How Many Hunger Games Movies Are There? The Full List and Watch Order
Key takeaways
- There are five released Hunger Games movies.
- The first four films follow Katniss Everdeen; the fifth, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, is a prequel.
- The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is scheduled for a North American theatrical release on November 20, 2026.
- For a first watch, release order is the most straightforward choice.
There are five released Hunger Games movies: four films following Katniss Everdeen and one prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. A sixth film, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, is scheduled for a North American theatrical release on November 20, 2026, according to Lionsgate’s announcement.
The distinction is simple: five released movies, or six if you include the announced upcoming film. Here’s the spoiler-free breakdown, including why the original trilogy became four movies and which order makes the most sense for a first watch.
All the Hunger Games Movies in Release Order
The released films run from The Hunger Games in 2012 to The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes in 2023. IGN’s Hunger Games watch-order guide lists the films and explains how their release order differs from the story’s timeline.
| No. | Movie | Release year | Place in the series |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Hunger Games | 2012 | Begins Katniss Everdeen’s story |
| 2 | The Hunger Games: Catching Fire | 2013 | Continues Katniss’s story |
| 3 | The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 | 2014 | First half of the original trilogy’s final adaptation |
| 4 | The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 | 2015 | Concludes Katniss’s main story |
| 5 | The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes | 2023 | Prequel centered on a young Coriolanus Snow |
| 6 | The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping | Scheduled for 2026 | Upcoming prequel centered on Haymitch Abernathy’s Games |
The sixth entry is included for context, not as a released movie.
The Hunger Games (2012)
The first film introduces Katniss Everdeen, a teenager from District 12 in the nation of Panem. When her younger sister is selected for the Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers to take her place.
It establishes the essentials: the Capitol’s control over the districts, the televised competition, and Katniss’s relationships with Peeta Mellark and Haymitch Abernathy. For a first-time viewer, this is the clearest starting point.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
Catching Fire follows the consequences of the first film and expands the political conflict beyond the arena. Katniss’s public image becomes increasingly important as tensions grow between the Capitol and the districts.
It is a direct sequel, rather than a separate adventure, so watch it after the original.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014)
The third movie adapts the first portion of Suzanne Collins’s Mockingjay. Its focus shifts toward rebellion, propaganda, and the struggle to control what Katniss represents.
Despite being the third film, it is not the complete ending of the original story. It leads into Part 2.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015)
Mockingjay – Part 2 completes the adaptation of the final novel in the original trilogy and brings Katniss’s central storyline to its conclusion.
The two Mockingjay movies are consecutive chapters of the same story. Neither is a remake, spin-off, or alternate version of the other.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)
The fifth released film moves backward in time. It follows a young Coriolanus Snow and his involvement with Lucy Gray Baird, a tribute from District 12.
Although it came out after the Katniss films, it takes place decades before them. It adds background to Panem and the Hunger Games rather than continuing the events of Mockingjay – Part 2.
Why Are There Four Original Movies but Only Three Original Books?
The original Hunger Games novels are:
- The Hunger Games
- Catching Fire
- Mockingjay
The first two books each became one movie. The third book, Mockingjay, was split into two films, producing four adaptations from a three-book series.
That is why “four Hunger Games movies” was once the correct answer. The release of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes brought the released-film count to five.
It also explains why the word “trilogy” can cause confusion: the original book series is a trilogy, but its movie adaptation consists of four films.
What Is the Sixth Hunger Games Movie?
The sixth announced movie is The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. Lionsgate’s June 2024 announcement scheduled it for North American theaters on November 20, 2026.
The story concerns the 50th Hunger Games, the competition associated with Haymitch Abernathy, and takes place 24 years before the first novel’s events.
Like The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, it is a prequel—not a sequel to Katniss’s ending. Its announced theatrical date also should not be treated as a streaming release date or a guarantee of identical release timing in every country.
“Six movies including the upcoming adaptation” does not mean the franchise is confirmed to end at six.
What Order Should You Watch the Hunger Games Movies In?
Best for first-time viewers: release order
Start with the four Katniss films, then watch The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes:
- The Hunger Games
- Catching Fire
- Mockingjay – Part 1
- Mockingjay – Part 2
- The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
Release order is the most straightforward choice for a first watch. The original film introduces Panem through Katniss’s experience, and each sequel builds directly on the previous one. The prequel then provides additional context for a world and characters you already understand.
Best for following Panem’s timeline: chronological order
For the five released films, the story order is:
- The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
- The Hunger Games
- Catching Fire
- Mockingjay – Part 1
- Mockingjay – Part 2
Once released, Sunrise on the Reaping will fit between The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and The Hunger Games.
Chronological order can be useful for a rewatch, especially if you want to follow the development of Panem across generations. It is not necessary to understand Katniss’s story, however.
The Bottom Line
There are five released Hunger Games movies. The first four tell Katniss Everdeen’s story, and the fifth, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, is a prequel. Sunrise on the Reaping is the announced sixth film, scheduled for November 20, 2026.
If you’re starting the series, watch the five released films in release order. That keeps Katniss’s story together before taking you back into Panem’s past.
