The Hunger Games, 2012

I don’t think you can find a better adaptation of a young adult novel than The Hunger Games trilogy—and I’d argue that a very good YA adaptation of a science fiction series is worth a spot on this list. In the aughts/teens, there was a slew of movies adapted from YA fantasy and sci-fi novels (Twilight, The Maze Runner, Divergent, The Mortal Instruments), but the only one that gave us consistently great acting and heart-wrenching scenes was The Hunger Games. Jennifer Lawrence slips so well into the role of Katniss Everdeen that it’s impossible to imagine anyone else in the role, and her incredible capabilities as an actor help drive home just truly terrible this dystopic world is.

The mix of absurd spectacle and dreary daily life for Panem’s lower-class people makes for a riveting watch, and one that feels even more prescient and poignant today. — Alyssa Mercante