From The Hunger Games to Catching Fire, to Mockingjay - Part 1 and Mockingjay - Part 2, The Hunger Games' timeline is rather vague. At the end of the first film, heroine Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) wins the 74th annual Hunger Games alongside her fellow District 12 tribute and eventual lover Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson). From then, Katniss sparks and carries out a revolution that vanquishes Panem's oppressive Capitol under President Snow (Donald Sutherland). So, exactly how much time passes between the skilled archeress' rebellious beginnings in The Hunger Games and her ultimate triumph at the conclusion of Mockingjay - Part 2?

The Hunger Games movies were released from 2012 to 2015 and are based on the trilogy of novels of the same titles written by Suzanne Collins. The series depicts a future dystopian society where present-day North America has become Panem, a nation divided into a Capitol and 12 districts. Each year, as a reminder of the Capitol's control over the districts, stemming from a past failed uprising from the presently defunct District 13, one male and one female tribute between ages 12 and 18 from each district are selected to compete in the annual Hunger Games — a fight to the death until one victorious tribute remains.

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Core characters Katniss and Peeta begin the events of the series at 16-years-old and age two years by the end of Mockingjay -  Part 2. Katniss's longtime friend Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth) is two years older than the aforementioned pair. Although the four Hunger Games films only vaguely outline a specific timeframe, enough is implied to understand that the series' events occur relatively close together. By the end of Mockingjay - Part 2, roughly two years have passed since Katniss's introduction in the franchise's original movie. 

Split image of Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games trilogy

Following their ceremonious return to District 12 at the end of The Hunger Games, now-17-year-old Katniss and Peeta begin Catching Fire at the onset of their victory tour months after winning the 74th Games. By the time the Quarter Quell of the 75th Hunger Games commences, an entire year has passed since the events of the first movie. Katniss and Peeta's second consecutive participation in the Hunger Games lasts just three days and leads to Catching Fire's chaotic final stretch, which sees Katniss destroy the arena's dome-like structure with an electrified arrow, Peeta captured by the Capitol, and Katniss recovered by a hovercraft, as she travels to District 13 in the movie's closing moments.

Mockingjay - Part 1's source material begins one month after the end of Catching Fire, as still 17-year-old Katniss, who has already settled in a District 13 functioning as the foundation of the Second rebellion, returns to an obliterated District 12 and examines the ruins of her former home. The movie, however, resumes closer to the events of its preceding title, as its opening scenes depict Katniss, who has newly arrived in District 13, acquainting herself with the rebellion's leaders. Mockingjay - Part 1 concludes at the book's midway point when Katniss encounters a violent and brainwashed Peeta recently rescued from the Capitol. Making up the latter half of the final book, Mockingjay - Part 2 proceeds immediately where its predecessor ended after Peeta attacks Katniss and sees the heroine, now 18, assume the role of rebellion's leading figure, also known as the Mockingjay. The war against the Capitol takes place over the course of a year. In its closing moments, the movie, like the book, jumps 15 years into the future in an epilogue depicting Katniss and Peeta living together with their two children.

The Hunger Games' timeframe has since expanded with the addition of Collins' prequel novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which is slated for a movie adaptation to be directed by Francis Lawrence, who helmed Catching Fire and both Mockingjay films. The prequel takes place in Panem 64 years before the first novel, fixating on the 10th annual Hunger Games from a young President Snow's point of view. The upcoming movie, which still lies in the early development stages, will focus on Snow's mentorship of a District 12 tribute by the name of Lucy Gray Baird. While a release date for the Hunger Games prequel movie has yet to be announced, the newest addition to The Hunger Games franchise promises to enrich an already captivating timeline of events seen in the series' existing titles.

Next: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2's Main Differences From The Book