The Giver Movie: Actually Pretty Decent, But I Wanted More

 

When The Giver came out in 2014 we all went having loved the book. We knew we’d be disappointed just because of our love for The Giver by Lois Lowry.  Looking back now in 2026, I can see that it was trying to ride the coattails of the dystopian movie wave. The issue here is The Giver isn’t a violent Hunger Games. But honestly? They did a pretty solid job and I still will rewatch the movie.

The Stuff That Worked

Aging Jonas up from 12 to 18ish was the right call. Nobody is getting their life assignment at Age 12 and thinking great I’m cleaning toilets for life. So to me this change was great. Making him a teenager means you can actually believe he's capable of handling these massive revelations and making the choice to leave. Plus it opens the door for a romance with Fiona, which I know purists probably hate, but come on. He's a young man that’s finally catching feelings for the first time. Of course there's going to be a girl.

The black and white to color thing was brilliant. This is one of those rare cases where the movie can do something the book just can't. Starting in black and white and gradually adding color as Jonas gets more memories? Chef's kiss. It's not subtle, but it doesn't need to be. You feel his awakening happening in real time.

Katie Holmes as Jonas's mom made me genuinely mad. I believe Michelle stated she wanted to slap her. She's so conditioned, so unable to understand what she's lost, and Holmes plays it perfectly. You hate her a little, but mostly you just feel bad for every parent in that community. The idea that you would rather follow rules than be there for your child is astounding.

The Rosemary hologram scene wasn't in the book. You do know about her, but she’s a much more real person when you see her.  You see her interacting with The Giver. Seeing her play music, watching The Giver's relationship with her come to life, that added something real. (Still annoyed they don't explain how The Giver knew his relationship to her, but whatever). 

And the casting overall was good. Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Brenton Thwaites, they all did their jobs. Streep as the Chief Elder works because they actually gave her something to do instead of keeping the Elders as this faceless collective. She's the villain now, and she's great at it.

The Stuff That Didn't

Here's my problem: I wanted more. More memories being transferred. More of Jonas actually experiencing these things that reshape his entire worldview. The movie rushes through that part, and that's the heart of the story.

I wanted more about how the community works. The book makes you feel how oppressive it is, all the apologizing for tiny infractions, the rules that are so internalized people don't even question them. The movie shows you a surveillance state with drones and holograms, but you don't get that same suffocating feeling of control that's been accepted as normal.

More about Rosemary. I know we got that hologram scene, but I wanted her full story, what it meant, why it mattered so much.

And I wanted to know Jonas is okay. The book leaves it ambiguous, and I get why Lowry did that, but I hate it. The movie gives you more closure, which is better, but I still want confirmation that he and Gabriel are healthy and happy in the beyond.

Alexander Skarsgård as the dad was kind of weak, but I think that's more the character than the acting. The dad role is just weak in general.

What Gets Lost

The movie moves too fast. The book is quiet and reflective. You uncover the truth gradually through Jonas's confusion. The movie turns it into a thriller with chase scenes and Asher having to decide whether to shoot Jonas out of the sky. Some of that works, but you lose the philosophical weight.

You also lose some of the dictator vibes. The performative apologies, the way everyone has internalized the rules so completely, the overlord feel of the whole system. The movie shows you control, but it doesn't make you feel controlled the way the book does.

Who Should Watch This

If you loved the book? Yes, watch it. It's a respectful adaptation that makes smart changes for film. The core themes about memory, emotion, choice, and conformity are all there.

If you never read the book? Maybe. You could enjoy it, but I think a lot of what makes it work is nostalgia. If you read this as a kid and it stuck with you, seeing it brought to life means something. If you're coming in cold, you might find it slow compared to other dystopian stuff.

The movie was trying for the Hunger Games crowd but probably got families instead, which is why it flopped. The Giver is more cerebral, more subtle. There's not enough action to pull in the teens who wanted rebellion and revolution.

Bottom Line

This is a decent adaptation that plays it safe when it could have gone deeper. I wish they'd trusted the quiet moments more. I wish they'd given us more time with the memories, more exploration of what this world really costs people. But they captured the important stuff, the visual choices were smart, and the casting was solid.

It's not perfect, but it's better than it had any right to be given when it came out and what Hollywood was doing with YA adaptations at the time. I'm glad it exists, even if I'm left wanting more.