How to Watch The Hunger Games Prequel – Release Date and Streaming Status

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Eight years after the original Hunger Games film series concluded, moviegoers will return to the fictional country of Panem to witness the 10th Hunger Games. The prequel is set 64 years before Katniss Everdeen volunteered as tribute, and according to IGN’s The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes review, it features “a rich story that needs more time for its characters’ conflicts and manipulations to feel earned.”

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will be in theaters this weekend. If you’re wondering how and where to watch it, take a look at the info below.

Where to Watch The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes – Showtimes and Streaming

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will be in theaters starting tomorrow with a wider release date of November 17. To find when and where you can watch the movie near you, check the local showtime listings at the main theater sites below:

FandangoAMC TheatersCinemark TheatersRegal Theaters

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Streaming Release Date

Distributor Lionsgate has yet to officially announce a streaming date for The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. However, we know it will eventually be released on Starz before making its way to Peacock, per Lionsgate’s streaming deal with Universal.

As for a potential streaming release date, Lionsgate’s last major release to hit streaming was John Wick 4, which came to Starz 175 days (nearly six months) after its theatrical debut. Should Lionsgate follow suit here, you can expect The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes to hit Starz around mid-May 2024. If so, a Peacock release would likely come 18 months later, in late 2025.

What Is The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes About?

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a Hunger Games prequel set 64 years before the adventures of Katniss Everdeen. Here’s the official synopsis from Lionsgate:

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes follows a young Coriolanus who is the last hope for his failing lineage, the once-proud Snow family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. With his livelihood threatened, Snow is reluctantly assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird, a tribute from the impoverished District 12. But after Lucy Gray’s charm captivates the audience of Panem, Snow sees an opportunity to shift their fates. With everything he has worked for hanging in the balance, Snow unites with Lucy Gray to turn the odds in their favor. Battling his instincts for both good and evil, Snow sets out on a race against time to survive and reveal if he will ultimately become a songbird or a snake

How to Watch Previous Hunger Games Movies

All four Hunger Games movies are available to stream on Peacock. If you don’t have that subscription service, you can rent or buy the movies on Prime Video or Youtube.

The Hunger Games (2012)

Peacock (Stream)Prime Video (Rent/Buy)YouTube (Rent/Buy)

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

Peacock (Stream)Prime Video (Rent/Buy)YouTube (Rent/Buy)

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014)

Peacock (Stream)Prime Video (Rent/Buy)YouTube (Rent/Buy)

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015)

Peacock (Stream)Prime Video (Rent/Buy)YouTube (Rent/Buy)

Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Cast

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was written by Michael Lesslie and Michael Arndt. It was directed by Francis Lawrence and stars the following actors:

Tom Blyth as Coriolanus SnowRachel Zegler as Lucy Gray BairdPeter Dinklage as Dean Casca HighbottomHunter Schafer as TigrisJosh Andrés Rivera as Sejanus PlinthJason Schwartzman as Lucky FlickermanViola Davis as Dr. Volumnia Gaul

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Rating and Runtime

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is Rated PG-13 for strong violent content and disturbing material. The film runs for a total of 2 hours and 37 minutes including credits.

Looking for more movie coverage from IGN? Check out our updated list of all the movies still to come in 2023.

Jordan covers games, shows, and movies as a freelance writer for IGN.