How to Watch “The Hunger Games” Movies in Chronological Order

From 'The Hunger Games' to 'The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,' here's how to watch the franchise

The Hunger Games was first brought to life on the screen in 2012, and since then has evolved into a critically acclaimed franchise.

Based on Suzanne Collins’ novels of the same name, the movies take place in a fictional country called Panem, which was once North America. Following a deadly war called the Dark Days, the wealthy Capitol created the Hunger Games, in which one female and male tribute from each of the country's 12 districts are thrown into an arena to fight to the death in a televised event.

The first film takes place during the 74th annual Hunger Games, where a young girl named Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) volunteers as tribute in place of her sister Prim and eventually sparks an entire revolution in the process.

The original franchise was a box office hit, spurring four films throughout the 2010s. Since then, Collins has continued the story with her 2020 prequel book The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, which was later turned into a film starring Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler.

Now, she is returning to Panem yet again with her recently announced book Sunrise on the Reaping, which will take place the year Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson) won the Hunger Games. A film is also slated to release in 2026.

Ahead, here’s how to watch the Hunger Games movies in release and chronological order.

Related: The Hunger Games Cast: Where Are They Now?

How to Watch The Hunger Games in Release Order

• The Hunger Games (2012)

• The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

• The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014)

• The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015)

• The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)

How to Watch The Hunger Games in Chronological Order

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)

Based on Collins’ 2020 novel of the same name, the film serves as a prequel to the original franchise taking place during the 10th annual Hunger Games, where a young Coriolanus Snow (Blyth) is selected as a mentor in the games.

In hopes of winning a Plinth Prize scholarship to attend university and repair his family’s good name, he works hard to ensure that his mentor, a young girl named Lucy Gray Baird (Zegler) from District 12, wins the games. Along the way, the two form a deep connection that changes them both forever.

As the film recounts the early beginnings of both Panem, the Hunger Games and Snow’s descent into a villainous character, this would be the first on your list if you’re hoping to watch the franchise in chronological order.

Watch The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes on Starz

The Hunger Games (2012)

Based on Collins’ first novel in the franchise, which was released in 2008, the film stars Lawrence as a young girl named Katniss from District 12 who volunteers in the Hunger Games after her sister Prim (Willow Shields) was selected as the female tribute.

Katniss, along with 23 other tributes, is then thrown into a televised arena where she is forced to fight until the death. However, when a new rule is introduced allowing two tributes from the same district to be named co-victors, she and her fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) work together to make it back home alive.

Watch The Hunger Games on AMC+

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

After being named co-victors of the 74th annual Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta are forced to continue their charade of being lovers as they go on a Victory Tour to all the districts. However, as rebellion sparks across Panem, President Snow (Donald Sutherland) retaliates by making a new rule in the Hunger Games’ 75th year, known as the third Quarter Quell.

As a reminder to the rebels that even the strongest cannot overcome the Capitol, Snow announces the tributes will be pulled from the remaining pool of victors, eventually resulting in Katniss and Peeta heading into the arena together again.

Watch The Hunger Games: Catching Fire on AMC+

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014)

Following the release of Catching Fire, Collins’ third book in the franchise was split into two separate films. In the first half, we see the aftermath of the 75th annual Hunger Games, where Katniss learns that a handful of tributes worked together to spark a rebellion.

Being declared the face of the rebellion, aka the “Mockingjay,” by gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Katniss works alongside a group of District 13 residents to persuade the other districts to join in the fight against the Capitol.

Watch The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 on AMC+

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015)

The final Hunger Games film picks up directly after the events of Mockingjay – Part 1, where Peeta attacks Katniss after being brainwashed by Snow. As Katniss grapples with this new version of Peeta, she continues to help District 13 in their fight to unite the districts.

Along the way, Katniss finds herself back in the Capitol with the ultimate mission of assassinating President Snow. Katniss and her entire group are put to the ultimate test as the Capitol is turned into an arena with deadly explosives and traps throughout the city, leading to many casualties along the way.

Watch The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 on AMC+

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