Based on the bestselling book series by Suzanne Collins, the Hunger Games movies were some of the biggest hits of the 2010s. Set in a dystopian nation formed from a postapocalyptic North America, the series follows teenager Katniss Everdeen as she navigates a deadly “game” and becomes a reluctant and unintentional symbol of a growing rebellion.
Now, we’re getting a closer look at Panem in the decades before Katniss’s story. In 2020, Collins published “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” a prequel novel tracing the early years of Hunger Games antagonist President Snow. This prequel is set for its own movie adaptation coming out this year, so it’s the perfect time to revisit the original series of movies!
Although there are only three books in the Hunger Games book series, there are actually four movies. “The Hunger Games” and “Catching Fire” each were adapted into their own movies, but the third and final book, “Mockingjay,” was divided into two movies, released a year apart. The split in the final book followed a trend at the time of popular book-to-movie adaptations splitting their final books into two movies, including other YA faves like Harry Potter and Divergent.
If you’re hoping to stream the Hunger Games movies on any of your favorite streaming platforms, you’re mostly out of luck. None of the major streaming platforms – Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, HBO Max – currently has the movies available, although some of them have had them in the past. Right now, the only way to watch is to buy or rent through services like Vudu, iTunes, or Amazon.
Before “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” arrives, revisit what happens in each of the four Hunger Games movies in order. Here’s a quick overview to refresh your memory!