When the first Hunger Games movie released back in 2012, the dystopian world of Panem (and Jennifer Lawrence) became a global phenomena. You wouldn’t be wrong to think “the odds were ever in its favor”.
The films are actually based on a successful book series by author Suzanne Collins which has sold 100+ million copies.
The novel series includes the trilogy The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and The Mockingjay, all of which follow teenage protagonist Katniss Everdeen.
A fourth book titled The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was released in 2020 and is a prequel set 64 years before the original.
Here’s the order you should read The Hunger Games books:
- Book 1: The Hunger Games
- Book 2: Catching Fire
- Book 3: The Mockingjay
- Prequel: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Wait a minute. Shouldn’t you read The Hunger Games prequel first?
Definitely not. Suzanne Collins wrote The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes assuming readers have already read the trilogy series.
The Hunger Games movies in order
It wouldn’t be The Hunger Games if we left out the movies!
The series begins with The Hunger Games, which introduces us to Panem, a nation divided into districts and ruled by the Capitol. Each year, as a grim reminder of past rebellion, the Capitol hosts the Hunger Games where selected youths or ‘tributes’ from each district are forced to fight to the death.
The protagonist of the series, Katniss Everdeen, portrayed by Jennifer Lawrence, is a symbol of hope and resistance against the oppressive regime.
As the series progresses, the narrative evolves in Catching Fire, Mockingjay Part 1, and Mockingjay Part 2 from the struggle for personal survival to a larger fight for freedom and justice.
The latest movie The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes also offers a new perspective.
The Hunger Games – March 23, 2012.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire – November 20, 2013.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 – November 21, 2014.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 – November 20, 2015.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes – November 17, 2023.
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