The Hunger Games: The Best Scenes From the Franchise, Ranked

The Hunger Games is one of the most renowned franchises that took the world by storm. It had it all, from action and romance to tragedy and revolution. For those who live under a rock, The Hunger Games tells the story of Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence, who offers to compete in place of her sister in the televised Hunger Games, a battle-to-the-death event featuring two teens from each of the 12 Districts of Panem.

While the movies about Katniss's life are still loved by fans all over the world, the recently released prequel is the main topic of conversation now. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which focuses on President Snow's young years, how his feelings towards the Capitol and the Games changed, and which influenced his unexpected love interest, the 10th Hunger Games tribute from District 12, Lucy Gray Baird, had on him. In order to celebrate the release of the new entry in the popular franchise, here are some of the best scenes from the franchise, ranked.

Update November 27, 2023: This article has been updated with entries from The Hunger Games: A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

12 When Katniss Shoots the Apple - The Hunger Games

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Who would have imagined that archery could be so potent? When Katniss goes for her evaluation and the judges ignore her, that is the moment the audience witnesses something different in her. While any other person would take their leave, Katniss does the exact opposite. The fact that the judges focus more on their feast than on her flawless shot irritates her. Thus, she does what makes her an instant fan favorite. She makes the decision to leave her imprint on the proceedings by shooting an arrow through them in order to pierce an apple in the mouth of a roasted pig. After getting their attention, Katniss simply bows, thanks them for their time, and then leaves before they can even respond. This boss move is enough for the audience to fall for her, and remind themselves how they are rooting for a dark horse.

11 "The Hanging Tree" - The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

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After Lucy Gray's return home and Coriolanus’s sentence to serve 20 years as a peacekeeper in District 12 (after bribing an officer, that is), the two of them briefly lock eyes when she is, to Coriolanus's relief, still alive and performing on stage. After a fight prevents them from talking to each other, Coriolanus asks around and finds her sitting under a tree the next day. As he walks up to her, she is playing the guitar and singing the song "The Hanging Tree", which becomes widely popular and is also a valuable part of the older Hunger Games movies.

It shows the origin of the song that Katniss Everdeen later sings in Mockingjay - Part 1 and turns into an anthem for the people of the districts. Lucy Gray was the first tribute to use her music as well as her voice in order to touch peoples’ hearts and evoke compassion within them. "The Hanging Tree" connects Lucy and Katniss in the sense that Katniss later learns to use her voice, just like Lucy did during her time.

10 Executed For Humming Rue's Tune - Catching Fire

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Since the beginning of this sequel, Katniss and Peeta can still feel the mark of Rue's death, especially when they visit District 11. By deviating from the planned script, Katniss ends up paying tribute to Rue and Thresh, which inspires an elderly man to hum Rue's famous tune and perform the iconic three-finger salute. Unfortunately, that is a move that Peacekeepers do not appreciate.

While this part alone is enough to send chills down the spine, what happens next drops the audience's jaws. This is because Peacekeepers drag the elderly man onto the stage and execute him while hurriedly escorting Katniss away. This scene was a turning point that exposed the Peacekeepers as malicious beings but, at the same time, reminded viewers that the spark of a revolution had been ignited.

9 The First Impression of Lucy Gray Baird - The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

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The Reaping, which shows the calling of Lucy Gray Beard’s name and what unfolded after that, is one of the most meaningful scenes. For the first time, it shows a glimpse of Lucy Gray’s character, and how she is determined to rise above fear and danger. When Lucy Gray is chosen as the female tribute for District 12, the students or, in this case, mentors back in Panem, among them Coriolanus, are surprised by her behavior. What they expected to be a weak, insignificant girl, who had no chance of winning or drawing any attention turned out to be the star of the entire show.

Lucy Gray changes everyone’s opinion in an instant, when she looks her fate straight in the eye and puts a snake into the back of another girl, who - the governor’s daughter, who abused her status by ensuring that Lucy became a tribute. The use of a snake carries a lot of meaning, as it already hints at how Lucy is connected to this specific animal and uses it as a way to protect herself as well as attack her opponents, which both can clearly be seen in the film.

8 Cinna’s Death - Catching Fire

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There is no doubt in admitting that no time would ever be pleasant to see one's loved ones get beaten up and brutally taken away. However, it is extremely dreadful if one experiences it when they are just about to engage in a dangerous battle. Catching Fire's most gut-wrenching scene has to be when Cinna says goodbye to Katniss. Everything seems wholesome until this moment, but Katniss and the audience are both taken by surprise, when, instead of entering the arena, she is made to watch Cinna getting savagely attacked by Peacekeepers for disobeying the Capitol. This scene is another reminder of how merciless Capitol can get if they seem someone is a threat to them and their order.

7 Remember Who the Real Enemy Is - Catching Fire

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There is so much riding on this scene, and the audience can find themselves on the edge with the anxiety of what will happen. This is because President Snow really wishes for Katniss to kill Finnick. However, all it takes is for Finnick to reiterate Haymitch's advice, "Remember who the real enemy is," for Katniss to change her mind. She prepares her bow, and rather than shooting at him, she fires it at the area where the force field is weak.

This blows up the arena. This moment is extremely bewildering and loaded with tons of symbolism. The arrow here is a symbol of the spark of rebellion, and as it hits the force field (the cage or oppressor), it breaks apart. It is as if all it took was a little spark to ignite an entire blast; beautifully poetic.

6 When Hatred Poisoned Coriolanus's Mind - The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

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When Lucy and Coriolanus flee District 12 together, and they arrive at a remote cottage in the woods, their dynamic takes a daunting turn. The initial trust between them seems to fade into oblivion. When Coriolanus picks up on Lucy’s, in his eyes, betrayal, he takes out on a literal hunt for her, but he only finds his mother’s once bright orange scarf, which he previously gifted to Lucy as a sign of his love, thrown onto the muddy ground.

Rage, grief, and devastation swallow him completely when he picks up the memento but is bitten by a snake that Lucy planted there. It was an especially shaping moment in his life since, in order to live a life with Lucy Gray, he left his home, his family, and his mindset about the differences between the Capitol and the district behind, which is why he felt such betrayal once she abandoned him. His feelings for Lucy had shown him the dark sides of the Games, the unjust cruelty of the Capitol and Panem, but in an instant, the pain inflicted by Lucy leaving him behind sparked his hatred towards the people of the districts and tremendously influenced his actions in the future.

5 When Katniss Volunteers as Tribute - The Hunger Games

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No Hunger Games fan could ever forget this scene, as it remains in their mind, rent-free. Hearing Katniss utter four simple words, "I volunteer as tribute," was all it took for the audience to start rooting for her. It wasn't easy to watch, as her baby sister's name gets called out. Not knowing what to do, Katniss, without even thinking, screams the iconic dialogue and claims that she will volunteer in order to protect her sister. What may seem like mere words, changed the history of Panem. Not only in this fictional world, but this phrase became hugely popular in the real world, just another example of the influence this franchise had.

4 The Origin of Complex Arenas - The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

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Even though it might be easily overlooked, one of the most shaping moments of the entire Hunger Games franchise was the scene that shows the tributes of the 10th annual Games entering the arena for the very first time. While they are first introduced to a rather simple-looking arena with nowhere to go (something that had been common for the first nine Games as well), a sudden bombing left the place in rubble.

Spots to hide or climb suddenly changed the overall concept of the Games, as the entire look of the arena became a lot more daunting and, simultaneously, allowed for a lot more “entertainment” for the audience. The director of the old as well as the new Hunger Games movies even confirmed that it was his intention to show that this exact moment kicked off a new approach to the Games and the creativity surrounding the arenas.

3 Challenging President Snow - Mockingjay - Part 1

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Until now, people, and even Katniss were losing faith in her, especially because she has been terrible at being the Mockingjay. However, this scene turns it all around. What seemed like a fight she was losing, soon, she will get another will to strive. It is when the Capitol plane bombs a hospital filled with unarmed residents and ends up massacring innocent people. Katniss rises from the flames and shoots down a Capitol aircraft. This is a nail-biting scene, where Katniss finally challenges President Snow by pointing at the destruction and saying her iconic line "Fire is catching! And if we burn, you burn with us!" This scene is heart-wrenching, yet at the same time, extremely powerful because, finally, Katniss is no longer the Girl on Fire, but now she is finally the Mockingjay.

2 A Glimpse into the Future of President Snow - The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

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Toward the end of the newest Hunger Games prequel, an incredibly important scene takes place. It is Coriolanus’s return to Panem and meeting with head game maker Dr. Volumnia Gaul that basically sets the tone which fans know from previous films. Coriolanus is welcomed back to Panem after the ominous disappearance of Lucy Gray and the death of his best friend, Sejanus. Of course, both of these incidents are, in one way or the other, connected to Coriolanus and are the foundation of his return home. Dr. Gaul, who is no stranger to cruelty and finds pleasure in causing pain, is impressed with Coriolanus’s path from a dedicated student, grandson, and cousin, who first grapples with his morals and starts to condemn the brutality of the Games as his feelings for Lucy grow, but falls deep into his desire for power when he feels the unbearable weight of grief and betrayal. These emotions ignited a fire within him, setting him on a cruel path that would later make him President.

When they meet, Dr. Gaul asks him why they have the Games. Coriolanus replies that he used to believe it was to instill fear in the people of the districts and remind the people in the Capitol of the danger coming from the districts. However, he learned that the Games are needed as a reminder of one’s truest self, and that he is, as he called it, a victor. His words show his deep desire to rise to the top, without showing any mercy or humanity. What matters to him is his very own victory and the feeling of power, which he will continue to strive for for many years to come.

1 Rue’s Death - The Hunger Games

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Rue’s death scene is one of the absolute most important scenes in the first movie. However, this doesn't make it even a little bearable. It is heartbreaking to watch Rue, the only person Katniss forms a bond with, pass away. After all, it wasn't a normal, peaceful death. Rue first gets trapped by a net that others intentionally set up, and Katniss helps her to be free. This makes the audience let out a sigh of relief, thinking that the two made it out alive from the life-threatening situation. However, before they could even react, Rue gets killed by Marvel’s spear.

This is one of the most heartbreaking scenes, as Rue collapses to the ground, while Katniss keeps repeating and singing that “you are okay.” The scene gets even more emotional and tear-jerking when Katniss kisses Rue’s forehead, closes her eyes, and covers her body with flowers. While this scene is soul-crushing, to say the least, it is crucial. It is one of the vital reasons why Katniss later fights the government, and keeps fighting to make sure she doesn't die in vain. Thus, making it the best scene out of all from the franchise for being tragic, and beautiful yet revolutionary.