Following an eight-year-hiatus, Lionsgate is reviving The Hunger Games film series with The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, starring Rachel Zegler. The franchise, of course, is among the most successful in the dystopian genre, grossing nearly $3 billion with only four films, a sum that will only grow once Zegler’s movie releases on November 17. Set in the fictional Panem, a nation initially divided into 13 districts, the tyrannical Capitol forces each of the districts to submit one male and one female tribute in a televised fight to the death.
When her sister Primrose is selected as tribute, Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her place. While she makes the decision to save her sister, a chain of events leads to Katniss becoming the “Mockingjay,” a symbol of hope and defiance against the Capitol. As we head to theaters to check out The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, here’s a look at how each of the previous Hunger Games movies performed at the box office.
4 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015) — $653.4 Million
Mockingjay Part 2
- Release Date
- November 18, 2015
- Director
- Francis Lawrence
- Cast
- Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, Natalie Dormer
- Rating
- PG-13
- Main Genre
- Drama
In The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, Katniss leaves District 13 to lead rebel forces in a final battle against Coriolanus Snow. The film does not host a Hunger Games event, but features “pods” that present Katniss’ team with many deadly obstacles. The obstacles in the film include mines, gunfire, barbed wire nets, and lizard mutts. Mockingjay – Part 2 is a more action-packed film than its predecessor but is uneven in execution, struggling to give key narrative moments the weight that they deserve. With that being said, it is a mostly entertaining conclusion to the Hunger Games saga, featuring strong performances from an excellent cast.
How Much Did It Make?
The concluding installment in a beloved series is usually expected to gross more than the previous films. Mockingjay – Part 2, however, is the lowest-grossing film in the Hunger Games franchise with a total gross of $653.4 million. Many continue to criticize Lionsgate for splitting Mockingjay into two parts, which they view as a blatant move to generate more revenue at the box office. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 is the ninth-highest-grossing film of 2015, grossing more than The Martian, but less than Inside Out and Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation.
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3 The Hunger Games (2012) — $694.4 Million
The Hunger Games
- Release Date
- March 12, 2012
- Director
- Gary Ross
- Cast
- Stanley Tucci, Wes Bentley, Jennifer Lawrence, Willow Shields, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks
- Rating
- PG-13
- Main Genre
- Adventure
The first Hunger Games film is the only one in the series to be directed by someone other than Francis Lawrence. Released in 2012, The Hunger Games is recognized for propelling Lawrence to superstardom, who previously appeared as Ree in Winter’s Bone and as Raven / Mystique in X-Men: First Class. In the film, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark (played by Josh Hutcherson) emerge as the co-victors of the 74th Hunger Games, officially putting an end to the Capitol’s “one victor” rule.
How Much Did It Make?
Grossing $694.4 million worldwide, The Hunger Games is the highest-grossing film of 2012 that is not a sequel, prequel, or a reboot. The film is also the ninth-highest-grossing film of 2012, in an eventful year that includes The Avengers, Skyfall, The Dark Knight Rises, and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Aside from the excessive use of shaky cam, The Hunger Games serves as an effective launchpad for the film franchise.
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2 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014) — $755.4 Million
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
- Release Date
- November 19, 2014
- Director
- Francis Lawrence
- Cast
- Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Julianne Moore
- Rating
- PG-13
- Main Genre
- Action
After surviving the Quarter Quell, Katniss finds herself in District 13 with Finnick and Beetee in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1. District 13 is led by President Alma Coin, who keeps her citizens underground while organizing a new rebellion against the Capitol. Coin asks Katniss to become the “Mockingjay” to inspire hope in the downtrodden people of Panem and ultimately set her plan in motion.
How Much Did It Make?
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 is the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2014, surpassing the box office totals of every superhero film that year other than Guardians of the Galaxy. The film also holds the record for the biggest opening weekend in 2014. With a box office gross of over $750 million, Mockingjay – Part 1 stands as the second-highest-grossing film in the Hunger Games film series.
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1 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) — $865 Million
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
- Release Date
- November 15, 2013
- Director
- Francis Lawrence
- Cast
- Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Jack Quaid, Taylor St. Clair, Sandra Ellis Lafferty, Woody Harrelson
- Rating
- PG-13
- Main Genre
- Action
Director Francis Lawrence’s first Hunger Games film is easily his best. The first film already features an impressive cast, but its sequel, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, goes a step further and adds one of the best supporting casts in recent memory. Newcomers include Jeffrey Wright, Jena Malone, Sam Claflin, and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Although Katniss and Peeta win the 74th Hunger Games, they are drawn back to the arena to compete in the Quarter Quell. Half of the participating tributes become part of a collaborative effort to break out of the arena and allow Katniss to escape. Catching Fire features incredible world-building and character development, portraying the Hunger Games‘ core themes of rebellion better than any other film in the franchise.
How Much Did It Make?
With a box office total of $865 million, Catching Fire exceeds the box office gross of Mockingjay – Part 2 by over $200 million. Catching Fire is the highest-grossing film in Lionsgate history, outperforming all five films in the Twilight Saga. It ranks as the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2013, sitting above Fast & Furious 6 but below films such as Frozen and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
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