The Hunger Games: what order to watch the movies in
The short answer: for a first watch, see the Hunger Games movies in release order, starting with The Hunger Games (2012). The two prequels, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) and Sunrise on the Reaping (in theaters November 20, 2026), take place decades before Katniss, but they are written for viewers who already know what Snow and Haymitch become.
Here are both viewing orders, what to rewatch before the new film, and where the books fit.
All 6 movies in release order
| # | Movie | Release | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Hunger Games | 2012 | The 74th Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers |
| 2 | Catching Fire | 2013 | The 75th Games, the third Quarter Quell |
| 3 | Mockingjay – Part 1 | 2014 | District 13 and the start of the rebellion |
| 4 | Mockingjay – Part 2 | 2015 | The war on the Capitol, the ending |
| 5 | The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes | 2023 | The 10th Games and young Coriolanus Snow |
| 6 | Sunrise on the Reaping | Nov 20, 2026 | The 50th Games, won by a teenage Haymitch |
This is the recommended order for newcomers: the four Katniss films tell a complete story, and the prequels land as revelations about characters you already know.
Chronological order of Panem
| When | Movie | The Games |
|---|---|---|
| 64 years before Katniss | The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes | 10th Hunger Games |
| 24 years before Katniss | Sunrise on the Reaping | 50th Hunger Games (second Quarter Quell) |
| Year 0 | The Hunger Games | 74th Hunger Games |
| One year later | Catching Fire | 75th Hunger Games (third Quarter Quell) |
| Right after | Mockingjay – Parts 1 and 2 | The rebellion |
Chronological order is perfect for a rewatch: you see the Capitol invent the Games as a TV show, Snow become Snow, then Haymitch lose everything that turns him into the jaded mentor of the first film.
Why not start with the prequels?
Because they rely on what you know. The Ballad follows an 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow who is still likeable: the whole point is watching the chilling president of the main saga take shape. Sunrise on the Reaping shows Haymitch at 16, reaped for an edition where every district sends twice as many tributes: 48 children in the arena. Without knowing the man he becomes, it is a good survival movie. Knowing him, it is a tragedy.
What to rewatch before Sunrise on the Reaping
The film opens on November 20, 2026 in the US (a day or two earlier in much of Europe). If you are short on time:
- *The minimum: The Hunger Games (2012).* It introduces adult Haymitch, Effie Trinket and Caesar Flickerman, three characters who return as younger versions in the new film.
- *Recommended: add Catching Fire.* It explains the Quarter Quell, the special edition held every 25 years, and it mirrors the 50th Games directly.
- *The full prep: The Ballad.* Not essential, but post-war Panem, the still-improvised Games and the Baird family shed light on several details of the new film.
Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are back in Sunrise on the Reaping: one more reason to have the Katniss films fresh in mind.
How many Hunger Games movies are there?
Six, counting Sunrise on the Reaping: four films for Katniss's story (the third book was split in two) and two prequels. Every film except the first, directed by Gary Ross, was directed by Francis Lawrence.
What about the books?
| # | Book | Published | Adapted as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Hunger Games | 2008 | The Hunger Games (2012) |
| 2 | Catching Fire | 2009 | Catching Fire (2013) |
| 3 | Mockingjay | 2010 | Mockingjay – Parts 1 and 2 (2014-2015) |
| 4 | The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes | 2020 | The 2023 film |
| 5 | Sunrise on the Reaping | 2025 | The 2026 film |
All five novels are by Suzanne Collins and, like the films, read best in publication order. The adaptations are faithful; the main difference is the books' first-person narration, which gives far more room to Katniss's thoughts.
The most common mistakes
- Starting with The Ballad because it comes "first" in the story. It works on its own, but much of its bite disappears.
- Stopping after Mockingjay – Part 1. It is half a book and ends on a cliffhanger only Part 2 resolves.
- Thinking the new film is about Katniss. Her return is confirmed, but this is Haymitch's story, 24 years earlier.
- Mixing up the Quarter Quells. The 50th Games (Haymitch) and the 75th Games (Katniss and Peeta) are two different special editions, 25 years apart.
Know the saga? Prove it
Knowing the order of the movies is one thing. Putting the events of Panem in order is another, and between the prequels, the flashbacks and two Quarter Quells, it is a lot harder.
Junban has a Hunger Games theme entirely dedicated to that: you get a moment from the saga and simply say whether it happens before or after the previous one. Does Katniss volunteer before or after Peeta throws her the burnt bread? No dates to memorise, no names to type: you just have to reason.
Solo or up to 4 players, online or around the same table, and the same idea then works across more than 50 themes, from movies to music, Harry Potter and Star Wars included. That is what earns it first place in our comparison of chronological sorting games.
More sagas to watch in order: the Harry Potter movies in order and the Lord of the Rings movies in order.