Both starring a strong-headed leading heroine, Divergent have quite a lot in common. A teenage girl must become heavily immersed within a rebellion to take down a corrupt government and bring a sense of real-world life back to her home.
In simplest , these two have quite a lot of shared traits. These similarities were heightened when Divergent released, as then both franchises had film adaptations. However, both series see the immense difference between their film and novel counterparts. As similar as they may be, the two trilogies have had ways of doing things quite differently. Here's how they stack up against each other.
HUNGER GAMES: BETTER MOVIE ADAPTATIONS
Although the two franchises were often compared once both series had film adaptations released to the public, The Hunger Games proved to be a much more successful franchise. While the films may not have always gone up in revenue, they remained box office hits. Even if the adaptations did not perfectly match the novels, fans were still immersed enough in the world and the characters to continue watching the saga.
Unfortunately, Divergent did not have the same reaction. Over time, fans lost interest in the film installments to the point where Lionsgate did not even make the last film in the franchise, leaving the film series unfinished.
DIVERGENT: A MORE DECISIVE MAIN CHARACTER
Katniss was the figurehead of the revolution, but it is arguable how much she really would've done on her own, even though she was as much against the arena as anyone else. Instead, Katniss and Gale had discussed running away, rather than starting a revolution.
Only after various Districts had begun to fight back did Gale decide he wanted to stay and fight instead of running. Katniss was already one of the most well-known faces in Panem by that time for her shared victory with Peeta in the Hunger Games.
Tris does not have the same difficulty in making decisions. She knows she wants to discover what is on the other side of the wall and ensures that it happens. Tris fully commits herself to the revolution.
HUNGER GAMES: MORE TRAUMA
As much as the Capitol would like to pretend otherwise, the Hunger Games are a terrifying reality for the tributes involved. The events within the series force children to kill each other while everyone cheers, which is traumatizing enough, but the aftermath of being a Victor may be just as horrifying.
Winning the Hunger Games is not a real victory, as the victor must face nightmares and post-traumatic stress disorder, likely for the rest of their lives. The entire franchise is practically being stuck in one's worst nightmare. "The Hunger Games" never forgets the loss of innocence that it causes the tributes and victors.
The reality in "Divergent" is not a utopia either, but there is not as big of an emphasis on death and killing others for sport.
DIVERGENT: BETTER RELATIONSHIPS
Tris and Four may not be the most dynamic romance ever to exist, but at least it's consistent. Their dynamic only grows throughout each installment as life throws them a curveball after curveball. Tris and Four's relationship is more focused on each other and their urge to end the world as they know it. Throughout each installment, even when they aren't side-by-side, they are still fighting together. Meanwhile, Katniss spends each novel of the trilogy, avoiding making a firm decision between Peeta and Gale.
While both young woman's lives are more than the romances the story gives them, it would still feel as if Katniss was drawing out her choice until making one was absolutely imperative.
HUNGER GAMES: GREATER MOTIVATION
Volunteering for the Hunger Games in District Twelve was virtually unheard of, that is until Katniss Everdeen stepped forward. Katniss had no desire or want to participate in the games, wishing to continue hunting until someone would eventually put an end to the madness that forced children into an arena to fight to the death. Ironically, that person would become her after stepping forward to take her younger sister's place.
Prim was only twelve at the time, barely old enough to place her name in the bidding, and the odds were so low already given Prim's name was only included once. While Tris does have a motivation behind her actions as well, it is not nearly as personal or powerful.
DIVERGENT: MORE INVOLVED PARENTS
In The Hunger Games, Katniss' mother is present, but only later on. Katniss first describes her mother as having been out of it since the death of her father. Meanwhile, Peeta did not have a perfect life either. His mother was abusive and did not think he would make it home from the Hunger Games. It came down to Haymitch to be the central adult figure in both of their lives.
In Divergent, parents were not a significant part of the series either, but they had more involvement within the world than Katniss or Peeta's parents. Tris' mother had not been born in Chicago, but rather placed there to watch the experiment up close. Meanwhile, Four's mother was the leader of the Factionless. While their roles were not as involved as their runaway children, they did affect their world.
HUNGER GAMES: BETTER EXPLORATION OF THE CORRUPT GOVERNMENT
Both franchises include this detail, and while each one has its way of portraying the horror of the government, The Hunger Games shows it as easier to follow. President Snow is the bad guy until he's not the most important one. President Coin's influence over Katniss during Mockingjay allows her to see Coin as the imminent threat, especially since Snow is already dying.
In the films, time is devoted to understanding Snow's perspective of events and how his team attempts to handle the oncoming revolution.
Divergent does not show the government's view, and the actual people in charge are not even seen until Allegiant, making them seem like more of an uncomfortable plot twist than a substantial threat.
DIVERGENT: A LARGER WORLD OUTSIDE
In The Hunger Games, the Districts are all anyone knows, and appear to take up the entirety of Panem. There is no version of a world outside. It is merely the Districts and the Capitol. There is no escaping and no references to any other country or place to escape to.
However, Divergent takes place specifically inside the city of Chicago. Up until Allegiant, it is not confirmed that the world exists outside the fence. During the last novel, Tris, Four, and their friends take the plunge and escape the city they know to explore a world unknown.
HUNGER GAMES: MORE ENGAGING AND REALISTIC REVOLUTION
The revolution in Divergent is there, but it is more difficult to understand who is in it, or how many revolutions there are. In The Hunger Games, it is much simpler to follow the rebellion in District Thirteen and the other districts that fall in line behind it.
Katniss getting a close look at the citizens of Panem ready to fight and knowing how much she means to them is an emotional moment in the series. However, it also acknowledges that the world isn't perfect once they win. In the aftermath, the world still needs a lot of work done to achieve a type of peace that Katniss, Peeta, and Gale never knew growing up.
DIVERGENT: MORE BETRAYALS
When it comes to the rebellion against the Capitol, it is relatively simple to determine who is on which side. President Coin wanted power, but her wish of removing Snow from power and hosting the last Hunger Games is not a betrayal to Katniss as much as a wake-up call to Coin's true motives.
Divergent places a more significant emphasis on characters changing positions during a war, including Peter and Caleb. Tris had hoped that her bond with Caleb would be enough to sustain a secure seasoning for them to be on the same side. Unfortunately, the concept of "Faction before blood" is enough to stifle that hope as Caleb sides with his faction over his sister.
