Which Hunger Games Film Is the First in the Series
The first Hunger Games film is The Hunger Games, released by Lionsgate Films. It is the first installment in the Hunger Games film series based on the novels by Suzanne Collins. The movie adapts the first book of the trilogy and introduces the dystopian world of Panem, the Capitol, and the annual Hunger Games event.
The Hunger Games film premiered in theaters on March 23, 2012, and was produced by Lionsgate in association with Color Force. Directed by Gary Ross, the film stars Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark, and Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne. The screenplay was written by Gary Ross, Suzanne Collins, and Billy Ray.
Release Order of the Hunger Games Movies
The release order of the Hunger Games films begins with The Hunger Games in 2012, followed by Catching Fire in 2013, Mockingjay Part 1 in 2014, Mockingjay Part 2 in 2015, and the prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in 2023. This sequence reflects the order in which each film was released theatrically by Lionsgate.
Box Office Mojo lists The Hunger Games as the highest-grossing film of the series in North America during its initial theatrical run. Worldwide grosses for the franchise exceeded several billion dollars across all releases. The prequel film The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was distributed by Lionsgate in November 2023.
Chronological Order of the Hunger Games Story
The chronological order of the Hunger Games story starts with The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which is set decades before the original trilogy. It is followed by The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay Part 1, and Mockingjay Part 2. This sequence follows the timeline of events within the Panem universe rather than theatrical release dates.
IMDb provides cast and crew details for the first film, including director Gary Ross and composer James Newton Howard. The Hunger Games franchise is owned by Lionsgate and Color Force, with publishing rights for the original novels held by Scholastic. The prequel novel and film expand the lore of young Coriolanus Snow before his rise as President of Panem.