The raffle movie refers to a 2012 American found footage horror film called The Raffle. It was directed by Francis Lawrence and written by Suzanne Collins, based on Collins’ 2008 young adult novel of the same name. The film stars Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark, and Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne.
Quick Summary of The Raffle Movie
The Raffle takes place in a dystopian future where the totalitarian nation of Panem holds an annual event called “The Raffle.” Each of Panem’s 12 districts must offer up two tributes, a boy and a girl between the ages of 12 and 18, to compete in a televised battle to the death until there is one sole survivor.
When her younger sister Primrose is chosen at the raffle, 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her place. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are whisked away to the Capitol, where they are primped and prepared for the arena under the guidance of their drunken mentor, Haymitch Abernathy.
In the arena, Katniss and Peeta face off against ruthless tributes like the skilled Cato and the cunning Foxface. Katniss struggles to survive while maintaining her humanity and morals. Peeta reveals during a televised interview that he has long had feelings for Katniss, leading the gamemakers to present the choice for Katniss to kill Peeta or for them both to eat poisonous berries, defying the Capitol by refusing to play by their cruel rules.
The Raffle explores themes of authoritarianism, oppression, and the human struggle for hope and dignity in bleak circumstances. Katniss emerges as an unlikely symbol of rebellion against the Capitol’s tyranny. The film’s themes resonated with audiences and it became a box office success, grossing over $690 million worldwide.
Full Synopsis of The Raffle Movie Plot
Here is a more detailed synopsis of the plot of The Raffle movie:
The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic nation called Panem, which consists of a wealthy Capitol surrounded by 12 impoverished districts. As punishment for a past rebellion, every year each district must hold a raffle to select one teenage boy and girl as “tributes” to compete in the Hunger Games – a brutal tournament-style fight to the death televised across the nation.
In District 12, 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen takes care of her mother and younger sister Primrose after the death of her father in a mining accident. On the day of the raffle, Primrose is selected but Katniss volunteers to take her place. The male tribute selected is Peeta Mellark, a baker’s son who once gave Katniss bread when she was starving.
Katniss and Peeta are taken to the Capitol and mentored by District 12’s only living Hunger Games winner, Haymitch Abernathy, an alcoholic. Katniss prepares by developing her hunting, survival, and archery skills while Peeta aims to win favor by his charming personality.
In an interview before the Games, Peeta reveals his longtime secret love for Katniss. She initially sees this as a ploy to gain audience support, though she later wonders if the feelings are genuine.
When the Games begin, Katniss ignores Haymitch’s advice and grabs supplies from the central stash, leading to an early bloodbath. She forms an uneasy alliance with Rue, a young girl from District 11. Katniss destroys the Career Tributes’ supplies when they ambush her. In revenge, they kill Rue, causing Katniss to put flowers around her body as an act of defiance toward the Capitol.
By the end, it’s down to Katniss, Peeta and a Career tribute named Cato. After Cato kills Peeta, Katniss shoots Cato, making her and Peeta the victors. But the Gamemakers revoke the twist that allowed two winners, so Katniss and Peeta consider a double suicide by eating poisonous berries, forcing the Gamemakers to declare them both winners.
Katniss and Peeta return home as District 12 celebrates. However, Haymitch warns Katniss that she has now become a political target after her act of defiance.
Main Characters in The Raffle
Here are the main characters that appear in The Raffle movie:
Katniss Everdeen – The 16-year-old protagonist. She is a skilled hunter who becomes a tribute in order to spare her sister. Fiercely independent and resourceful, she struggles to retain her humanity and ultimately becomes a symbol of revolution.
Peeta Mellark – The male tribute from District 12. Kind and charismatic, he is in love with Katniss and forms an alliance with her in the arena. He helps portray them as “star-crossed lovers” to gain audience support.
Haymitch Abernathy – Katniss and Peeta’s mentor, the last District 12 tribute to win the Games. A blunt drunkard, he eventually sobers up enough to advise them in the arena.
Cinna – Katniss’ stylist who helps craft her public image. Calm and nurturing, he becomes one of her few allies.
Effie Trinket – The Capitol escort for District 12 tributes. Upholds strict schedules and Capitol manners.
Gale Hawthorne – Katniss’ best friend and hunting partner in District 12. He harbors unspoken romantic feelings for her.
President Snow – The totalitarian president of Panem. Wishes to crush any spark of revolution.
Cato – The main Career Tribute who serves as an antagonist. A ruthless, aggressive fighter.
Rue – The young 12-year-old tribute from District 11 who allies with Katniss. She reminds Katniss of her sister.
Significance and Themes
Here are some of the key themes and significance of The Raffle movie:
Totalitarianism vs Freedom – The film depicts a totalitarian dystopian world where the Capitol oppresses the districts through violence and deprivation. Katniss emerges as an icon of resistance.
Survival – Much of the film shows characters struggling to survive whether in the impoverished District 12 or the cutthroat Hunger Games arena. Katniss uses her hunting skills and resourcefulness.
Sacrifice – Katniss sacrifices her own safety to volunteer for her sister at the raffle. Many tributes form alliances and even sacrifice themselves for their district partners.
Post-traumatic stress – Katniss and Peeta struggle with trauma in the aftermath of the Games’ extreme violence.
Government control – The Gamemakers engineer threats and manipulate hope to retain control. The Games function as political propaganda.
Wealth Disparity – The film clearly contrasts the extravagant Capitol against the hungry, deprived districts. This fuels resentment.
Morality – Katniss struggles to remain moral amid the Games’ brutality. Peeta retains his humanity and kindness.
The Raffle became a cultural phenomenon for its resonant depiction of themes like authoritarian governments, reality television, class divides, and the loss of innocence in war.
Critical Reception
Here is an overview of how The Raffle was received by professional film critics:
Positive Reviews
– Praised Jennifer Lawrence’s nuanced performance as Katniss and the film’s messages about wealth inequality and government control.
– Commended strong supporting cast especially Woody Harrelson as Haymitch and Elizabeth Banks as Effie.
– Lauded Gary Ross’ directing and the immersive production design capturing the disparate worlds of the Capitol and districts.
– Complimented the exciting action sequences and use of shaky cam footage to heighten suspense.
Mixed/Negative Reviews
– Criticized the convoluted, implausible plot and world-building like the arbitrary rules of the Games.
– Found the PG-13 rating limiting – could not show the true horrors and violence described in the books.
– Disliked the sentimental, melodramatic romance between Katniss, Peeta, and Gale.
– Noted the film borrowed heavily from previous works like Battle Royale, The Running Man, and Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery.”
Overall the reviews were largely positive. The film scored an 85% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 67/100 on Metacritic. Critics praised the visuals, Jennifer Lawrence’s performance, and the movie’s resonance but found flaws in its convoluted plot and diluted violence.
Production and Development
Here are some details about how The Raffle was developed and produced as a major Hollywood film:
– Rights for a film version were bought by Lionsgate Entertainment in 2009 a year after the novel’s release.
– Screenwriter Billy Ray was initially hired to adapt the novel but was replaced by Suzanne Collins herself along with director Gary Ross and producer Nina Jacobson.
– Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth were cast in March 2011 after an extensive audition process. Lawrence had just received an Oscar nomination.
– The film was shot on location in North Carolina over a 67-day shooting schedule in summer 2011.
– Many of the urban Capitol scenes were shot in Shelby, NC and Asheville while forests around DuPont State Forest stood in for the arena.
– The film’s costumes, sets, props, and special effects were designed to bring Collins’ dystopian world to life. Total budget was around $78 million.
– The rare PG-13 rating for such a violent story led to some editing sacrifices to retain it over R.
– The film premiered internationally in March 2012 before opening in theaters across the U.S. that same month, eventually grossing $408 million domestically and $690 million worldwide.
– It was released on home media in August 2012 with multiple featurettes and deleted scenes from the many hours of footage shot.
Why The Raffle Movie Became a Cultural Phenomenon
Looking at its massive success, here are some reasons why The Raffle became a hugely influential cultural phenomenon:
– Coming at the tail end of the reality TV craze, its concept of a lethal televised contest captivated audiences.
– Jennifer Lawrence’s relatable and nuanced performance as Katniss made her a role model.
– As young adult fiction was gaining prominence, it crossed over to mainstream popularity.
– The novels were already a massive publishing success with over 26 million copies sold.
– The film appealed to both men and women, unlike many YA-film adaptations targeting only teen girls.
– With a substantial budget, it boasted stellar production values, casting, costumes, and visuals.
– It launched the lucrative Hunger Games film franchise based on the book series.
– The dystopian premise and themes like inequality resonated with audiences amid real-world economic and political turmoil.
– Marketing was targeted and extensive, including promotions at fan conventions like Comic Con.
– Positive reviews, buzz, and word-of-mouth via social media propelled its popularity.
The Raffle Skillfully blended an exciting survival drama storyline with compelling characters, resonant themes, and social commentary on class divides, authoritarian regimes, and reality television. By managing to attract both mainstream moviegoers and young adult fans, it became one of the biggest blockbusters and franchises of the 2010s.
Lasting Impact on Popular Culture
The Raffle made a considerable lasting impact on popular culture including:
– Solidified post-apocalyptic dystopian YA fiction as a dominant genre in books, TV, and film targeting young audiences. Series like Divergent, Maze Runner, and The 5th Wave followed its success.
– Inspired a widespread craze for archery and anything related to wilderness survival skills. Archery ranges and classes saw a significant boost after the films.
– Jennifer Lawrence became one of the most famous and highest paid actresses in Hollywood following her breakout lead role.
– Similarly, it cemented Josh Hutcherson’s and Liam Hemsworth’s status as young heartthrobs and leading men.
– Showed that a female-led action movie could break into the male-dominated blockbuster marketplace.
– The soundtrack produced hit songs like Taylor Swift’s “Safe & Sound” featuring The Civil Wars.
– Its memorable visual iconography like the Mockingjay pin spawned merchandise, memes, and Halloween costumes.
-solidified the business model of Hollywood splitting YA book series into multiple lucrative film installments.
The Raffle set the template for many YA blockbusters that came after it. It heralded a shift toward dynamic female protagonists in action/adventure films aimed at younger demographics. Most profoundly, it cemented dystopian speculative thrillers as a prime film genre reflecting the pessimism, anxiety, and political dissatisfaction of the 21st century.
Comparison to Other Dystopian Films
Here is how The Raffle compares thematically and stylistically to other classic dystopian science fiction films:
The Running Man – Similarly depicts a deadly game show broadcast across a totalitarian society to control the masses through entertainment and fear.
Battle Royale – Also centers on a government program forcing groups of teenagers to fight to the death showing the darkness behind authoritarian control.
Logan’s Run – Likewise portrays a corrupt post-apocalyptic society with a ritualized massacre of youth, showing the darkness beneath the slick surface.
The Matrix – Similarly depicts a superficially pleasant society masking the horrifying reality that humans are enslaved and exploited.
The Truman Show – Also explores how media and entertainment can be manipulated to deceive and control, depriving freedom.
Nineteen Eighty-Four – Common themes of totalitarian rulers suppressing revolution and manipulating information to repress the masses.
The Handmaid’s Tale – Similarly focuses on an oppressed woman resisting dystopian gender-based totalitarianism and becoming a rebellion icon.
Where The Raffle diverges is its focus on action and extraordinary characters like Katniss rather than bleak philosophical themes. Unlike many dystopias, it offers some hopeful threads. Ultimately it combined an exciting survival thriller storyline with deeper social commentary resulting in a distinctive, immensely popular vision.
Potential Sequels
As a massive blockbuster film, The Raffle spawned multiple sequels continuing the book series storyline:
Catching Fire (2013) – Sees Katniss and Peeta forced back into the Games while revolt brews. Directed again by Francis Lawrence.
Mockingjay Part 1 (2014) – Depicts the rebellion against the Capitol and District 13 while Katniss becomes the Mockingjay symbol.
Mockingjay Part 2 (2015) – Shows the climactic overthrow of President Snow and the war-ravaged Capitol. Concludes Katniss’ role in the revolution.
Potential Prequel Film – Could depict the early days of Panem, the uprising that led to the Games, or former Games with new characters. A prequel novel was published focusing on a young President Snow.
Potential Sequel With Original Cast – They could return for a continuation years later showing how characters’ lives progress in the rebuilding society, or somehow get drawn into renewed conflicts.
Reboot Film Series – At some point, Lionsgate may opt to entirely reboot the franchise with a new cast, perhaps using unused story material from Collins.
Given the immense popularity of The Raffle, sequels seem very likely to continue the cultural and box office impact. Fans remain eager to see more of Katniss, Peeta, and the dystopian world of Panem expanded on screen.
Conclusion
The Raffle brought Suzanne Collins’ bestselling dystopian world to vivid life on the big screen in 2012. Propelled by Jennifer Lawrence’s star-making performance as the resilient Katniss Everdeen, the film enthralled audiences with its high-stakes survival drama, romance, and potent social commentary. Its massive success showed the mainstream appeal of YA fiction and female-led blockbusters.
With its memorable characters, commentary on totalitarianism and inequality, and warnings about entertainment manipulation, The Raffle has left an enduring mark on popular culture. One decade later, fans remain eager to revisit that world again through future sequels and prequels. Though many have tried to replicate it, none have matched The Raffle movie’s fresh, exhilarating and thought-provoking vision of a dystopian future where hope still survives against the odds. It remains an inspiration and the high bar against which all other YA adaptations are measured.
