How to Watch 'The Hunger Games' Films in Order, Including 'The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes'
Brush up on Panem history before you dive into The Hunger Games prequel.
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The girl on fire blazes on. Inspired by Suzanne Collins' hit novels, The Hunger Games franchise burst into a pop culture phenomenon, spawning four feature films that propelled stars like Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth to the forefront. On the heels of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, a renewed interest ignites for the original trilogy that started it all.
Premiering in 2012, the first movie rivaled box-office success seen only in movies like the initial Harry Potter and Twilight movies. It follows Katniss Everdeen, a resilient teenager forced to compete as a "tribute" in the 74th annual Hunger Games until there's one final "victor." Rebelling against the Capitol, she sparks a revolution in the process.
Upon the prequel's November 17 premiere, fans now revisit Panem's early days with the adaptation of Collins' novel set 64 years before Katniss ever set foot in the area. So, whether prepping for the new installment or rushing from the theater to re-watch all the action, here's a guide on how to watch The Hunger Games franchise in chronological order.
For more movie fun, be sure to watch the Mission Impossible movies in order, as well as the Lord of the Rings.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)
The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes tells the story of a young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) years before he became the tyrannical president of Panem. For the 10th annual Hunger Games, Coriolanus eyes the opportunity to repair his family name when he is chosen to be a mentor. Only, he is assigned to a tribute named Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler) from District 12, the poorest and most remote district in Panem. To his surprise, the two make a lethal pairing, manipulating how the Games are played.
If you want to watch the films in chronological order, start with The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes — currently in theaters — to witness the beginnings of The Hunger Games.
The Hunger Games (2012)
Set in the dystopian future of Panem, the Hunger Games ushers in its 74th year of the games. A 16-year-old girl named Katniss Everdeen lives in District 12. Volunteering as tribute in her sister's place, Katniss must tap her skills as a hunter and an archer to survive the games and protect her family. Sent alongside District 12's other tribute Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), the two form an unlikely alliance and must navigate the deadly arena, fighting against both the other tributes and President Snow (Donald Sutherland)'s attempts to manipulate the games.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
Shortly after returning from their unprecedented triumph in the 74th annual Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta find themselves thrust onto a Victors Tour. As they journey through the districts, Katniss senses the stirrings of unrest. President Snow, however, quickly asserts his dominance with the announcement of a cruel change in the rules for the impending 75th Hunger Games that thrust former victors back into the arena.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (2014)
The enthralling conclusion to Collins' book trilogy spans two parts. After her rescue from the harrowing Quarter Quell, Katniss wakes in the underground complex of the supposedly extinct District 13 only to discover that her home, District 12, lies in ruins, and Peeta has fallen captive to President Snow. In her recovery, she learns of the clandestine rebellion that plans to overthrow the Capitol — positioning her as the symbolic leader known as the Mockingjay.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (2015)
Flanked by her closest adversaries, including Peeta, Gale (Liam Hemsworth) and Finnick (Sam Claflin), Katniss embarks on the crucial mission on behalf of District 13 to liberate Panem and stop President Snow whose obsession to destroy Katniss has reached epic proportions. As they inch closer and closer to the Capitol, what awaits them are lethal traps, formidable foes and moral dilemmas that will ultimately decide the fate of millions.
Jacqueline (she/her) was a commerce editor for Good Housekeeping from 2021 to 2024. Prior to joining GH, she was a style and beauty reviews fellow at Insider, testing viral trends, reviewing sustainable brands and more. She's a graduate of the University of Florida's School of Journalism, with a specialty in magazines and mass communication.
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