Warning: Spoilers for The Hate U Give ahead.
There are some movies that you just know are going to be an emotional experience you'll never forget. The book-to-movie adaptation of The Hate U Give [1], the 2017 YA bestseller by Angie Thomas, is exactly that kind of movie. With stunning performances from a star-studded cast [2] featuring Amandla Stenberg, Regina Hall, and Russell Hornsby, The Hate U Give takes its audience on a thought-provoking journey that tackles race, police brutality, and black identity. Starr Carter, played by Amandla Stenberg in the film, narrates her story as she deals with the aftermath of witnessing her friend Khalil's death [3] at the hands of the police and the repercussions it has on the lives around her.
There's a lot to pack into a two-hour movie, but with a screenplay written by the late Audrey Wells [4] and such an amazing cast, director George Tillman Jr. brings the story of Starr and Khalil to life with startling realism. While the film is a faithful telling of the novel, there are a few differences that only readers of the book will be able to spot. The Hate U Give is set to hit theatres nationwide on Oct. 19, but before you see the film, check out the key ways the movie differs from the printed story.
Starr and Khalil's Conversation in the Car
While Starr and Khalil's friendship is the foundation of both the novel and the movie, the film adaptation adds a level of intimacy that they never reach in the printed version. In the book, Starr and Khalil only reminisce about their childhood friendship with Natasha in the car and discuss why he's supporting his grandmother. In the movie, the conversation in the car is much more romantic and the two even share a kiss. When Starr tells Khalil she has a boyfriend, he admits he knew that but promises he'll wait for her.
Subsequently, the reason the officer shoots Khalil differs between the book and movie. In the book, Khalil begins to open the car door because he's worried about Starr. Khalil reaches into the car to grab a brush and uses it before being shot in the film.
Khalil's Funeral
In the book, Khalil's funeral is interrupted when King places a folded grey bandana on his body. This is done to signify that he was involved with the King Lords, which Starr previously suspected. Enraged, Khalil's grandmother throws the bandana back at King, and Maverick has to convince him to leave the funeral.
In the movie, Khalil's funeral passes without any upset from the King Lords. While King and several members of the gang do appear at the service, they never interact with Rosalie or Khalil's body.
DeVante's Presence
DeVante is a teenager from Garden Heights who is heavily featured in The Hate U Give book. He joins the King Lords in hopes of being able to provide for his mother and brother, as well as being attracted to the sense of family that the gang advertises. The fear of ending up dead or in prison leads him to ask Maverick for help him leave the gang. DeVante eventually moves in with Starr's uncle Carlos, and agrees to turn witness against King to protect the Garden Heights community. DeVante is also the one who reveals that Khalil wasn't actually involved with the King Lords and King was attempting to save face at the funeral. Truthfully, Khalil was selling drugs to pay back his mother's debt after she stole money from King.
In the movie, DeVante doesn't exist. Small bits of his storyline are given to Starr's half brother Seven — mainly the incident where he's beaten up by King and Iesha sacrifices her own safety to get him away from the King Lords.
Rivalry Between the King Lords and Garden Disciples
The rivalry between the two predominant gangs of Garden Heights, the King Lords and Garden Disciples, is an important factor in the book. Several key members of the story are involved with gangs in some way and their interactions provide a nuanced narrative of how gangs affect a community. Maverick, Khalil, and DeVante all became involved with the King Lords because of the promise of family and a lack of opportunities for poor, young black men. Maverick and DeVante eventually leave because the dangers are too high. Even so, Maverick is still able to call upon members of the King Lords to protect his family when they are in danger following Starr's televised interview. At one point, Maverick organises a conversation between the gangs to stop the rioting because of how it ultimately hurts the black community.
The movie brushes on the rivalry between the gangs, but it doesn't feature it heavily in the film.
The Gun Standoff
In the movie, after Starr and Seven are rescued by Maverick from the family's burning grocery store, the police pull up on the gathered crowd. Maverick and King are mid-argument and weapons are close to being drawn. Sekani, Starr's younger brother, has been traumatized from all the events preceding the fire and, scared for his family, grabs Maverick's gun from his waistband. The police aim their guns at Sekani while the rest of those gathered around try to defuse the situation. Starr stands in front of her brother with her hands up, putting herself in the line of fire and giving him time to lower the gun before the cops shoot him. The scene serves as a pivotal moment in the film as everyone realises how affected Sekani has been by everything since the shooting and how badly things could have turned out.
This moment never happens in the book, though King's arrest afterward does.