The Hunger Games timeline is easier to follow once you separate when the films were released from when their stories happen in Panem. If you want the story in chronological order, begin with The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, place the upcoming Sunrise on the Reaping second, then continue with Katniss Everdeen's four films. If you are watching for the first time, release order is usually the better introduction.
This guide was checked on 2 November 2026. The Sunrise on the Reaping film is scheduled for 20 November 2026 and has not yet opened at the time of writing. Five Hunger Games feature films have been released so far; the sixth is upcoming.
Quick answer: Hunger Games movies in chronological order
- The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) — the 10th Hunger Games, decades before Katniss.
- The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (2026, upcoming) — the 50th Hunger Games, featuring a younger Haymitch Abernathy.
- The Hunger Games (2012) — the 74th Hunger Games, when Katniss volunteers for District 12.
- The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) — the 75th Hunger Games and the Third Quarter Quell.
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1 (2014) — the rebellion moves beyond the arena.
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2 (2015) — the final chapter of Katniss's original film storyline.
Important: Chronological order describes events in the fictional story, not when the films reached cinemas. The 2026 film is listed here for planning purposes; you cannot yet watch it as a released movie.
Where does Sunrise on the Reaping fit?
Sunrise on the Reaping comes second in story order, after The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and before The Hunger Games. Its setting is the 50th Hunger Games, known as the Second Quarter Quell — 24 years before Katniss enters the 74th Games.
That gives the franchise a revealing three-generation arc: a young Coriolanus Snow at the 10th Games, a young Haymitch Abernathy at the 50th, and Katniss Everdeen at the 74th. The three stories occupy different stages in Panem's history, but together they show how the Capitol's spectacle and its consequences change over time.
According to Lionsgate's film announcement, the film is set for 20 November 2026 in North American theatres. The official movie website is the place to check official trailers and release updates. Availability may differ by country; this article does not claim an online streaming release.
Why is the 50th Hunger Games significant?
The 50th Games are a Quarter Quell, a special edition of the Capitol's recurring tournament. Under that year's rule, twice the usual number of tributes are chosen. Suzanne Collins's 2025 novel follows 16-year-old Haymitch, long before audiences meet him as Katniss and Peeta's mentor.
The story offers a different perspective on a familiar character. In the main films, Haymitch already carries the weight of his past; Sunrise explores the earlier event that shaped him. For the publisher's account of the premise, see Scholastic's official announcement and its educator's reader guide.
Each Hunger Games movie in story order
1. The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)
Story placement: the 10th Hunger Games. This prequel introduces a younger Coriolanus Snow and Lucy Gray Baird. It takes place 64 years before the original Hunger Games story. Beginning here offers a more chronological view of the Capitol's early Games and Snow's personal rise — but it reveals background that the original films deliberately introduce later.
2. Sunrise on the Reaping (2026 — upcoming)
Story placement: the 50th Hunger Games. Haymitch's story is the missing middle chapter between young Snow and Katniss. The Second Quarter Quell takes place 40 Games after the events depicted in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and 24 Games before Katniss's first arena experience.
As of 2 November 2026, the film is still upcoming, not a released streaming title. Readers can explore the published novel now or follow official theatrical news at Lionsgate.
3. The Hunger Games (2012)
Story placement: the 74th Hunger Games. This is the best starting point for many first-time viewers. Katniss volunteers in place of her sister, and the audience discovers the districts, the Capitol and the Games through her eyes. It establishes the relationships and political stakes that drive the original film saga.
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4. Catching Fire (2013)
Story placement: the 75th Hunger Games. The aftermath of the previous Games changes Katniss's position in Panem. The Third Quarter Quell raises the stakes and pushes the story toward a wider uprising. Watch it immediately after the 2012 film for the clearest character progression.
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5. Mockingjay — Part 1 (2014)
Story placement: the rebellion after Catching Fire. Rather than centring another conventional arena contest, this film shifts toward propaganda, alliances and resistance. Part 1 is the first half of the adaptation of Suzanne Collins's final original-trilogy novel, Mockingjay.
6. Mockingjay — Part 2 (2015)
Story placement: the conclusion of the original Katniss story. Part 2 completes the Mockingjay adaptation. It is essential to the six-film viewing plan; it is not a separate book or an optional epilogue. If you watch Part 1, follow with Part 2 before switching to another franchise.
Hunger Games movies in release order
For your first viewing, this is our preferred sequence because it preserves the way the audience originally learned about Panem:
- 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 & Snakes — 2023
- The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping — scheduled for 20 November 2026
A release-order marathon currently consists of five available films. Add Sunrise once it has actually opened and becomes available in your region. You can compare the released-film order with Rotten Tomatoes' Hunger Games guide.
Should you watch in chronological or release order?
Choose release order if you are new to the series. The 2012 film was designed to introduce Katniss, the Capitol and the Games without relying on prequel knowledge. Seeing the prequels afterward adds context to established characters rather than giving that context away first.
Choose chronological order if you are revisiting the franchise. Starting with Snow's youth, moving through Haymitch's 50th Games and ending with Katniss makes the broad history easier to follow. Just remember that Sunrise occupies that second position only once its film is released.
For a shorter marathon, the four Katniss films — The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and both Mockingjay parts — form a complete central narrative. The two prequels expand the history of Panem.
Do the books follow the same order?
Not quite. Suzanne Collins has written five Hunger Games novels, while the complete planned movie lineup contains six feature films because Mockingjay became two films. In story chronology, the books go: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes; Sunrise on the Reaping; The Hunger Games; Catching Fire; Mockingjay.
For a first-time reader, publication order remains a sensible choice: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, then Sunrise on the Reaping. The book Sunrise was released in March 2025, ahead of the film adaptation.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sunrise on the Reaping a sequel or prequel?
It is a prequel to Katniss's story, but it takes place after the earlier-set Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. The focus is young Haymitch and the 50th Hunger Games.
How many Hunger Games movies are there in November 2026?
As of 2 November 2026, five films are released and a sixth is scheduled for 20 November 2026. Do not confuse the film's announced release date with a confirmed streaming release.
Do you need to see Sunrise before The Hunger Games?
No. The 2012 original works as an introduction. Sunrise is most helpful if you want additional background on Haymitch and the history of the Games.
What is the difference between the 50th and 75th Hunger Games?
The 50th Games are the Second Quarter Quell, the focus of Sunrise. The 75th Games are the Third Quarter Quell, explored in Catching Fire.
Are there five or six Hunger Games books?
There are five novels in the series as of this guide's date. The film series has six planned instalments because the Mockingjay novel was adapted in two parts.
Where to explore next
Browse Vumoo's movie collection, upcoming movies and more film guides. For primary-source updates, use the official Hunger Games movie site, Lionsgate's press announcement and Scholastic's book announcement.
Editorial note: Information is accurate to 2 November 2026; release schedules and regional viewing availability can change. The two illustrations in this guide are original Vumoo editorial artwork, not official Hunger Games film images. Film and book titles belong to their respective rights holders.