10 Most Iconic Hunger Games Scenes That Defined The Movie Franchise

The Hunger Games series is one of the most popular young adult (especially of the dystopian genre) franchises of all time, in large part due to its many memorable moments and iconic scenes. Suzanne Collins wrote and published The Hunger Games in 2008, and the rest is history. Lionsgate acquired the distribution rights to movie adaptations of Collins’ novels, hired a director to helm The Hunger Games, cast Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss, Josh Hutcherson as Peeta, and so on, and a film series was born. Following the first movie’s success, the cast returned for a sequel, and then another one, and another one.

The Hunger Games franchise has five movies (with a sixth on its way). The first four — The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay – Part 1, and Mockingjay – Part 2 — follow Katniss’ journey as she becomes the Mockingjay, the symbol of the rebellion fighting against the Capitol. Meanwhile, the fifth film, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, is a prequel focusing on Coriolanus Snow during and after the 10th Hunger Games. Unfortunately, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes doesn’t have any scenes that make the list of ones defining the franchise (Lucy Gray Baird running from Snow in the forest gets an honorable mention, though).

10 Katniss Volunteering For Prim

The Hunger Games

Katniss volunteering for her sister, Prim, during the District 12 Reaping for the 74th Hunger Games might be the franchise’s quintessential scene.The Hunger Games kicks off with the Everdeen sisters preparing for the Reaping, quickly informing the audience that this will be the first time Prim’s name is in the pool of potential tributes, as she is finally of age. Meanwhile, Katniss’ name is in the pot numerous times because she is older (the entries are cumulative) and applied for tesserae (a year’s worth supply of grain and oil in exchange for extra entries in the selection of tributes).

Despite the fact that Prim only has one slip in the pot while Katniss has 20, Effie Trinket selects Prim’s name from the glass ball. However, people can volunteer to take a tribute’s place, and that’s what Katniss does in The Hunger Games. Katniss loves her sister more than anyone or anything in the world, so, the decision is instinctual. If Katniss had never volunteered and become District 12’s female tribute for the 74th Hunger Games, the movie series simply wouldn’t exist.

9 Rue’s Death

The Hunger Games

The first major death in the Hunger Games film series comes during the 74th Hunger Games in the first movie. Rue is District 11’s female tribute who is only 12 years old, just like Prim. Due to her age and shy personality, Rue reminds Katniss of her sister, which is why the teenager is so protective of the younger girl and why Rue’s death affects her so much. Katniss and Rue find one another towards the middle of the Games, but their alliance doesn’t last very long.

While Katniss is away stealing supplies from the Careers, Rue gets caught in a trap. Katniss is able to free her, but not before Marvel, District 1’s male tribute, arrives and throws his spear at them, impaling Rue. Katniss uses her bow and arrow to kill Marvel and then attends to Rue. As Rue dies in her arms, Katniss sings “Deep in the Meadow” to her and cries. Rue’s death is undoubtedly one of the saddest Hunger Games moments and proves to the audience how high the stakes are. Anyone can die at any time, including an innocent 12-year-old girl.

8 Katniss & Peeta Almost Eating The Poisonous Berries

The Hunger Games

Katniss’ first official rebellious act comes when she and Peeta threaten to eat poisonous berries at the end of The Hunger Games. As many will recall, the Gamemakers changed the rules during the 74th Hunger Games — if the two tributes left standing are from the same district, they both win. However, after Cato dies brutally in The Hunger Games, and Katniss and Peeta are the only ones remaining in the arena, the cruel Gamemakers announce they have reversed their previous decision. Only one can win, but Katniss doesn’t accept that fate.

Katniss and Peeta both threaten to kill themselves by eating the berries. Before the fruit enters their mouths, though, Claudius Templesmith frantically comes on the speaker, declaring Katniss and Peeta as the winners of the 74th Hunger Games. From that moment on, President Snow has a vendetta against Katniss. Sadly, he punishes her for it in the movies to come, and viewers can look back on the berries moment in the arena as the one that fuels the fire under Katniss’ rebellious streak.

7 Katniss & Peeta On The Beach During The Second Quarter Quell

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Katniss and Peeta’s relationship is one of the best in the Hunger Games franchise. However, because of their fake star-crossed lovers’ ruse (which was really only fake for Katniss) during the 74th Games, many of the moments between Katniss and Peeta in Catching Fire are manufactured, except for the one on the beach. Peeta has essentially been in love with Katniss for years. Meanwhile, Katniss’ love for Peeta grows over time, and their kiss on the beach in the arena during the Second Quarter Quell is perhaps their first real one (unless one counts the cave kiss in the first movie).

Prior to the kiss, Peeta gives Katniss a necklace containing pictures of Prim, Gale, and her mother, showing her that she has people who need her. Peeta believes no one needs him, which is why he wants to sacrifice his life for Katniss in the Second Quarter Quell. Katniss interjects and informs Peeta that she needs him before kissing him. This tender and memorable moment between Katniss and Peeta in Catching Fire is a turning point in her feelings towards him. Unfortunately, Katniss’ realization comes shortly before Peeta is kidnapped and hijacked, but that’s beside the point.

6 Katniss Shooting Her Arrow At The Arena’s Force Field

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Katniss is left out of the Rebellion’s plans to break into the arena and rescue the tributes during the Second Quarter Quell in Catching Fire. However, Katniss unknowingly helps them when she wraps Beetee’s wire (which is also wound around the lightning tree) around an arrow and shoots it at the arena’s force field, destroying it. She is about to aim her weapon at Finnick when he tells her, “Remember who the real enemy is,” prompting Katniss to point her bow and arrow toward the sky.

A hovercraft then comes and rescues Katniss, Finnick, and Beetee and takes them to District 13 in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (leaving Peeta, Johanna, and Enobaria behind because the Capitol captures them). Consequently, the revolution begins, and the Hunger Games film series is forever changed. If it wasn’t for Katniss destroying the force field, the rebels’ plan would never have worked, leaving the Districts more vulnerable and failing to take away some of the Capitol’s power.

5 Peeta Attacking Katniss In District 13

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1

Katniss is a wreck throughout The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 as she worries about Peeta, who is being held and tortured in the Capitol. Her panic subsides, though, when a group of District 13 soldiers (including Gale) infiltrate the Capitol and rescue the tributes. Peeta, who has lost a lot of weight and been badly beaten, is brought back to District 13, where Katniss is waiting for him. She is relieved to see him, until Peeta attacks and starts choking Katniss in the third Hunger Games movie.

This shocking, brutal moment between Katniss and Peeta is hard to watch as it caps off The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1‘s story. No one expects Peeta, who has always loved Katniss, to get violent with her. However, during his time in the Capitol, they hijack Peeta.

Those in the Capitol show Peeta some of his most traumatic memories and then inject him with tracker jacker venom. The venom induces horrifying hallucinations, altering the memories. Essentially, the Capitol brainwashes Peeta into thinking Katniss is his enemy who needs to be destroyed. From then on, Peeta is never the same, and it takes a while to repair his relationship with Katniss. Even though it’s one of the saddest scenes in the Hunger Games franchise, Peeta attacking Katniss is one that no one will forget.

4 Finnick’s Death

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2

After Finnick Odair’s introduction in Catching Fire, the District 4 tribute became a fan-favorite character, which is what makes his death in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 all the more heartbreaking. If there is one death that fans could reverse, Finnick’s would be at the top of the list. Although numerous people die throughout The Hunger Games, Finnick’s awful demise is one of the most memorable (and not in a good way) as he is a bright spot in the franchise, despite all the tragedy he has to endure.

Finnick is a part of the Star Squad with Katniss and Peeta in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2. Even though their initial mission is to film propaganda for the Rebellion, the Star Squad gets caught in many lethal situations, and most of the members die along the way, including Finnick. Mutts attack them in the sewers, and Katniss isn’t able to save Finnick as he is pulled down by the vicious creatures. Katniss puts her friend out of his misery by using the Holo to trigger an explosion, effectively killing Finnick in The Hunger Games​​​​​​.

3 The Districts’ Win Against The Capitol & Prim’s Death

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2

Even though Finnick’s death is heartbreaking and is clearly one of the franchise’s defining moments, Prim’s death in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 brings the movie series’ story full circle. The Hunger Games begins with Katniss volunteering to be District 12’s female tribute for the 74th Games to save Prim. Then, it ends with Katniss helplessly watching as a bomb drops on her sister. It’s heartbreaking, tragic, and perhaps Katniss’ most traumatizing moment.

As Katniss says in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, “I never wanted any of this, I never wanted to be in the Games. I just wanted to save my sister and keep Peeta alive.” Sadly, by the end of the film series, Katniss only gets one of her wishes. Yes, the Rebels win and the Capitol loses, but it’s at the cost of Prim’s (and many others) life, reminding the audience that happy endings are rare, if not impossible, with war.

2 Katniss Killing President Coin

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2

Following the Districts’ win and Prim’s sad death in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, Alma Coin declares herself the interim president of Panem and calls for Snow’s public execution. Coin also suggests a symbolic Hunger Games with the Capitol’s children. Recognizing that Coin and Snow are essentially two sides of the same coin (pun intended), Katniss asks to be the one to kill Snow. Coin grants the Mockingjay’s request. However, when the time comes, Katniss shoots and kills Coin instead of Snow, who is then killed by an angry mob.

Katniss doesn’t want Panem to revert to its old, horrific ways, and with Coin in charge, that’s exactly what would have happened. So, Katniss, ready to die after witnessing her sister’s death, executes Coin. She tries killing herself with nightlock pills, but Peeta stops her. Katniss is later given a full pardon and allowed to return home to District 12, where she continues grieving Prim. Ultimately, Katniss killing Coin is the Hunger Games film series’ last big shocker, and it’s one that completely changes Panem’s future.

1 The Epilogue Featuring Katniss & Peeta With Their 2 Children

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2

The Hunger Games film series (at least, the first four movies) ends with a heartwarming flash-forward of Katniss and Peeta’s future. Peeta soon joins Katniss in District 12 after she kills Coin, and the two slowly but surely grow back together. Of course, Katniss and Peeta still have nightmares, but they have each other to lean on for support. Katniss eventually admits to loving Peeta in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2. And a few years later, they and their two children are having a picnic in a meadow.

Katniss and Peeta don’t get a perfect happy ending, but they get one suitable for themselves and the Hunger Games universe. Katniss and Peeta were always meant to end up together, and the final scene of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 proves that by letting them bask in the joy of their love. The meadow scene is certainly memorable and is the perfect moment to close out the Hunger Games film series (not counting the prequels).