The Hunger Games: 10 Best Soundtrack Songs From The Movies, Ranked

Although it was really only relevant in the blink of an eye of a generation and likely won’t hold up to be as legendary as some cult teen series such as Harry Potter or Twilight, The Hunger Games franchise still has a large holding over many former teens’ hearts.

Next to Twilight, it was also one of the first in many teen films to have entire artsy soundtracks dedicated to songs about the movie, evoking the characters’ struggles, romances, fears, and the overall dramatic atmosphere and are part of why it was so memorable. Looking back–who knew all these hugely famous bands and artists also contributed amazing singles to the viral dystopian teen-romance “trilogy?”

10 Bat for Lashes, “Plan the Escape”

Featured in the Mockingjay Part 1 soundtrack, this single has been slept on by literally everyone. It’s unconventional, especially to have on a Hunger Games soundtrack, but it also perfectly frames the melancholic dystopian cyber-era vibes that the atmosphere can evoke. A well-interpreted electric banger, this song is far underappreciated.

9 Jayme Dee, “Rules”

Although it mirrors a similar track by Birdy called “Just a Game” on The Hunger Games soundtrack, there’s something about Jayme Dee’s more subtle folk interpretation what it’s like to live out a dreary life of labor and poverty when under oppressive rule in Panem. It’s romantic and sweet-sounding, though sad enough to make listers think what might be going through Katniss or any character’s head. Lyrically, it’s memorable and plays close to the emotions.

8 Kid Cudi, “The Ruler and The Killer”

A surprising and dark feature on the first film’s soundtrack, Kid Cudi’s single describes being the oppressor and oppressed in a similar fashion to NIN’s “Closer.”

It’s cynical and harsh yet incredibly catchy with strange and commanding vocals and fast rhythm. It sounds almost creepy, mirroring or pointing out the truer, more evil nature of ‘the ruler’, or in this case… The Capitol. Like Jayme Dee’s, this was also a deeply underrated track.

7 Tove Lo, “Scream My Name”

Tove Lo is already more than a comprehensive musician as her musical and emotional range is relatable and appealing to most who come across her sound. She adds a profound and powerful track that, while more lowkey as far as the Mockingjay Part 1 soundtrack ensemble goes, is still a poppy and delightful banger that understands the drama of the movie.

6 Lorde, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”

There’s always at least one song that commands a certain level of epicness that will make many wonder “why wasn’t this in the trailer?” If Lorde’s spooky serious cover of Tears for Fear’s iconic 80s pop hit was initially designed to be put over the trailer, that would be totally unsurprising. It starts off slow and Lorde’s voice is kept impossibly low but escalates into such a spectacle that it becomes chill-inducing.

5 Arcade Fire, “Abraham’s Daughter”

One of the most iconic songs from the original Hunger Games soundtrack, Arcade Fire has Rene Chassagne brings ethereal, airy vocals to epic and resounding instrumentals.

It’s iconic enough that even the app ReFace used it in the Katniss Everdeen face swap clip. The song is catchy, memorable, and haunting, a perfect way to have musically kicked off the series.

4 Sia, “Electric Heart”

Sia’s hit single “Electric Heart” was created for the Catching Fire soundtrack. It’s since caught the world on fire, going viral in the subsequent music video featuring a bizarre and bombastic choreography with Maddie Ziegler and Shia LaBeouf. Its beat is motivating and Sia’s vocals and writing are powerful. It brings in the most amount of energy in the soundtrack as well as to anyone’s gym routine.

3 Coldplay, “Atlas”

Coldplay reels in an unusually well-paced and delicately articulated single that served as the song for Catching Fire’s end credits.

Appropriately so, as Catching Fire has the craziest cliffhanger in the entire series, leaving the audiences hanging as they anticipate the next film, “Atlas’s” heavy and cold piano ebbs in to describe the feeling of having the weight of the world on your shoulders. It’s well-placed in the film, it helps the moment land heavier, and it’s just a really pretty song overall.

2 The Weeknd, “Devil May Cry”

The Weeknd’s reign began to rise around the time Catching Fire was released, producing one banger after another. In “Devil May Cry,” he does something much different in order to evoke the large and imposing sense of awakening and tragedy. It starts off quiet, as The Weeknd lends quiet, pretty, dedicated vocals to a heavenly chorus until the beat is brought in for a climactic, cathartic arpeggio.

1 Lorde, “Yellow Flicker Beat”

If there’s any song that can define The Hunger Games and Katniss Everdeen, it’s this amazing original. If there’s a song that can also make for amazing radio play and everyday listening, it’s also this. Following her success from Pure Heroine and “Royals,” Lorde composed this song for Mockingjay Part 1, definitely the best track out of that and the rest of the albums. It starts off slow as she sings solemnly over humming, then brings it in for a powerful chorus and artful lyrisms. It’s memorable, catchy, and dance-worthy. The song survives by itself without any context and will continue to empower listeners for millennia to come.

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