Hunger Games Movies in Order Before Sunrise on the Reaping
There are five Hunger Games movies so far, and a sixth, Sunrise on the Reaping, opens in US theaters on November 20, 2026. If you want the story to unfold the way audiences first saw it, watch them in release order: The Hunger Games (2012), Catching Fire (2013), Mockingjay Part 1 (2014), Mockingjay Part 2 (2015) and The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023).
Prefer Panem history from start to finish? The chronological order is different, because both prequels are set decades before Katniss ever volunteers. Below you’ll find both lists, runtimes, where to stream the films right now and what the new movie adds.
Hunger Games movies in release order
This is the order most fans recommend for a first watch. The prequels lean on things you learn in the original four films, so their best reveals land harder if you already know where Panem ends up.
| # | Movie | US release date | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Hunger Games | March 23, 2012 | 142 min |
| 2 | The Hunger Games: Catching Fire | November 22, 2013 | 146 min |
| 3 | The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 | November 21, 2014 | 123 min |
| 4 | The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 | November 20, 2015 | 137 min |
| 5 | The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes | November 17, 2023 | 157 min |
| 6 | The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping | November 20, 2026 | 158 min |
Those first five films add up to about 11 hours and 45 minutes. Start this weekend at a steady pace and you can finish before opening night.
Hunger Games movies in chronological order
If you’d rather follow the timeline of Panem itself, here’s how the story runs from the earliest Games to the fall of the Capitol:
- The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes: the 10th Hunger Games, with a teenage Coriolanus Snow mentoring Lucy Gray Baird from District 12.
- Sunrise on the Reaping: the 50th Hunger Games, the Second Quarter Quell, set 24 years before the first film.
- The Hunger Games: the 74th Hunger Games, where Katniss Everdeen volunteers for her sister Prim.
- Catching Fire: the 75th Hunger Games, the Third Quarter Quell, where past victors are sent back into the arena.
- Mockingjay Part 1: Katniss becomes the face of the rebellion from District 13.
- Mockingjay Part 2: the war on the Capitol and the end of Snow’s rule.
Chronological order works best on a rewatch. On a first viewing, it gives away a few twists the original movies keep close, especially around Snow and the Mockingjay symbol.
A quick guide to each movie
The Hunger Games (2012)
Jennifer Lawrence plays Katniss, a hunter from the poorest district who takes her younger sister’s place in a televised fight to the death. Gary Ross directed this one, and it’s still the most grounded entry in the series.
It was also a massive hit. The first film earned more than $694 million worldwide and set the tone for the whole young adult boom that followed.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
Francis Lawrence took over as director here and has directed every film since, including the new one. Plenty of fans rank this as the best of the bunch, and I’m one of them. The Quarter Quell arena is the series at its smartest, and Sam Claflin’s Finnick is a scene stealer.
Mockingjay Part 1 and Part 2 (2014 and 2015)
The final book was split into two movies, a trend that was everywhere in that era. Part 1 is slower and more political, built around propaganda and Katniss learning to play a role. Part 2 pays it off with the assault on the Capitol and a bleak, honest ending.
The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)
Tom Blyth plays a young Snow and Rachel Zegler plays Lucy Gray, the singer from District 12 he’s assigned to mentor. Viola Davis and Peter Dinklage round out a strong cast. It had the lowest opening weekend in the series, but it’s better than its reputation, and Zegler’s songs do a lot of the heavy lifting.
What is Sunrise on the Reaping about?
Sunrise on the Reaping adapts Suzanne Collins’ 2025 novel and follows a 16 year old Haymitch Abernathy, the boozy mentor Woody Harrelson played in the original films. It’s the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games, which is also Haymitch’s birthday, and the Quarter Quell twist means every district has to send twice as many tributes.
Joseph Zada, the 21 year old Australian actor from Prime Video’s We Were Liars, plays Haymitch. The supporting cast is the biggest the franchise has ever had:
- Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, the role Donald Sutherland played in the originals
- Jesse Plemons as a young Plutarch Heavensbee
- Elle Fanning as a young Effie Trinket
- Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman
- Glenn Close as Drusilla Sickle, the District 12 escort
- Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, original owner of the Mockingjay pin
- Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird, Haymitch’s girlfriend
- Maya Hawke and Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Wiress and Beetee
Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson are also back as Katniss, Peeta and an older Haymitch. The film premiered in London on October 28 and runs 158 minutes, making it the longest movie in the franchise by a minute. Deadline has kept a running list of every casting announcement if you want the full roster.
Do you need to watch the other movies first?
Not strictly. Sunrise on the Reaping is built as an origin story, so a newcomer can follow it. But you’ll get a lot more out of it if you’ve seen at least The Hunger Games and Catching Fire.
Those two films show you the Haymitch this story is building toward, and Catching Fire introduces older versions of Beetee, Wiress and Mags, who all appear as younger mentors in the new movie. If you only have time for one prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes matters too, since Lucy Gray’s connection to the Covey ties straight into Lenore Dove.
Where to watch the Hunger Games movies right now
In the US, all five films are streaming on Hulu. They’re also free with ads on Tubi, which added the whole series on November 1, 2026, according to Polygon. Tubi hasn’t said how long they’ll stay.
They’re no longer on Netflix in the US. Their licensing window there ran from July 14 to October 14, 2026. In the UK, the films move between services often, so check a tracker like JustWatch before you settle in. They’re also available to rent or buy on the usual digital stores.
My pick for the best way to watch
If you’ve never seen them, go release order and don’t skip Mockingjay Part 1. It’s the weakest on its own, but Mockingjay Part 2 doesn’t hit without it. If you’re a returning fan, try the chronological route and watch The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes first. Seeing Snow’s rise right before Haymitch’s Games makes the timeline click in a way the books always intended.
Planning a full movie weekend? Our roundup of new and classic Christmas movies is a good next stop once the arena is behind you. And if franchise recasting debates are your thing, see how Keaton, Bale and Affleck stack up as Batman.
Frequently asked questions
How many Hunger Games movies are there?
There are six. Five are out now, and the sixth, Sunrise on the Reaping, opens in US theaters on November 20, 2026.
What order should I watch the Hunger Games movies in?
For a first watch, use release order: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay Part 1, Mockingjay Part 2, then The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. For a rewatch, chronological order starts with The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, then Sunrise on the Reaping.
Is Jennifer Lawrence in Sunrise on the Reaping?
Yes. Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson return as Katniss, Peeta and an older Haymitch, alongside new lead Joseph Zada.
Where can I stream all the Hunger Games movies for free?
In the US, all five released films are free with ads on Tubi as of November 2026. They’re also on Hulu with a subscription.
Featured photo: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth on the 2012 Hunger Games mall tour, by Doug Kline / Pop Culture Geek, licensed CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.