More than 30 years ago, a little-known author named Richard Bachman released a couple of novels that ought to sound familiar to fans of "The Hunger Games."

"The Long Walk" came out in 1979. It's about a walking contest held each year for 100 teenage boys. The rules are simple: Keep walking, but if you drop below 4 mph for 30 seconds, they'll kill you. The contest ends when just one boy is left standing.

"The Running Man," which was later made into an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie, was released in 1982. In the book, a desperate man enters a game to raise money for his ill daughter. He's given a 12-hour headstart, then the Hunters begin chasing him down. If he's still alive after 30 days, he collects $1 million.

Movie Review: 'Hunger Games' aims for teen blockbuster

Slideshow: More "fight to the death" movies you might enjoy

Bachman, the author of those books, was later revealed to be Stephen King, who reportedly released them under a pseudonym to see if people were buying his books because they were good, or because they were by Stephen King.

The movie version of "The Hunger Games" comes out today, and all indications are that it will be the year's first blockbuster.

It's based on Suzanne Collins' novel, which is hugely popular among teen readers. Fans have been anxiously awaiting the movie since the first casting rumors blew up Twitter.

Like Bachman's tales, "The Hunger Games" is a very dark story, set in a dystopian society in the years following a failed rebellion. To keep the destitute citizens in line, the affluent Capitol stages the Hunger Games every year. Each of the 12 districts must send two teens - one boy and one girl selected at random - to the Games, where they are all thrown into an arena in a fight to the death. Twenty-four contestants go in, one comes out, and everyone is required to watch.

Not exactly "Harry Potter," is it?

Not entirely original, either. It borrows themes from "The Long Walk" and "The Running Man," but also from films such as "Death Race 2000," "Gamer," even "Tron."

So, if you like "Hunger Games," here are some other "fight to the death" movies you might enjoy, along with each film's approval rating on rottentomatoes.com.

tom.szaroleta@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4548


Rotten Tomatoes rating: 63 percent

A police officer (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is wrongly accused of a crime and sentenced to take part in a game show where he and other contestants are hunted down by costumed killers. It's grim and sometimes graphic, but it's also funny (like when the gameshow host, played by Richard Dawson, gets his comeuppance). It also may be the only movie to feature two future governors in its cast: Schwarzenegger (California) and Jesse "The Body" Ventura (Minnesota). Based on a short story from Stephen King.


Rotten Tomatoes rating: 84 percent

Violent and disturbing Japanese film (with subtitles) about a class of 42 ninth-graders who are taken to a deserted island and given three days to kill each other. The trailers alone are enough to freak most people out. An American version is reportedly in the works for 2015.

DEATH RACE 2000 (1975)

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 85 percent

Contestants in a cross-country auto race earn points for running down pedestrians in the most violent ways possible. A young Sylvester Stallone stars as one of the racers, and it's produced by Roger Corman, king of the B movies. A remake of sorts, "Death Race," came out in 2008 and starred Jason Statham.


Rotten Tomatoes rating: 68 percent

In a society where violence has been outlawed, a brutal game called Rollerball is the national pastime. Its most popular player (James Caan) becomes a little too popular for the shadowy forces running the game, though, and they plot to have him "accidentally" killed. A much-maligned 2002 remake has Chris Klein in Caan's role.

GAMER (2009)

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 30 percent

A convict (Gerard Butler) is sentenced to participate in a game in which he is controlled by a player (Logan Lerman). If he can survive 30 levels, he will be set free. But if he dies in the game, he dies for real.


Rotten Tomatoes rating: 78 percent

A Roman general (Russell Crowe) is sentenced to fight in the Colosseum and becomes so popular he threatens the power of the new emperor (Joaquin Phoenix). Won five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor.

ARENA (2011)

Rotten Tomatoes rating: Not rated

A suicidal firefighter (Kellan Lutz) is kidnapped and finds himself in a popular - and illegal - web show called "The Deathgames" that throws contestants into a gladiatorial arena to fight to the death.