Mahvesh Murad of The Express Tribune stated that the film's triumph is "a youthful female protagonist with agency", comparing her with Joss Whedon's Buffy Summers. Manohla Dargis in The New York Times compares it to Battle Royale, Ender's Game, and Twilight, but contrasts The Hunger Games in terms of how its "fascinating" feminine protagonist Katniss "rescues herself with resourcefulness, guts and correct aim".