How to watch The Hunger Games movies in order: Chronological and release date

West Side Story star Rachel Zegler will also star as Lucy Gray Baird, a member of a travelling musician group from District 12 who is drawn into the Hunger Games.

With Lionsgate set to release the prequel in cinemas in November 2023, now’s the perfect time to binge The Hunger Games franchise and you might be wondering if it makes sense to watch the prequel before or after the originals.

For what it's worth, director Francis Lawrence told RadioTimes.com during an exclusive interview that it "could work either way", but would recommend starting with the originals.

"I think if you've seen the other movies... part of the fun of this one is there's so many elements that are sort of the origins of things – the origins of characters, the origins of character dynamics, the origins of songs we know from the other one, you know, a lot of little Easter eggs," he explained.

"[So] it might actually be better to watch this one after [the originals], if you've never seen them. Because I think you'll just have this other level of enjoyment of feeling the origins of things."

For more information about each of the films, read on for our guide as to how to watch The Hunger Games movies in order - including both chronological and release date order.

Hunger Games movies in order of release

To watch The Hunger Games movies in release order, all you need to do is change the top to the tail as the upcoming prequel will be the most recent entry to the dystopian-thriller series.

• 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)

Hunger Games movies in chronological order

With a prequel on its way, there is now a new order in which to watch The Hunger Games saga - and, fortunately, it slots in neatly before all of the existing entries.

• The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)
• The Hunger Games (2012)
• The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
• The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014)
• The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015)

Below we have more detailed entries on each to give you an idea of what awaits you in the brutal world of Panem.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)

Set 64 years before the first film, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes follows the 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) before his rise to power as Panem's brutal President.

Assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler) for the 10th annual Hunger Games, Snow is impressed by her abilities - and, using their combined political knowhow and charisma, the two work together to turn the odds of surviving both the brutal Hunger Games and the machinations of Panem's elite.

The Hunger Games (2012)

The first film in the series, The Hunger Games introduces viewers to Katniss Everdeen – a 16-year-old living in the dystopian nation of Panem who volunteers to take her younger sister's place in the 74th Hunger Games, an annual tournament in which two tributes from Panem's 12 districts fight to the death.

Along with the local baker Peeta Mallark (Josh Hutcherson), Katniss is sent off to compete in the Capitol despite missing love interest Gale (Liam Hemsworth), guided by her alcoholic mentor Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson) and equipped with her archery skills to keep her alive throughout the brutal competition.

You can watch The Hunger Games on Amazon Prime Video.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

Catching Fire picks up sometime after Katniss and Peeta's victory in the 74th Hunger Games, with the pair living separate existences in District 12.

However, of course Capitol isn't going to make it that easy for them to live peaceful lives, and President Snow (Donald Sutherland) decides that the next tournament will be a "Quarter Quell", which is essentially an All-Stars special involving previous victors.

When Katniss and Peeta are sent to take part in the Games for a second time, they immediately try to make allies whilst navigating the hellish backdrop they've been thrown into. Will they survive a second time?

You can watch The Hunger Games: Catching Fire on Amazon Prime Video.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014)

The third instalment in the series takes on Collins's last book, with viewers following Katniss as she's rescued from the destroyed 75th Hunger Games arena and taken to District 13 – an area isolated from Panem that's full of rebels hoping to take the Capitol down.

With the team's leader President Alma Coin (Julianne Moore) hoping to make Katniss the face of their cause, we watch as Katniss frantically searches for Peeta, who was captured by Panem and is being manipulated on state TV.

You can watch The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 on Amazon Prime Video.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015)

The final film in the franchise picks up immediately where Part 1 left off, with Katniss continuing to fight in Coin's war against the Capitol.

Hoping to join the rebels' Star Squad while trying to get through to a brainwashed Peeta, Katniss has a huge task on her hands, and is still seen as the rebels' symbol of hope – but will they be able to infiltrate President Snow's fortress and put an end to this dictatorship?

You can watch The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 on Amazon Prime Video.

Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now and celebrate the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who with a special issue of Radio Times. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.