The Hunger Games: How to watch the films in chronological order

• “The Hunger Games” is the successful film adaptation of the young adult novel series of the same name by author Suzanne Collins.
• Four films tell the story of brave warrior Katniss Everdeen, who takes part in the annual Hunger Games as a tribute.
• In November 2023 another story from the world of Panem comes to the big screen. This is a prequel set over 60 years before the events of the main film series.

“The Hunger Games” is set in a dystopian world built from the rubble of North America: Panem. For years there was war over the last raw materials on earth. After the destruction of the country as we know it, Panem was divided into 13 districts. At its center is the Capitol, the seat of government.

Each district of Panem was assigned a different branch of economy. For example, District 1 is responsible for luxury goods and District 12 for mining. After some time there were uprisings within the poorer districts. A rebellion ensued that went down in history as the “Dark Ages”. But the dispute was quickly stopped by the Capitol, destroying District 13 in the process.

To remind the populace of the power of Panem’s government, the Capitol instituted the Hunger Games, which have been held annually ever since. For the games, tributes are drawn from each of the 12 districts, a girl and a boy who have to fight against each other in an arena. It’s a matter of life and death, because only one can win the annual Hunger Games.

The Hunger Games film series is based on the bestselling novel series by author Suzanne Collins. The three novels in the main series were published between 2008 and 2010. Just a few years later, the first book “Deadly Games” starring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen was filmed. Just like the books, the film series became a huge success.

In 2020, Collins wrote the first Hunger Games spin-off novel, which tells the backstory of antagonist Coriolanus Snow. On November 16, 2023, his story will also come to the big screen when the film “The Panem Tributes: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” starts in German cinemas.

Hunger Games order by release year

• “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 and Snakes” (2023)

“Hunger Games” chronological order

The order of the films by year of release differs from the chronological order of the plot narrated in “The Hunger Games”. We will therefore also show you how you should watch the films if you want to experience the story in the correct chronological order.

“The Hunger Games – The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” (2023)

The Hunger Games – The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a prequel film set 64 years before The Hunger Games. The film tells the events of the 10th Annual Hunger Games and follows a boy Coriolanus Snow. In the original film series starring Katniss Everdeen, he is the mastermind behind the deadly games.

Snow is said to be mentoring a tribute for the first time in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. If his fighter wins, he or she can look forward to proud prize money, which he could use to finance his studies at the university. However, to his dismay, he is assigned Lucy Gray, the District 12 tribute. The poorest and weakest of all districts.

“The Hunger Games” (2012)

“The Hunger Games” is about young Katniss Everdeen who, after the death of her father, raises her family in the mines of District 12. When the annual Hunger Games are called, to Katniss’ dismay, her little sister, Primrose, is chosen to enter the arena alongside Peeta Mellark as a tribute to her district.

Since only one can win the games and Kentniss doesn’t want to see her sister die, she volunteers as a tribute. This is the beginning of their life-or-death struggle and the population’s revolt against the cruel games.

“The Hunger Games – Catching Fire” (2013)

In The Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta managed to survive the Hunger Games together using a ruse. They pretended to be in love. “The Hunger Games – Catching Fire” takes place a few months after her victory. Coriolanus Snow, the President of Panem, calls on the alleged lovers to convince the whole country of their love on the “Tour of the Winners”. However, the visit of Katniss and Peeta causes riots and protests.

To appease them, Snow decides to choose the tributes for the “Jubilee Jubilee” Hunger Games from among the winners. As the only female winner of District 12, Katniss must return to the arena and fight for her life.

“The Hunger Games – Mockingjay Part 1” (2014)

“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1” begins for Katniss in the long-lost District 13 after she managed to escape the arena of the Hunger Games. The Districts are now openly at war with the Capitol, and Katniss is the symbol of their defiance. With propaganda videos, they are increasingly trying to stir up the populace against President Snow.

“The Hunger Games – Mockingjay Part 2” (2015)

At the beginning of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, Katniss is recovering from Peeta’s betrayal. However, she soon rejoins the resistance fighters and helps out on the front lines in the open battle against the Capitol. She succeeds in penetrating the power center of Panem and the final battle against those in power begins.