Hunger Games movie order: Chronological & release date

The Hunger Games is a franchise that consists of five Blockbuster movies, but it’s based on four equally popular novels by Suzanne Collins. It’s set in a dystopian future in Panem – a North American nation made up of 12 districts, with one Capitol ruling over all of them. As punishment for rebelling 74 years earlier, each district must select a boy and a girl between 12 and 18 to compete in the Hunger Games, an annual competition where the last remaining survivor wins. The Hunger Games are treated like a World Cup in the Capitol. But further away, in Panem, people are resentful about the Games.

This is where we meet the protagonist of the story: Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), a female tribute from District 12.

The Hunger Games movies generated $2.9 billion at the box office and catapulted Lawrence’s career. (The same year the first Hunger Games released, she won an Oscar.) But the story of the Games doesn’t end with her in the first films. A new Hunger Games story has become a surprise success story since it hit theaters in November 2023, grossing 315 million dollars. It’s based on a prequel novel of the same name from Suzanne Collins called The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. It focuses on a young President Snow as he navigates being a mentor to a female tribute from District 12 played by Rachel Zegler. Francis Lawrence returned as the director, after helming three of the original movies.

With the new movie now available to buy, it’s the perfect time to revisit Panem. Even better, all the available Hunger Games films are currently available to stream on Peacock. If you’re wondering when The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes might hit a streaming service you subscribe too, the film should hit Starz at some point in the next few months before heading over to Peacock to join the rest of the Hunger Games films.

The original Hunger Games movies released in cinemas in chronological order. It’s the best way to watch them. That changed with the release of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which is a prequel set 65 years before the events of the original films.

1 The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

And the first winner from District 12 is…

Like all the other Hunger Games films, the new movie is based on a novel by Suzanne Collins. It will follow a much younger Coriolanus Snow, played by Tom Blyth. (The character of President Snow is played by Donald Sutherland in the other films set decades later.). Snow’s once-wealthy family is now destitute, but thanks to his success at the Academy, he’s been assigned to mentor a tribute for the 10th Hunger Games. Of course, he’s paired with a tribute from District 12 named Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler).

Francis Lawrence returned to direct this film after directing Catching Fire and both Mockingjay films.

2 The Hunger Games

Where it all began

The first film introduces a dystopian continent called Panem, where 12 different districts are ruled over by the Capitol. Every year as a part of a tradition to mark the anniversary of the districts rebelling, each district must send one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 to compete in a fight to the death known as the Hunger Games. Although the Games are treated like the World Cup in the Capitol, as you get farther away, the people of Panem are more resentful. Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) is a 16-year-old in District 12 – the poorest and furthest from the Capitol.

The district does a lottery to decide which children will be chosen, and when Katniss’ younger sister, Primrose (Willow Shields) is chosen, Katniss volunteers in her sister’s place. Soon, she joins Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), the boy chosen from her district, and they are escorted to the Capitol. The Hunger Games was directed by Gary Ross, who wrote the screenplay with Billy Ray and Suzanne Collins.

3 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Katniss is forced to return to the Hunger Games

Catching Fire picks up with Katniss and Peeta back in District 12 after having outwitted the Capitol. (As part of their winning plan, they feigned falling in love.)

They are visited by President Snow (Donald Sutherland), who reveals to Katniss that her actions have thrown the districts into a state of Rebellion. Snow decides to send Katniss and Peeta on a tour of all the districts in Panem, with the expectation that they will continue their charade and not undermine his power. When Snow is left unconvinced that they are truly in love, it’s revealed that for the first time, for the 75th Hunger Games, the Games’ participants will be selected from previous champions. Katniss – being the only living female winner from District 12 – is ensured a spot in the contest.

Francis Lawrence is the director of Catching Fire and directed the final two original Hunger Games films as well. He’ll also direct the upcoming prequel movie due out in 2023.

4 The Hunger Games Mockingjay – Part One

The revolution begins

Following her escape from the 75th Hunger Games, Katniss is escorted to District 13. It’s a secret underground headquarters for the Rebellion. There, she meets the Rebellion’s president, Alma Coin (Julianne Moore). She asks Katniss to help win the hearts and minds of the other districts, by filming propaganda videos and fighting against the oppression of the Capitol. Peeta, meanwhile, is held captive by the Capitol, being used to try to stop Katniss and suppress the growing revolution that she has started. Eventually, all the districts in Panem will have to choose between the Rebellion and the Capitol.

5 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part Two

The Capitol and President Snow are defeated, but who takes their place

In the fourth and currently final Hunger Games movie, the Rebellion attempts to cure Peeta of the Capitol’s brainwashing, which made him try to kill Katniss. Meanwhile, Katniss has helped turn most of the districts to the Rebellion’s side with Alma Coin’s propaganda videos. Katniss is also part of the Star Squad, a group of the most elite soldiers fighting for the Rebellion. They embark on a dangerous mission to the Capitol, with the goal to kill President Snow. The group reluctantly agrees to bring Peeta so he can be included in propaganda videos, although they’re not sure if he can be totally trusted yet.

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Spoiler-free version: The Hunger Games movies in order

Chronological order

OK, so here is the at-a-glance version of the guide above. It’s free of spoilers.

1. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023)
2. The Hunger Games (2012)
3. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
4. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part One (2014)
5. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part Two (2015)

Release date order

1. The Hunger Games (2012)
2. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
3. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part One (2014)
4. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part Two (2015)
5. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023)