Hunger Games movies order: how to watch the series the right way

In the decade 2010s, The Hunger Games, which was based on the popular young adult dystopian novel series, took the top spot at the box office. These books and four films shaped the landscape for YA literature over the following few years, for better and for worse. While many others followed their lead, none were able to match the highs or sharp commentary of the original franchise.

If you were not a part of the cultural zeitgeist, the early 2010s YA dystopian waves might have escaped your notice. As someone who was on the front lines and made it to at least one of the midnight premieres, I’ve put in the work and know the ropes. It was a lot of work, but I can share my knowledge. With all the movies now on Netflix, it’s the right moment to remind people: What was the deal with The Hunger Games movies?

Is the Hunger Games franchise a success?

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Filming the Hunger Games takes place in Panem, a dystopian society where wealthy elites live at the Capitol while the rest work hard to support their lifestyle. The Capitol picks randomly 24 children from each of the twelve Districts every year to fight to the death in high-tech Arenas to try to stop people falling behind. Every year, a new Arena is created to address different environments and environmental problems.

The books — and movies — kick off when a resilient archer from Panem’s poorest district named Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take the place of her little sister. As she fights for her own life, Katniss Everdeen becomes the emblem of the rebellion which blazes across the nation.

Which order are the films in?

Almost all movies correspond to the same book. There are only three books and four movies. Why? Why? Because in 2010, there was an attempt to make more from the blockbuster endings of large sci-fi/fantasy franchises for young adults. For some, like Harry Potter and the Deathly HallowsThis allowed the film to tell its jam-packed story better and doubled its box-office profits. For others, like the Divergent series, this backfired horribly and the last movie just… never got made.

The order of sequels is fairly straightforward once you have the names. The following is the way it looks:

The Hunger Games

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It’s the film that launched it all. Katniss Everdeen plays the role of our reluctant hero. Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), her District partner, concocts a scheme that makes the two of them seem more attractive to Capitol citizens. It gives them both better chances to survive. It’s a shame that the first film made heavy use of a weak camera.

The Catching of Fire

Katniss accidentally provokes collective action against Panem’s ruling class, and she is now the victim of President Snow. This time, the Hunger Games contestants are plucked from the existing winner pool — so back to the Arena Katniss goes. But there’s a rebellion going on, and her competitors might support her. The Arena in Catching Fire is much cooler than the previous movie’s, and since not all of the tributes meet untimely deaths, they get more screen time and chances to shine (shout out to Sam Claflin’s terrible American accent in this one).

Mockingjay Part 1

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After that, this one takes over. The Catching of FireAfter being expelled from the Arena, Katniss is now living in mysterious District 13. District 13 is fueling the rebellions across Panem, and the leader wants Katniss to become the “Mockingjay” — aka the symbol of the rebellion — in order to unite the rebels. The movie’s main focus is on Katniss adjusting to the new situation, even though it was not something she asked for. There are some cool things about propaganda, media, and war in here, but also if you’re in a pinch and you need a movie to skip over… you can probably pass on this one, since it’s just exposition.

Mockingjay Part 2

All of it leads to this. The rebellion has finally taken root. It is a brutal, unflinching finale that doesn’t have an entirely happy ending, but one that does make sense. Except for Jennifer Lawrence trying to smile at the camera in the end shot.

Netflix has all the Hunger Games films.