I’m honestly not sure what people are upset about with the negative comments I’ve been reading. It isn’t necessarily the greatest film I’ve ever seen or even this year, but I still found it entertaining. The plot was captivating, there were some frightening scenes mixed in with funny moments, a lot of suspense, and the acting was solid. Technically, everything seemed well-executed – the cinematography, special effects (both practical and computer-generated), production design, and creature designs all stood out. It’s not necessary for a film to be either perfect or terrible to be worthwhile. The movie theater where I watched it was full, the audience reacted positively, and I personally had a good time. I haven't really played the games myself, but I did find myself invested in some of the background information from MatPat’s Game Theory videos. And based on how people around me were reacting, there seemed to be some neat references for those familiar with the source material; that wasn’t a bad thing at all. It's always great when filmmakers include details that dedicated fans will appreciate and get excited about. Even as someone who hasn't played the games, I enjoyed the movie. While I think understanding the games and their backstory would have likely made it even better for me, I wouldn’t say it’s lacking on its own or that playing them is essential to enjoy it. The story makes sense regardless. Regarding the horror elements, it's rated PG-13; I noticed some people complaining about a lack of gore... but it *is* PG-13. Really. Still, I thought they handled the scary parts well enough. I also appreciated the three main characters and their performances. Josh Hutcherson, Piper Rubio, and Elizabeth Lail all did a good job, and I’m happy to see Josh Hutcherson back in movies; I hope he continues acting regularly.

Source on TMDB