GameTimeline

Watch order

Hunger Games timeline

Lionsgate's Hunger Games films in US theatrical release order—The Hunger Games trilogy split across four Mockingjay-era films, plus prequels Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) and Sunrise on the Reaping (2026)—with Story order by Hunger Games number in Panem and FAQ for Suzanne Collins novels.

Updated July 2026

Release order

When each Hunger Games film opened in US theaters—one row per movie, not individual episodes. Original quartet (2012–2015), prequel Ballad (2023), then Sunrise on the Reaping (scheduled November 20, 2026).

  • Classic fan path → The Hunger Games (2012) → Catching Fire → Mockingjay Parts 1 & 2 → Ballad → Sunrise (2026)
  • Chronology-first → use Story tab: Ballad → Sunrise → original trilogy films
  • Books → read in Story order; fifth novel Sunrise on the Reaping published March 18, 2025
  • Mobile games and the stage show → FAQ only—not listed as timeline rows
Story order tips

When events happen in Panem fiction—numbered by Hunger Games year (ADD, After the Dark Days). Story order runs 10th Games → 50th → 74th → 75th → rebellion—not the order most fans first watched in theaters.

  • 10 ADD → Ballad — young Coriolanus Snow mentors Lucy Gray (10th Hunger Games)
  • 50 ADD → Sunrise — Second Quarter Quell; Haymitch Abernathy's victory (book + 2026 film)
  • 74 ADD → The Hunger Games — Katniss and Peeta volunteer from District 12
  • 75 ADD → Catching Fire then Mockingjay — Quarter Quell and open war against the Capitol

Timeline

When each season premiered in the US. Expand a row for dates and where it fits in your watch order.

Release order

  1. The Hunger Games

    The Hunger Games

    TheatricalStreamingMain seriesLive-action

    Katniss Everdeen volunteers for the 74th Hunger Games—Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson as Haymitch.

    Overview
    Gary Ross adapts Suzanne Collins's first novel—District 12, the Capitol, and the arena broadcast that sparks a nation.
    Where it fits
    Start here for the original four-film saga most fans saw first in theaters.
    Premiere dates
    US wide release March 23, 2012 (Lionsgate).
  2. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

    The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

    TheatricalStreamingMain seriesLive-action

    Victory Tour fallout leads to the 75th Hunger Games Quarter Quell—Katniss and Peeta return to the arena.

    Overview
    Francis Lawrence takes over directing—the series scales up with clock arena and Capitol conspiracy.
    Where it fits
    Direct sequel—watch after The Hunger Games (2012).
    Premiere dates
    US release November 22, 2013.
  3. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1

    The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1

    TheatricalStreamingMain seriesLive-action

    District 13 and the Mockingjay propaganda war—no arena Games; Katniss becomes the rebellion's symbol.

    Overview
    First half of the Mockingjay novel—rescue from the Capitol and air-war buildup.
    Where it fits
    Continuation after Catching Fire's cliffhanger ending.
    Premiere dates
    US release November 21, 2014.
  4. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2

    The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2

    TheatricalStreamingMain seriesLive-action

    Assault on the Capitol—finale of Katniss's arc and President Snow's reign.

    Overview
    Concludes the original Lionsgate quartet adapted from Collins's trilogy.
    Where it fits
    End of the main saga in release order—prequels came eight years later.
    Premiere dates
    US release November 20, 2015.
  5. The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

    The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

    TheatricalStreamingPrequelLive-action

    64 years before Katniss—18-year-old Coriolanus Snow mentors Lucy Gray Baird at the 10th Hunger Games.

    Overview
    Francis Lawrence returns for Collins's 2020 prequel novel—Snow's origin and early Gamemaker reforms.
    Where it fits
    Can be watched before or after the original films; Story order places it first.
    Premiere dates
    US release November 17, 2023.
  6. Sunrise on the Reaping

    Sunrise on the Reaping

    TheatricalPrequelPlanned filmLive-action

    Haymitch Abernathy wins the 50th Hunger Games (Second Quarter Quell)—40 years after Ballad, 24 years before Katniss.

    Overview
    Adaptation of Collins's 2025 novel—Jesse Plemons as Haymitch; Ralph Fiennes and Kieran Culkin in the Capitol.
    Where it fits
    Chronologically between Ballad and The Hunger Games (2012)—listed last in release order.
    Premiere dates
    US release scheduled **November 20, 2026** (Lionsgate). Row updates when premiere is confirmed.

FAQ

Release vs chronological watch order, books vs films, ADD calendar, and planned Sunrise on the Reaping.

Watch order

In Panem chronology (Story tab on this page):

1. The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (10 ADD)
2. Sunrise on the Reaping (50 ADD — book out; film Nov 2026)
3. The Hunger Games (74 ADD)
4. Catching Fire (75 ADD Quarter Quell)
5. Mockingjay Part 1 & 2 (war continues into 76 ADD)

That differs from theatrical release (2012–2015 originals first, prequels later).

Books

Novel publication order: The Hunger Games (2008) → Catching Fire (2009) → Mockingjay (2010) → The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2020) → Sunrise on the Reaping (2025).

Story order matches the Story tab—read Ballad and Sunrise before the trilogy if you want chronology. Lionsgate films follow Collins's plot closely; Mockingjay was split into two movies. This page lists films on Release and fiction years on Story—not every chapter beat.

Canon & extras

ADD = After the Dark Days—Panem's in-world way to count years since the first rebellion and the Hunger Games tradition. The number often matches which annual Hunger Games is occurring (e.g. 74 ADD = 74th Games). Collins does not use modern AD/BC dates in the novels; this page uses ADD on Story rows for clarity.

50 ADD — the Second Quarter Quell (double tributes). Haymitch Abernathy wins from District 12; decades later he mentors Katniss and Peeta in the 74th Games. Suzanne Collins published the novel March 18, 2025; Lionsgate's film is scheduled for November 20, 2026. In Story order it sits after Ballad and before the 2012 film era.

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.