoI loved the world itself, the actors did a brilliant job. But the realisation that the game was real, it made me sit and gasp. Also when Ender also found out what he had done...just heart breaking.

[@elfymbouity]

​@@usha9807 Would have done without the spoilers😔

[@efratmaor8140]

@@MsMojo The movie is a classic? It was like.. yesterday? The books is a classic, not the movie.

[@rfresa]

Is Mortal Instruments really dystopian, though? It's just set in a fantasy version of the present. If you're going to include that, then you have to consider Harry Potter too.

[@mistyrae9496]

It’s definitely not lol

[@nickw7967]

Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Divergent, and Maze Runner are defined for me.

[@LucienSabre]

You mean defining series in general…because Harry Potter is *not* a dystopian series - the muggle world is our world, not an apocalyptic one or such (and the wizarding world is its fantastical hidden side).

[@yonathanasefaw9001]

Lol Harry Potter?

[@rfresa]

​@@LucienSabreIsn't Mortal Instruments the same? Just a secret magic society within the present world?

[@nickw7967]

​@LucienSabre I know, but I couldn't resist putting it on the list.

[@LucienSabre]

@@rfresa Yeah, and in fact it shouldn’t be here either.

[@billm5555]

I loved "The Host".

[@beatrizjardim8308]

Me too.

[@AudreyC379]

I was *obsessed* with the Maze Runner series when I was a teen. I read the books multiple times and still have them. ☺️ The movies are ok, but like many adaptations, the books are better.

[@maryastutzman5654]

The fact that the giver isn’t on here is crazy. Or maybe it doesn’t really count as dystopian?

[@MsMojo]

What aspects do you think make it fit or not fit the genre?

[@bookatarian1785]

It fits more than Mortal Instruments which is Fantasy not Dystopian

[@maryastutzman5654]

Holy cow😳…. thanks watch mojo for responding to my comment! I think it fits because it’s very similar to divergent. They are all sectioned off from the rest of the world and they were sort of an experiment it seems. It’s very futuristic and dystopian ofc. Their morals and what they believe to be true is very off, and are things we today believe are wrong. which seems to be a theme in almost all dystopian movies. There is more, but that’s the base of it 😅 it’s actually one of my favorite dystopian movies!

[@tracyfitch4873]

Yes, The Giver was the first teen Dystopian! Before that there were only adult dystopian novels like 1984 and Fahrenheit 451.

[@averycheesypotato]

I wonder if the other books in the series might ever get film adaptations?

[@Rebelwithacause94]

I’m still upset about Allegiant 😭 they messed up that series soo bad!

The 5th Wave was actually amazing, I still believe that it could have been the most realistic depiction

[@megangorman7370]

The Mortal Instruments is bad but it was never meant to be dystopian. It’s YA Fantasy.

[@carleeelders875]

The Host novel is far from soulless (ironic since the aliens are called souls). Its story isn't shallow. It is developed. Stephanie Meyer transported me into the dystopian world she created (also the many planets and creatures the souls inhabited). Wanda's internal struggle, with Melanie and herself...it is crazy how well-written and investing it is. I hated how the script for the film just took that all away. They butchered the best side characters (poor Jeb and Ian). It is not the emotional rollercoaster the book is.

[@larissavanduzer8530]

I agree. I think the book is developed and complex dealing with the relationships and ideas and such. It's just hard to turn that into a movie.

[@robertmcnally2220]

I enjoyed "the uglies " . Joey king is definitely not ugly in any way. She's a good actress

[@Angela-k1h]

🤮

[@eloraprieto7421]

I like the movie too. I don't understand why people hate it that much.

[@erikadogmomanddoc]

I recently rewatched "the giver" and it was actually pretty good. for "the uglies" I watched a 11-minute You-tube summary of the movie and that was definitely all I needed. Nothing will ever be better than Hunger Games series.

[@Yi-Zhu.Lou.]

Mortal Instruments (as well as the show Shadowhunters) is okay on its own, just not as an adaptation of the books.

[@bheast86]

THE HOST is about alien invasion rather than human dystopia. 'The genre' only happened in the 21st century? METROPOLIS, 1984, BLADE RUNNER, BRAZIL, AKIRA, ZERO POPULATION GROWTH; various post-apocalypse movies: A BOY AND HIS DOG, the MAD MAX series

[@wyldhowl2821]

Yeah, no kidding. They need to do research.

[@violainedelponte8378]

Thème is teen dystopia. All the above are adults although great.

[@pluckingflowers]

Solar Babies.

[@artisticsensei]

Divergent and The Maze runner are my favorite dystopian movies. Rewatched them both so many times.

[@hannahlowe794]

Anyone else ever think it’s odd that Ansel Elgort and Shailene Woodley played siblings in Divergent and love interests in The Fault in Our Stars?

[@PawClow]

They Alabama'd so hard

[@ThatGirlShelbyy]

It took SO long to even click in that it was him in both movies 😂 I saw AFIOS when it first came out but never watched it again after that. I associate him with the divergent series way more 😅

[@maryastutzman5654]

No, because they’re not siblings in real life?????

[@FourthStreetSaint]

It’s the same with Aaron Taylor Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen. They played twins in Age of Ultron and husband & wife in Godzilla

[@calicokaels]

It's not odd. They are actors playing characters. It did make for some good jokes, but definitely would not call it "odd".

[@eugeniapatroncosta920]

Maze Runner traumatized me! It was the more horrifying movie I ever seen!

[@pasii4real]

The first movie was so great. It set such a high standard for the following films which is why it is so sad how trash those were... :/

[@dianetraughber9316]

Mortal Instruments was slow and kind of hokey. Not as good as the book. The TV shows they made later, called The Shadow Hunters were amazing ... I loved them to pieces .❤❤❤❤❤❤😊

[@mistyrae9496]

Yes! I also disagree that the idea wasn’t original. It had some basic tropes, but the Shadow world was so interesting and well done!

[@briannastultz1468]

Allegiant bombed because they did the entire book in the first movie and they changed it. You then were left scratching your head wondering what the hell was going on and what the “2nd” movie was supposed to be about.

[@maryadawkins9905]

I'm not typically a fan of dystopia, but i did really love the hunger games, both the books and movies. The movies were very well done.

[@PerfectlyImperfect93]

Shadowhunters tv show is 1000000 times better ❤

[@Kayjee17]

I agree!

[@FourthStreetSaint]

I liked the show till they started changing too much stuff

[@mistyrae9496]

@@FourthStreetSaintyeah but by then I was only watching it for Malec anyway and that was worth staying til the end for!

[@beatrizjardim8308]

Agree. Shadowhunters tv show is far better then the movie adaptation.

[@lunaskye2352]

​@@FourthStreetSaint Well... They started changing from the start rather drastically, so I don't know what you mean by too much (I read only the first three books though)

[@rosebookfan7677]

I’m glad that Divergent was categorized as “Defined” & deservedly so despite some of the changes from book to film. I ❤ both books & films all the same🤓

[@LalaithQuetzalli]

Personally I am a fan of "The Host", though I do believe that the book was much better than the movie. I think there are some ideas that just don't translate right from one medium to the other. Also, they changed some things (probably for that very reason) and ended leaving out a few important things (in my opinion).

[@larissavanduzer8530]

I agree. The book is so good but all things considered with turning that book into the movie, I think they did a great job. Although sad with certain changes and leaving out other things.

[@anaafrida634]

I actually like "The Host" quite a lot, rewatched it a few times. The book is definitely better, but the movie doesn't seem that bad to me.

[@Bureau_Of_Enigma_Affairs]

Okay but in the movie why does the mc have a questionable age gap with the love interest? Like she's 16 and he’s TWENTY FOUR. Like I know the gap itself isn't that bad, but like she's still a minor, also they decided to age him because in the book he was 18! (Dont know WHY they decided to change the age gap from 2 to 8, especially since the mc is 16).

[@andreapelleschi5863]

The Giver needs to be added to the list.

[@averycheesypotato]

Was the movie any good? I only read the books, and I guess only one was made into a movie

[@andreapelleschi5863]

@@averycheesypotato I thought it was very good. Great cast. I really enjoyed it as an adaptation.

[@averycheesypotato]

@@andreapelleschi5863 thanks, I’ll have to watch it then

[@Hp-Fan2010]

I love the Hunger Games! And, Divergent was good, too. But the Giver should have been mentioned, too.

[@dianetraughber9316]

Enders Game was magnificent. Just always wished there was a second part ❤❤❤❤❤

[@SapphicKit-34]

The Mortal Instruments wasn’t dystopian. Also it might be bad but I’m so nostalgic for it that I rewatch it at least yearly 😂

[@luwinyakansaila8778]

End's game was a master piece. I am surprised it's not often mentioned and i am sad it didnt have a sequel.

[@latebirdlouie]

MsMojo is on fire, the list was finally done thanks to Uglies release.

[@katcombs77]

I'm so glad that you made this list, I hadn't heard of a lot of these movies... binge time!

[@jacobdrolet4262]

Fantastic video Rebecca from both Ms mojo & watch mojo young adult books that adaptation into movies that are defined or ridiculous how they made in films,marvellous job. I really like enjoy immortal instruments city of bones movie,somewhat the host too. To me what was ridiculous is the darkest mind,Artemis Fowl and Spiderwick chronicles many others too.

[@carol-annlouis-seize4631]

I actually like the Host ! 😅

[@patfuss8998]

I was wondering what category Divergent was gonna be in, I could see it going both ways

[@rosebookfan7677]

Hey! No fair to Allegiant. Yes I do agree that the film relied to heavily on CGI, but it succeeded in characters, chemistry, action, romance, & political struggle. It would’ve been better if the filmmakers actually finished the series!😤

[@trenae77]

Insurgent and Allegiant were poorly adapted. The books were more philosophical and it was difficult to translate to screen. That, and they were trying to emulate ‘popular’ themes of other genres at the time and ended up a mess.

[@IsaAC-ct5rx]

Is mortal insturments a dystopian society?

[@rfresa]

Good point. If that's on the list then so should Harry Potter.

[@mistyrae9496]

@@rfresanope lol just fantasy

[@leiavargas7962]

For The Mortal Instruments the series Shadowhunters was 10000 times beter

[@nathangrund7216]

I think Miles Teller's involvement was also definitely worth acknowledgement. Plus I enjoyed The Host. Most of the rest was fairly accurate if not obvious.

[@DaniqueEmiliaSteinfeld]

I loved the Maze Runner, but the sequels were a big drop in quality. In the end the whole plot seemed pointless. I hope the books were better.

[@alisoncircus]

They weren't, and sadly for exactly the same reason. It's as if the author was inspired with the nightmare imagery that was so effective in the first part (Maze Runner, book or film) and was then scrambling to find some kind of societal explanation for how that came about. Each book was slightly better than the movie of the same name, but at the end you were left with exactly the same conclusion: All these resources were used up in a complete waste of time for a culture that desperately needed to make maximum use of what they were left with - and chose to do this instead. And not even self-aware enough to be meta about it.

[@gilbertesse]

What is wrong with Netflix? Every time Netflix releases a film by them it turns out to be terrible

[@noaofwoodsbeyond]

Not just that, it’s always the movies based on books that are made badly by Netflix

[@maytalacedo2942]

The ugliest was a dystopian thing long before the hunger games but the problem it wasn't adapted right and they waited 20 years for This.

[@loridorii]

This. I turned to my mom when I read it and told her that it was going to be the next movie adaptation (I'd been spot on with Hunger Games, Twilight, and Divergent up until then). It would have killed during the dystopia of the 2010s

[@maytalacedo2942]

@loridorii i mean yes and no like it cldve tied or close to great along with the hunger games series while in some ways are similar but how they approach it was so different depending how faithful and accurate the novel to movie screen. I just thought they cldve utiles the CGI while putting practical effects on the pretties, the specials, and other more scarier makings of it. I read 3 graphic novels of this story and it's interesting and fascinating. I do wish if it gets another chance they sldve turn the uglies into a TV series along with game of thrones vibes but more faithful and accurate, or use animation but more teen adult related to the lore and story of their world since when making pretties, specials, and other things since that cldve worked too. Then again someone could say the exact same thing with divergent series or even the hunger games. But what you think of this?

[@loridorii]

@maytalacedo2942 I think practical effects would have been a really interesting way to do it. I think, specifically, something similar to the reveal of Anne Hathaway as "a princess" in The Princess Diaries would have been useful. Not necessarily getting rid of curly hair and all that, but taming frizz and correcting posture and makeup that suits the face, etc. To be honest, I haven't read the books in at least 10 years, probably more. I didn't watch it, and I have no plans to. I don't like comparing movies to other movies, or books to other books, but I will compare adaptations. I do think that as a society, we've moved past a lot of the dystopian ya fiction that was a direct result of y2k and 9/11. Suzanne Collins and the Hunger Games were an absolute masterclass on writing dystopian fiction, but a lot of her inspiration was external, where I think any dystopian ya media since has struggled with the title "the next hunger games". My biggest issue, as an adult now with at least 10 more years of experience, is that any time uglies become pretties, there will be someone who misses the message. I don't know if there's a way to adapt it now, while the trends seem to focus more towards the "natural". In the late 2000s and early 2010s, they would have had the pretties lose a bit of weight and done heavy makeup and we would have believed it enough (coming from someone who is overweight, not trying to fatshame anyone). Now? Our beauty standards are changing, they're more inclusive than they were when I was a teenager, and while it's lovely to see, it also doesn't make an adaptation of this series something easy to do.

[@KS-yh4zx]

"Some series are so derivative they should be sued for plagiarism." Laughs in remembering Cassandra Cla(i)re's history.

[@Atalanta_the2]

The 5. Wave Books are actually good the movie didn’t do it justice

[@sapphiresquire]

I watched Uglies last night and I really enjoyed it! I didn’t read the books back when they came out, but I'm thinking about it now.

[@destinywolfofficial1191]

Hey same! Except it was about a week or two ago that I watched the movie. I hadn’t even known about the books until after I watched the movie. But I quite enjoyed it.

[@mattieblackeyes957]

The Divergent movie might be good, but the premise is terrible, the author just randomly picked an idea (that sort of made sense in some ways but none in most) for a dystopian world to surf on the success of the genre brought about by the Hunger Games

[@littlebrockstar1324]

Im amazed you didnt mention "The Darkest Minds." It was just x-men mixed with Maximum Ride, but a lot of it was poorly done

[@Agusdtstudio]

The Hunger Games my best saga , Thanks Suzanne Collins❤

[@Animeguy300]

Incredible picks

[@josephwest124]

Kind of funny that the one film that would be THE best "teen dystopian movie" had to be changed so as not to upset the general public in order to be filmed. I'm talking about "Logan's Run." The original novel, by William Nolan and George Clayton Johnson, postulated a society where everyone is killed the day they turn 21 (as noted by a crystal embedded in their palms). The film adaptation changed the age for "Lastday" to 30 and the people participate in a ritual in which they believe they have a chance at "renewal" (everyone's really incinerated but why bring the people down on their "Lastday" with reality?). There was a comic book adaptation in the early 90s that stayed faithful to the novel (of course, the artwork by Barry Blair pretty much made everyone look like they were 12 or 14). As it was, the film version (with Michael York and Jenny Agutter) was pretty decent but it's worth wondering how a movie using the original story would play out today? There probably would have to be some tweaks to the novel since certain elements aren't really presented as clearly as they should or could be. I doubt the filmmakers in the 1970s considered following up with a sequel--the novel did have a pair of sequels--since they made a very significant change for the film's ending which wouldn't necessarily lead to a sequel (a short-lived TV series did kind of play with some of the themes from the first sequel but since the film changed the original novel's ending, the starting point for the sequel was moot) but an industrious filmmaker who set out with a vision of filming "Logan's Run" and "Logan's World" pretty much as one continuous session (rather than leaving the fate of a sequel to the whims of the box office) might have a nice success.

[@impracticalsquirrel3468]

The Host was a great book with what was possibly the poorest movie adaptation since Clan of the Cave Bear.

[@insomniCat16]

When I first watched Hunger Games, I immediately thought it was influenced by Battle Royale. HG was much more tamer and the dystopia was far more removed from our reality though. Whereas BR seemed like a dystopia that could just be around the corner - which made it chilling. I did see HG on its own merits eventually and the films were engaging enough that the books are on my to read list (I'll get round to it one day 😅).

[@this_that198]

Omg! Ender's game! I love that movie & Asa Butterfield was absolutely brilliant in it!

[@jamesheatherly4209]

Last year I watched the first Divergent movie for a school project.

[@Jimmersaunt]

Big Hunger Games fan! I loved all four films!

[@ThomasEhrlich-fc8nj]

I feel the placing of Ender's Game is wrong, because I felt that it had terrible character development and dynamic not just between the protagonist and his superiors. Also, I read the first Divergent book when I was younger, and stopped at the exposition of Insurgent, and my own sister felt that the book series was bad, in addition to me, long before the movies. However, I completely agree with the placing of The Maze Runner and The Hunger Games, and I even felt that the latter had a better movie adaptation than the original book because the movie was not as slow, and it was good how they toned down Katniss's anger, aggression, and even the different teen drama aspects, which I personally deplore in general.

[@heatherpayne1995]

I watched Divergent with my kids at home and ripped it mercilessly. My kids said my ongoing commentary was more entertaining than the movie. They want me to be there when they watch Twilight.

[@dianetraughber9316]

Loved The Maze Runners❤

[@samuelcollantes1175]

I don't have a personal opinión, i haven't watched any of these movies. Happy friday afternoon, Rebecca, take care and God bless you. Greetings from Colombia to you as well

[@matthewdalzell2294]

Ender's Game is an amazing book, though I would not include it in the dystopian novel umbrella. The movie is a horrendous rendition of the book. Many of the more psychological themes, intricacies of the characters, and the subplot of Valentin and Peter (and their character depths) are missing or underutilized. The acting was good for what they were given. Let them make a multi-season series to do it justice.

[@Gaby000999]

Me liking The Host and the 5th Wave 😂😂😂😂 I felt attacked when they were placed on ridiculous 😂😂😂 I mean, they are not great but enough when you don't feel like thinking too much what you're going to watch

[@Kate-Tastic]

So I read a lot. My passion for reading started early in high school. So like 2006. I read so many YA series. To this day, some are still highlighted as my favorites. Which were featured in this video. The Uglies series is one. It may seem shallow or whatever on the surface but it gets way deeper the more you read. The movie did not do it justice. As usual. I will have to disagree with you on the Mortal Instruments. That series is a bloody fantastic read. Again, the movie was absolute crap. Just like poor Twilight. The movies ruined it. The poor series get the bad rap for the failed adaptations. But the books are actually quite wonderful.

[@jeronmortensen9160]

Worst thing about the Hunger Games was the camera work. I nearly puked multiple times when I saw it in theaters.

[@gaianardella2575]

I actually liked The Mortal Instruments. It was nothing like the book, I agree, but is still a “comfort movie”. Also, the chemistry between the actors who played Jace and Clary was great, and the CGI wasn’t bad too.

[@allanjones1321]

I have your top 5 on DVD (including those that followed), and for the ridiculous, the only one I have seen is Allegiant because I was hoping for more of the first two to wrap up the story (but they got too greedy and didn't have the pulling power of splitting it like Mockingjay)

[@da_frecker_channel6375]

Ahhhhhh...........The Hunger Games. I wished I had watched those movies in theaters when they were out.

[@daenerystargaryen6302]

The 5th Wave showed us the dangers of birds.

[@holliekendall7897]

I quite liked city of bones. I read all the books and i thought that the adaptation was relatively accurate, despite some pacing issues. The TV show that came out afterwards i thought was the worst adaptation. Its a good show if you havent read the books but i just couldnt separate them in my head. The only redeeming thing from shadowhunters was Malec

[@larissavanduzer8530]

I agree. I thought the movie was quite accurate. The show...they changed so much and they just didn't care.

[@christovalmaldis7643]

Uglies is good adaption ,it is not a best adoption but it's good.

[@jacksonconnell]

The Hunger Games, both movies and books, was the best dystopian story ❤

[@hannahhanley1425]

Never heard of the Uglies but, the description reminded me of an episode of The Twilight Zone.

[@Kizzy-pu4he]

I totally disagree about Divergent. Whoever changed so much of the book that young people who loved the books didn't want to see the follow up. My daughter loved the book and immediately started off with teens and adults playing roles for children much younger. She had all the books. And after the first one, she was done. My daughter and all her friends who read and loved the books felt the same way.

[@kaytheimpossible1383]

Criminal how this has Uglies but not The Thinning.

[@noaofwoodsbeyond]

I love the Hunger Games! I just wish the Giver was included in this list

[@vide0lover]

Uglies would've been a major success if it came out instead of Divergent. Don't get me wrong, I thought Divergent was ok, but Uglies is a great dystopian book series, AND it came out before Hunger Games, Mazer Runner, Divergent, ect.

[@chaotic7cam]

I venomously disagree with this. The Uglies series was out before Hunger Games. The books were great as was the overarching lesson that you don’t need to change yourself to be beautiful and the dangers of a society obsessed with looks (which is very relevant today). Even if you already thought the actors were pretty that just adds an entire extra layer to everything. You could be a natural beauty but society says you aren’t until you look like Kim Kardashion, creating little Sephora babies.

[@michaelobrien1106]

There was a famous Reddit thread on why Divergent is actually a terrible YA dystopian story. It is the epitome of derivative and soulless, especially for the main character. The movie series' downfall reflects its flaws as the "why should I bother to care" question becomes ever more apparent.

[@ჰჰჰჰჰჰჰჰჰჰჰ]

What about battle royale? Maybe it was not marketed and intended as teen dystopian movie (even if there is both elements), because as i know that genre didn't exit then. BUT it is everywhere, almost everywhere, in future teenagers are chosen collected left in special arena, given supplies randomly, and they must kill each other and only one can remain alive, oh and also tracking tools, for each participate that can tell organizers that someone died, also, people who are willing to participate in this crazy murder thing... what does it sound like... oh right Hunger Games (I like hunger game i am not dissing it). First book was written in 2008, while Battle Royale is film from 2000, clearly there is influence, in second book there is even different parts of island having traps that active at specific time, which again was in movie. It was clearly Hunger Games that took this genre where it is, but there is nobody who can convince me that without this movie, we would have hunger games as it is.

[@imogensullivan2210]

So many of these are so so so wrong and I say this as a massive fan of dystopia. the uglies books ARE a commentary on beauty standards, the characters aren't necessarily ugly at all and have been manipulated to believe they are by the government. and it came out... three years before the hunger games (how the hell is the CGI bad????) AND HOW THE HELL ARE THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS DYSTOPIAN?!?!?!?!?!?!? THAT'S FANTASY!!!!!!

[@andreasmeelie1889]

I read the entire Divergent series and I didn't like the changes that they did in the last two books. There were only supposed to be three books and not four but the people who made the movies didn't follow the source material of the sequels and decided to make up a new one of their own. Which never came to be because part one of the movie bombed so badly. We may never get to see how the actual film series' actually ended. But, if anyone wants to see how the Divergent series ends the right way then read the books. They are tons better than what those garbage sequel movies gave us. :)