How to watch The Hunger Games movies in order
(Pocket-lint) – It’s been almost a decade since The Hunger Games were released – the films, anyway.
The Hunger Games is a franchise that consists of four blockbuster films but is based on three equally popular novels by Suzanne Collins. It is set in a dystopian future in Panem – a North American nation made up of 12 districts governed by a single Capitol. As punishment for the rebellion 74 years ago, each district must select a boy and girl between the ages of 12 and 18 to compete in the Hunger Games, an annual competition in which the last survivor wins. The Hunger Games will be treated like a world championship in the Capitol. But further afield, in Panem, people are upset about the Games.
Here we meet the protagonist of the story: Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), a female tribute from District 12.
The Hunger Games films grossed $2.9 billion at the box office and catapulted Lawrence’s career. (She won an Oscar the same year the first Hunger Games was released.) But the games’ story doesn’t end with her in the first films. A new Hunger Games movie is coming. Slated to premiere in 2023, it is based on a prequel novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins called The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. It will focus on a young President Snow navigating as a mentor to a District 12 female tribute. Francis Lawrence returns as director after helming three of the original films.
With the new movie coming out next year, it’s the perfect time to revisit Panem.
How to watch The Hunger Games movies in order (chronologically and by release date)
The Hunger Games movies coming to theaters in chronological order. It’s the best way to watch them. If you don’t know which came first, or want to know a little more about the story and its progression in the four Hunger Games films, then read on. But please keep in mind that there may be spoilers. Skip to the bottom of this guide for a bulleted, spoiler-free version.
The Hunger Games (2012)
- Directed by: Garry Ross
- Screenplay by: Gary Ross, Suzanne Collins, Bill Ray
- Produced by: lion gate
- Distributed by: lion gate
- Box office: $694 million
- Duration: 142 minutes
- Related to: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Amazon)
- Stream Where: Amazon Prime Video
The first film introduces a dystopian continent called Panem, where 12 different districts are ruled by the Capitol. As part of a tradition to commemorate the anniversary of the districts’ rebellion, each year each district must send a boy and girl between the ages of 12 and 18 to a fight to the death known as the Hunger Games. Although the games are treated like the world’s cop in the Capitol, the people of Panem get angrier the farther they go. Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) is a 16-year-old from District 12 – the poorest and furthest from the Capitol.
The district runs 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. She soon joins Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), the boy chosen from her district, and they are escorted to the Capitol. The Hunger Games is directed by Gary Ross, who co-wrote the screenplay with Billy Ray and Suzanne Collins.
The Hunger Games Catch Fire (2013)
- Directed by: Franz Laurent
- Screenplay by: Simon Beaufoy, Michael deBruyn
- Produced by: lion gate
- Distributed by: lion gate
- Box office: $865 million
- Duration: 146 minutes
- Related to: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (Amazon)
- Stream Where: Amazon Prime Video
Catching Fire begins with Katniss and Peeta in District 12 after outsmarting the Capitol. (As part of their winning plan, they faked 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 districts in Panem, expecting that they will continue their charade and not undermine his power. When Snow isn’t convinced they’re really in love, it’s revealed that the 75th Hunger Games will be chosen from past champions for the first time. Katniss – as the only living female winner from District 12 – is guaranteed a place in the competition.
Francis Lawrence is the director of Catching Fire and also directed the last two original Hunger Games films. He will also direct the upcoming prequel movie, due out in 2023.
The Hunger Games Mockingjay – Part One (2014)
- Directed by: Franz Laurent
- Screenplay by: Danny Strong, Peter Craig
- Produced by: lion gate
- Distributed by: lion gate
- Box office: $755 million
- Duration: 123 minutes
- Related to: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (Amazon)
- Stream Where: Amazon Prime Video
After escaping the 75th Hunger Games, Katniss is escorted to District 13. It is a secret underground headquarters of the rebellion. There she meets the president of the rebellion, Alma Coin (Julianne Moore). She asks Katniss to help win the hearts and minds of the other districts by making propaganda videos and fighting the Capitol’s oppression. Peeta, meanwhile, is being held captive by the Capitol and being used to try to stop Katniss and quell the growing revolution she has started. Ultimately, all districts in Panem must choose between the Rebellion and the Capitol.
The Hunger Games Mockingjay – Part Two (2015)
- Directed by: Franz Laurent
- Screenplay by: Peter Craig, Danny Strong
- Produced by: color strength
- Distributed by: lion gate
- Box office: $658 million
- Duration: 137 minutes
- Related to: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (Amazon)
- Stream Where: Amazon Prime Video
In the fourth and currently final Hunger Games film, the Rebellion seeks to heal Peeta from the Capitol brainwashing that led him to kill Katniss. Meanwhile, using Alma Coin’s propaganda videos, Katniss helped sway most of the districts to the side of the rebellion. Katniss is also part of the Star Squad, a group of the most elite soldiers fighting for the Rebellion. You embark on a dangerous mission to the Capitol with the goal of killing President Snow. The group reluctantly agree to bring Peeta to be included in propaganda videos, though they’re not yet sure if he can truly be trusted.
Where does the new Hunger Games movie fit in this order?
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is an upcoming prequel set 65 years before the events of the original series. When it’s in theaters or online, watch it first in a Hunger Games rerun.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Serpents (2023)
- Directed by: Franz Laurent
- Screenplay by: Michael Arndt
- Produced by: color strength
- Distributed by: lion gate
- Related to: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins (Amazon)
- Where to see: Released on November 17, 2023
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is an upcoming prequel set 65 years before the events of the original series. When it’s in theaters or online, watch it first in a Hunger Games rerun.
Like all other Hunger Games films, the new film is based on a novel by Suzanne Collins. A much younger Coriolanus Snow follows, played by Tom Blyth. (The character of President Snow is played by Donald Sutherland in the other films, set decades later.) Snow’s once-affluent family is now penniless, but thanks to his success at the academy, he was hired to oversee a tribute for the 10th Hunger Games . Of course, he’s dating a District 12 tribute named Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler). You can watch the The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes reveal trailer here.
Francis Lawrence will be directing this film again after Catching Fire and both Mockingjay films.
Spoiler-free version: The Hunger Games movies in order
Chronological order and publication date
OK, so here is the short version of the guide above. It is spoiler free.
- The Hunger Games (2012)
- The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part One (2014)
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part Two (2015)
Not yet available:
- The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Serpents (2023)
Do you want that?
Then you might like our instructions for ordering films:
We also have these rumor rounds up on upcoming movies:
Written by Maggie Tillman.