Summary

• The Hunger Games franchise offers different ways to watch the movies, with alternate viewing orders based on personal preference.
• The Hunger Games movies were released in chronological order, following the story of the trilogy, but the prequel film, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, takes place before the original four movies.
• The first movie, The Hunger Games, sets the tone for the rest of the franchise and explores the brutal nature of the Hunger Games competition, while the final movie, Mockingjay - Part 2, concludes the story with a glimpse into the future of the main characters.

The Hunger Games franchise is one of the biggest in the world, and the franchise's expansion gives audiences a couple of different ways to best watch the movies. This series was one of the pivotal teen dystopian series that really caught the attention of young readers, but it was one of the rare examples to translate to box office success. From the time the first of the Hunger Games movies came out in 2012 to the timing of Lionsgate looking to grow the world with additional films, the franchise's relevance has left audiences with alternate viewing orders based on personal preference.

The first movies follow Hunger Games movies wrapped up in 2015 after a two-part finale, and it took several more years for the franchise to expand with its first prequel, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. This means there are now a few options when it comes to how to watch the Hunger Games movies in order.

The Hunger Games Movies In Release Order

The Hunger Games movies followed the same release patterns as the books by Suzanne Collins. They were released chronologically to the story in the trilogy, as nothing ever deviated timeline-wise, even though the final book was split into two movies. Because the prequel book was released so far after the original trilogy, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes also came out after the original movie franchise. The background knowledge provided by the first four movies can be helpful to better understanding the prequel film, which is a benefit of watching 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)

The Hunger Games Movies In Chronological Order Of Events

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

Box Office: N/A | Run Time: 2 Hours 45 Minutes

Cast: Rachel Ziegler (Lucy Gray Baird), Tom Blyth (Coriolanus Snow), Hunter Schafer (Tigris Snow), Peter Dinklage (Dean Casca Highbottom), Viola Davis (Dr. Volumnia Gaul), Josh Andrés Rivera (Sejanus Plinth)

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is the first movie in Hunger Games chronologically. It follows the relationship between Coriolanus Snow and Lucy Gray Baird as mentor and tribute during the 10th Hunger Games. It explores everything from the beginning of the corrupt nature of the Capital to the journey Snow goes on to save the reputation of his family and become a powerful figure in Panem. The prequel setting means several differences in Songbirds & Snakes' Hunger Games compared to what occurs later on in the timeline.

The exact nature of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' placement in the Hunger Games timeline confirms it takes place well before the events of the original four movies, despite being released after them. The 10th Hunger Games setting means that Lucy Gray and Coriolanus Snow's adventures unfold about 64 years before the events of the first movie. This is why Coriolanus is so young in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes compared to his older appearance in the other four installments. There is also room left for additional Hunger Games prequel movies to be made without interfering with Katniss' story.

The Hunger Games

Box Office: $694.4 Million | Run Time: 2 Hours 26 Minutes

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen), Josh Hutcherson (Peeta Mellark), Woody Harrelson (Haymitch Abernathy), Elizabeth Banks (Eddie Trinket), Liam Hemsworth (Gale Hawthorne), Donald Sutherland (President Snow), Stanley Tucci (Caesar Flickerman), Lenny Kravitz (Cinna)

The first The Hunger Games movie explored the connection between Peeta and Katniss as the two tributes from District 12 during the 74th Hunger Games. They're led through the Games by Haymitch, a previous tribute who struggles with the trauma of his own games. The Hunger Games perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the movies to be released by portraying the brutality of this competition for teenagers. The film ends with Peeta and Katniss both surviving the games, despite the rule that only one person is supposed to survive.

Although The Hunger Games was the first movie released in theaters for this franchise, it cannot be the first viewing experience for a chronological watch. The movie is firmly set in the future of the present day, but it also unmistakably takes place after the events of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. The actual story that is shown unfolds over a relatively short amount of time, even though several decades have ed in the universe between the franchise's movies based on a timeline viewing order.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Box Office: $865 Million | Run Time: 2 Hours 26 Minutes

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen), Josh Hutcherson (Peeta Mellark), Woody Harrelson (Haymitch Abernathy), Elizabeth Banks (Eddie Trinket), Liam Hemsworth (Gale Hawthorne), Sam Claflin (Finnick Odair), Donald Sutherland (President Snow), Stanley Tucci (Caesar Flickerman), Lenny Kravitz (Cinna), Jena Malone (Johanna Mason), Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Plutarch Heavensbee), Jeffrey Wright (Beetee)

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire focused on what the series called the Quarter Quell. This happens every 25 years, and this Quarter Quell calls tributes from all Hunger Games that have happened. Katniss and Peeta are both pulled back into the arena through this gamesmanship, while previous victors like Finnick Odair, Johanna Mason, and Beetee are introduced as new allies. Not only are the characters fighting to survive in the games, but they're also working to begin the rebellion. Since there's about a year between every Hunger Games, this movie happens a year after the first, and 65 years after the prequel film.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1

Box Office: $755.4 Million | Run Time: 2 Hours 3 Minutes

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen), Josh Hutcherson (Peeta Mellark), Woody Harrelson (Haymitch Abernathy), Elizabeth Banks (Eddie Trinket), Liam Hemsworth (Gale Hawthorne), Sam Claflin (Finnick Odair), Jena Malone (Johanna Mason), Donald Sutherland (President Snow), Stanley Tucci (Caesar Flickerman)

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1 is the fourth movie in the franchise's chronological viewing order. The sequel focuses on the political and emotional problems that come with war, as Katniss assumes her place as the rebellion's Mockingjay and fights to rescue Peeta from the Capitol. When she and Peeta reunite after his rescue, he's completely unrecognizable and attacks her. It takes place immediately after the events of Catching Fire. The characters wake up on the same plane they were rescued on. The movie spans a long time as the characters explore the loss of Peeta, see his brainwashing, and manage to get him back all in one film.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2

Box Office: $653.4 Million | Run Time: 2 Hours 17 Minutes

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen), Josh Hutcherson (Peeta Mellark), Woody Harrelson (Haymitch Abernathy), Elizabeth Banks (Eddie Trinket), Liam Hemsworth (Gale Hawthorne), Jena Malone (Johana Mason), Donald Sutherland (President Snow), Stanley Tucci (Caesar Flickerman)

The final film based on the original trilogy of books is also the final movie in The Hunger Games' chronological viewing order. The story follows Katniss, Peeta, and other rebels as they finally face off against the Capitol. Peeta goes with them despite not being fully healed from his brainwashing. This film takes place directly after the previous installment and quickly moves through the plot. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2 ends the story by jumping about 20 years into the future to show Katniss and Peeta's happily ever after with their family.