Here's Everything You Need to Know About 'The Hunger Games' Before 'Mockingjay – Part 2'

The final chapter in the Hunger Games saga, Mockingjay – Part 2, opens on Friday. The road to the last showdown in the Capitol has been long, winding, and strewn with casualties, but we’ve got a video recap for you to get you ready. Watch it above.

Back in the original movie, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) was just a serious girl (with some serious bow-and-arrow skills) from a remote district in the dystopian land of Panem. She volunteered to take her younger sister’s place during the annual, televised fight-to-the-death known as the Hunger Games. But then Katniss and her fellow District 12 tribute Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) managed to outsmart the powers of Panem with a just-for-TV showmance (or was it?).

In Catching Fire, the dastardly President Snow (Donald Sutherland) is on to Katniss’ scheme and demands she and Peeta keep up the charade. (Also not happy? Her strapping BFF Gale, played by Liam Hemsworth.) All seems lost when Katniss and Peeta are forced back into the arena for a champions edition of the Games. But a secret revolt has been brewing and leads to an explosive finale that finds Katniss busting out, Peeta in the hands of the Capitol, and District 12 leveled in retaliation.

In Mockingjay – Part 1, Katniss’ growing legend is used to inspire the revolution from the remote outpost of District 13. But our Mockingjay is more concerned about a brainwashed, suddenly murderous Peeta. Will Peeta get his brain back? Will Katniss and crew crush the Capitol? Mockingjay — Part 2 hits theaters on Friday.