Though there didn't seem to be a lot of anticipation for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in the build-up to its release, last week's social media reactions proved to be surprisingly positive, with some going so far as to hail it as the best instalment in the 5-film franchise.
However, the full review embargo lifted earlier today, and while the consensus is still leaning positive, these verdicts so tell a slightly different story.
The initial Rotten Tomatoes score for the prequel movie has been revealed, and it's currently sitting at a not terrible 67% on the review aggregator. Only 39 verdicts have been counted so far, though, so the score is sure to fluctuate.
You can keep an eye on the score and get a more in-depth idea of the movie's critical reception at the link below. An extended scene from early on the film has also been released.
Experience the story of The Hunger Games - 64 years before Katniss Everdeen volunteered as tribute, and decades before Coriolanus Snow became the tyrannical President of Panem. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes follows a young Coriolanus who is the last hope for his failing lineage, the once-proud Snow family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol.
With his livelihood threatened, Snow is reluctantly assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird, a tribute from the impoverished District 12. But after Lucy Gray’s charm captivates the audience of Panem, Snow sees an opportunity to shift their fates. With everything he has worked for hanging in the balance, Snow unites with Lucy Gray to turn the odds in their favor. Battling his instincts for both good and evil, Snow sets out on a race against time to survive and reveal if he will ultimately become a songbird or a snake.
The cast includes Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Hunter Schafer, Jason Schwartzman, Peter Dinklage, Josh Andrés Rivera, and Viola Davis.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes arrives in theaters on November 17. Do you plan on checking this movie out on the big screen? Have you read the book? What do you make of the reviews? Be sure to drop us a comment down below.