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 & Snakes follows a young Coriolanus as he unites with Lucy Gray Baird in the 10th Hunger Games, and battles his instincts for both good and evil.

For in-depth thoughts on The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, please see my colleague Dom Fisher’s review from its theatrical release here.

Video Quality

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes makes a meal out of its 2160p/Dolby Vision presentation in 2.39:1 on this 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc. The 4K presentation provides a depth of field that simply cannot be replicated as well with the accompanying Blu-Ray. This transfer shows an immense amount of detail in even the smallest aspect of the production design and articles of clothing. Skin tones look very natural throughout and show a fantastic amount of facial detail. The uptick in accuracy and clarity is apparent in the lush colors of the environment, the textures of the costumes, and the crispness of the rubble.

Color highlights are an area of substantial improvement in comparison to the Blu-Ray. Hues look more natural in this presentation with moments in the sunlight beaming off the screen. This presentation especially shows its worth with black levels that are incredibly deep and detailed with digital noise almost entirely absent from the screen. There are numerous shots of shadowy corridors that show no signs of crush. Brighter scenes wow with intense clarity and a strong handle of highlights that show no evidence of blooming. Overall, this is an excellent 4K UHD presentation that offers a distinct uptick in clarity and depth.

Audio Quality

This disc comes equipped with an incredibly effective Dolby Atmos presentation that fully engulfs you in this world. There are elements in this track that are truly enveloping, such as the sounds of the games themselves and the chaos that radiates in a way that utilizes the height channels. Sounds are appropriately rendered with precise directionality from the more kinetic scenes to the quieter dialogue-driven exposition that attempts to connect you to the characters. Dialogue is presented perfectly clearly without ever being overshadowed by any of the competing sonic elements.

The James Newton Howard score brings to life a truly sweeping soundscape that ratchets up the emotional stakes. The low end is engaged exceptionally well with a bombastic experience from nearly the first moment. The sound design of this film is well-rounded, and the implementation of environmental sounds is executed very effectively. The mix here is perfect with nice engagement of all the channels, which makes this track a spectacular treat for fans of the film. There are optional English SDH, Spanish, and French subtitles provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Producer-Director Francis Lawrence and Producer Nina Jacobson provide a great commentary track in which they discuss returning to this world, the stylistic flourishes of the settings, the shooting locations, the character dynamics, the special effects work, the casting process, interesting moments on set, and more.
Predator or Prey – Making The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes: An excellent two-and-a-half-hour documentary in which the filmmakers and performers discuss the genesis of the film, the casting and character arcs, the importance of music in this narrative, the epic action sequences, the conclusion of the production, and more.
- A Different World (Return To Panem) (16:50)
- Songbirds & Snakes (The Acting Ensemble) (25:27)
- Pure As The Driven Snow (The Music of Lucy Gray Baird) (13:36)
- A Palette of Tactics (On Location In Poland and Berlin) (22:02)
- Humanity Undressed (Costume, Makeup & Hair) (25:39)
- To The Victor Go The Spoils (Stunts & Weapons) (11:24)
- Inner-Sanctum (The Post-Production Process) (28:18)
- Snow Lands On Top (Reflections) (7:23)
“The Hanging Tree” Song by Rachel Zegler: A two-and-a-half-minute full version of the prominent song from the story is provided.
A Letter To The Fans: A text letter from author Suzanne Collins is provided.
Theatrical Trailers: This disc provides Theatrical Trailer #1 (1:36), Theatrical Trailer #2 (2:32), and Theatrical Trailer #3 (2:42).

Final Thoughts

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is not quite to the level of the original Katniss saga, but it is a really engaging return to this world that makes a case for itself as to why it is not a simple cash grab. It is not as satisfying to follow Snow as it is Katniss, but getting to know more about him and the world that would lead to the future we know so well is rewarding in its own way. The performers do a nice job all around with Tom Blyth making a notable splash. It may not capture all of the nuances of the book, but it works well enough as a feat of adaptation. Lionsgate Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray that sports a truly stunning A/V presentation and a fantastic array of special features. If you are a fan of the franchise, you will have fun reuniting with it. Recommended

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes will be available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-ray, Blu-Ray, and DVD on February 13, 2024. The film is currently available on Digital.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Lionsgate Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.