The Hunger Games Franchise’s Complete Timeline Explained

The Hunger Games franchise began in 2012, expanding over five movies that span a timeline of decades. Based on the Hunger Games books by Suzanne Collins, the films explore the futuristic and dystopian world of Panem, which sees children fighting to the death annually in the titular tournament. Throughout each Hunger Games movie, more layers about the history and people of Panem are uncovered. The first four Hunger Games movies unfold in consecutive order, while the latest release, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes takes a look at the early days of the Games.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes also focuses on a defining period in the life of Coriolanus Snow, who eventually takes on the role of president of Panem. Through this exploration of the character, audiences are given more context about the Hunger Games‘ villain and how he becomes the tyrannical ruler Katniss Everdeen meets during her own story. The events of the film also introduce key elements of the Hunger Games themselves, including the idea of mentors and showing off the tributes as a way to get audiences to sympathize and root for them. In this way, the prequel establishes a timeline that shows how the tournament evolves.

The History Of Panem Before The War

Taking place in the distant future, Panem is formed in the area previously known as North America after an apocalyptic disaster brings conflict to the world. The nation of Panem is run by the wealthy population of the Capitol, and its leaders are charged with keeping the rest of Panem in order. The nation is divided into 13 districts, with each providing a different set of resources to the Capitol. Within the nation exists the Capitol’s army of Peacekeepers, all of whom do as their name suggests: keep order within the districts. Tired of the unfair and brutal treatment they’ve been receiving, the people of District 13 start a rebellion.

The Dark Days (3 BTT-0 BTT)

The war that results from the rebellion of District 13 lasts three years. The district uses its weaponry and technology to fight against the Capitol. The rebels are then able to maintain an equal fight in the war and take the lives of several military members, including Crassus Snow. However, during an attempt to invade the Capitol, airstrike forces cause a large loss of life on the rebels’ side.

Seeing this loss of life and considering what might occur if the war continues, District 13 branches off on its own and signs a ceasefire deal with the Capitol. This deal allows the district to be separate from the remaining 12, existing underground and appearing to be decimated on the surface. District 13 is then used as an example of what will happen if any other district starts a rebellion.

What Happened Between The Dark Days & The 10th Hunger Games

After the events of the Dark Days, a new set of laws are introduced in Panem, and the idea of the Hunger Games emerges. The concept of the Hunger Games originates from Casca Highbottom, who comes up with them as an assignment for Dr. Volumnia Gaul’s class. The idea is this: as a reminder of the rebellion, two members from each district will serve as tributes in the annual Games. Only one will emerge as a victor, with the others’ deaths serving as a reminder of the war and its consequences.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes (10 ATT)

Although it’s the most recent release in the franchise, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes takes place prior to the other movies. It’s set during the 10th annual Hunger Games, which aren’t a spectacle like later Games. The 10th Hunger Games are the first to introduce the idea of mentors and tributes. The mentors are the highest-achieving students at the Capitol’s Academy, including Coriolanus Snow. He’s in charge of mentoring a tribute from District 12 — Lucy Gray Baird — and he notes her ability to captivate people with her singing and charm. Snow suggests she use this to earn donations, something that becomes a staple of later Games.

Unlike the arena seen in earlier films, the arena in which Lucy Gray and the other tributes fight is confined to one location. Monitoring the tributes, the mentors are able to use donations from viewers to send them food and water via drones. The movie makes a point of showing how clumsy this technology is, as the Hunger Games at this point in the franchise’s timeline don’t have the advancements shown in the original films. Snow proposes many of the elements that make up the later Games, eventually working alongside Dr. Gaul on the yearly tournament.

What Happened Between Songbirds & Snakes And The Hunger Games

Following Lucy Gray’s victory, the Hunger Games see many added features. One such addition is the Quarter Quell, a special hunger Games that takes place every 25 years. Each Quarter Quell comes with a planned twist that makes it more of a spectacle than a regular Hunger Games tournament. The yearly Games also undergo many changes, with technology advancing and viewership improving. At some point, mentors also become previous winners of the Hunger Games rather than Capitol students.

The Hunger Games (74 ATT)

The Hunger Games takes place in 744 ATT during the 74th annual Hunger Games. After her younger sister is called upon to be District 12’s tribute, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her place, representing the district alongside Peeta Mellark. This marks a huge moment in the history of the Games, as it’s rare for anyone from District 12 to volunteer. Katniss makes waves with her courage. By this time, drawing the attention of audiences and amassing fans is important for tributes to succeed. Katniss earns herself the nickname “The Girl on Fire,” and she and Peeta surprise everyone by becoming beloved tributes.

While Katniss and Peeta are in the arena, a new rule emerges to raise the stakes for audiences: two tributes can win together, as long as they’re from the same district. Katniss and Peeta form an alliance, and they’re eventually the last tributes standing. Just as they think they’ve won, Seneca Crane announces that the rule is reversed, expecting them to kill each other. Instead, the pair agrees to eat poisonous berries, an act of defiance that will leave the Hunger Games without a winner. Before they can go through with it, Crane reverses the decision and declares them both victors — a choice that comes back to haunt the Capitol.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (75 ATT)

Catching Fire takes place in 75 ATT, a year after Katniss and Peeta win the 74th Hunger Games. Their actions start uprisings in the districts, which President Snow and the Capitol attempt to squash. That’s why Snow tells Katniss and Peeta to go on tour and make the other districts believe their stunt with the berries was an act of love, not rebellion. While Katniss agrees to protect her loved ones, the Victory Tour doesn’t go as planned. Katniss and Peeta fail to ease the tensions in the districts, so Snow makes an example of them by reaping previous tributes for the Quarter Quell.

The pair plan to survive their second iteration of the Games no matter what, but things go further off the rails in the arena. The other tributes are secretly in on a plan to retrieve Katniss, who is now a symbol of the rebellion. At the ending of Catching Fire, they succeed, removing Katniss from the arena and taking her back to District 13. It’s revealed that there’s a rebellion forming, and Katniss becomes the face of it. While she and a few others are saved by District 13, Peeta and Johanna are captured by the Capitol. District 12 is also destroyed by the Capitol.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 & 2 (75-76 ATT)

About a month passes between Catching Fire and Mockingjay – Part 1. The latter film opens with the rebels in District 13 working to make Katniss the “Mockingjay,” the face of their revolution. Through propaganda videos, a traumatized Katniss urges the other districts to join the fight against the Capitol. While Katniss soaks in the impact of the Capitol’s actions and what she needs to do to push back, Peeta is tortured and brainwashed by the enemy. He eventually returns to District 13, but his memories are altered, and he experiences violent urges when it comes to Katniss.

Despite setbacks, the events of Mockingjay – Part 1 lead to the rebels successfully overthrowing the Capitol in Part 2. Unfortunately, Katniss’ sister is killed in the aftermath, when bombs are released onto those in the Capitol, where Prim is acting as a medic. Katniss learns that this is President Coin’s doing, and she winds up killing Coin rather than Snow. Snow still dies at the hands of those he oppressed, but Katniss’ actions get her removed from the rebellion and cause Commander Paylor from District 8 to become president.

What Happened After Mockingjay Part 1 & 2

After the events of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 and Part 2, Katniss returns to a destroyed District 12 and grieves Prim. She eventually tries to move past everything that’s happened. Eventually, Peeta also returns to District 12, and he and Katniss start a life together. At the Capitol, the role of the president is now fulfilled by Commander Paylor. Katniss’ mother is a trainer for the medical unit at the Capitol, and Gale is promoted to a captain in District 2, though he and Katniss don’t speak after what happens to Prim.

Katniss & Peeta’s Epilogue In Mockingjay Part 2 (96 ATT)

An epilogue shows the life Katniss and Peeta make for themselves, wherein they eventually pursue a romantic relationship and have two children together. While watching Peeta play with one of their kids, Katniss is comforting their baby, who starts crying from a nightmare. Katniss reveals she too still has nightmares about all that’s happened, but to combat that, she lists out all the good she’s experienced. While it can be tiring, she believes it’s a better game to play than that of the Hunger Games.