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 Superbowl or 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 and grossed 315 million dollars. It’s based on a prequel novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins calledThe 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.
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The original Hunger Games movies were released in theaters in chronological order, which is the best way to watch them. However, 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. Another new film, Sunrise on the Reaping, which is set to hit theaters August 18, 2025, will continue that trend as it’s set 40 years after The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, but 24 years before the original Hunger Games movies.
Read on to find out where it fits into the larger Hunger Games universe, but if you’re looking to avoid spoilers, check out the spoiler-free list at the bottom.
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And the first winner from District 12 is…
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023)
See Panem 64 years before the events of the original film series as a young Coriolanus Snow helps the District 12 tribute in the 10th annual Hunger Games.
Like all the other Hunger Games films, the most recent movie is based on a novel by Suzanne Collins. It follows 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 played by Rachel Zegler.
Francis Lawrence returned to direct this film after directing Catching Fire and both Mockingjay films.
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How Haymitch won his Hunger Games
The Hunger Games: The Sunrise on the Reaping (2026)
The next Hunger Games movie is already in the works. It’ll be based on a new novel from Suzanne Collins that isn’t even out yet, detailing how Haymitch won his Hunger Games.
The next Hunger Games film will be based on a new novel by Suzanne Collins that’s due to hit bookstores on August 05, 2025, titled Sunrise on the Reaping. The new film will be in theaters on August 25, 2025. It’s set 40 years after the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, but 24 years before the original films.
Hardcore Hunger Games fans will remember Woody Harrelson’s character from the first four Hunger Games films, Haymitch Abernathy. He won the 50th Hunger Games, becoming the second participant from District 12 to ever win the games. The new Hunger Games film will tell Haymitch’s story, which we’ve only heard bits and pieces of from the original three books.
When you first meet him in the original movies, Haymitch is a drunk who’s been forced to coach 24 years of District 12 competitors who all die in the games. Katniss manages to win Haymitch over eventually, but his backstory, which is more detailed in the books than in the films, is even more depressing than it sounds. Haymitch wins the Hunger Games in a way that angers the Capitol, so although he’s allowed to live, President Snow orders his entire family murdered.
Francis Lawrence will return to direct the latest film after directing every Hunger Games film except the original. Stay tuned for word about future casting, like who will play a younger Haymitch and middle-aged President Snow.
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2The Hunger Games
Where it all began
The Hunger Games (2012)
Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) volunteers in her sister’s place for a spot in The Hunger Games - a fight to the death with 23 other participants.
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 Superbowl or World Cup in the Capitol, as you get farther away, the people of Panem grow more resentful. Katniss Everdeen (played by 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 (played by Willow Shields) is chosen, Katniss volunteers in her sister’s place. Soon, she joins Peeta (played by 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.
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3The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Katniss is forced to return to the Hunger Games
The Hunger Games Catching Fire
In the aftermath of their victory, Katniss and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) attempt to navigate a dangerous path that ultimately leads them back 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 (played by Donald Sutherland), who reveals to Katniss that her actions have thrown the districts into a state of rebellion. Snow sends 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.
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4The Hunger Games Mockingjay – Part One
The revolution begins
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part One (2014)
Katniss begins working with the Rebellion to take down the Capitol, while Peeta is being held captive and tortured by the Capitol.
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 (played by 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.
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5The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part Two
The Capitol and President Snow are defeated, but who takes their place
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part Two (2015)
The final Hunger Games film sees a reunited Katniss and Peeta invade the Capitol on a mission to free Panem.
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 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
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