Released in 2015, Mockingjay- Part 2 was the final installment in the original Hunger Games series. It is the second part to Mockingjay- Part 1, which was released in 2014. Crammed with action and several shocking twists, Mockingjay- Part 2 provides a satisfying conclusion to the original franchise. It’s safe to say that a lot happens in the Hunger Games’ final installment, leaving viewers with some questions about the film’s shocking finale.
At this point in the series, the revolution against the Capitol is in full swing and Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) has officially become the symbol for the rebellion. The stakes are higher than ever before, making Mockingjay- Part 2 an emotional roller coaster. At the time of its release, Mockingjay- Part 2 was warmly received by audiences, although some fans were divided about the film’s dramatic conclusion. With the recent release of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, more and more fans are re-watching the original Hunger Games films, so how does the series end?
What Happens At the End of Mockingjay: Part 2?
Towards the end of the movie, Katniss and Gale (Liam Hemsworth) embark on a mission to assassinate Snow. Under the disguise of heavy cloaks, the pair attempt to reach Snow’s mansion in the Capitol. Unfortunately, Gale is taken away by the Peacekeepers, leaving Katniss to finish the mission alone. However, by the time Katniss reaches the mansion, the Peacekeepers have started moving groups of children in front of the mansion, creating a human shield.
Suddenly, a hovercraft appears above the Capitol and starts dropping down parachutes, resembling those used in the Hunger Games. The children reach out for the parachutes, believing that they will contain medicine and supplies. Tragically, the containers begin to explode, killing and severely injuring the group of children. Katniss is knocked unconscious by the explosion but when she awakens, she sees that a group of medics has rushed in, attempting to help the injured. Among these medics, Katniss spots her sister Prim (Willow Shields), who was training to become a medic in the earlier films. The pair make eye contact and Katniss attempts to cry out for Prim, but the remaining parachutes suddenly explode, tragically killing Prim and hundreds of children.
In the aftermath of Prim’s death, Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) tells Katniss that the revolution is over after the Capitol bombed the children. The bombings caused the Peacekeepers to turn on President Snow, resulting in him being kidnapped by the rebels.
In an impactful scene, Katniss tracks down Snow in his infamous rose garden where he is being confined. Shockingly, Snow tells Katniss that he is so sorry to hear of Prim’s death, describing her death as “wasteful” and “unnecessary”. Snow goes on to inform Katniss that he was just about to issue an official surrender when “they released those parachutes”. Katniss promptly corrects him, telling him “You released those parachutes”. However, Snow shockingly denies this accusation, declaring:
You really think I gave the order? We both know that I’m not above killing children, but I’m not wasteful. I take life for specific reasons and there was no reason for me to destroy a pen full of Capitol children. None at all.
Snow then makes a shocking revelation, describing the bombings as a “masterful move on Coin’s part”. As fans will know, Coin (Julianne Moore) was the leader of the revolution and encouraged Katniss to become a symbol of the rebellion. In this scene, Snow informs Katniss that he had no reason to kill those helpless children and that Coin had framed him for the bombings, making it seem as though Snow had bombed the children in the Capitol to protect himself. Snow tells Katniss that it was Coin who was responsible for the children’s deaths. In a sickening twist, Snow informs Katniss that the bombings had been shown on live television – a parallel to the Capitol’s Hunger Games. Snow then tells Katniss:
I’m afraid we’ve both been played for fools.
Katniss defiantly tells Snow that she doesn’t believe him, but he reminds her of their earlier agreement to never lie to one another. The ‘girl on fire’ is left alone to process the news of Coin’s betrayal, but she is interrupted by Gale’s arrival, who tells her that Coin wants to see her. Gale looks incredibly guilty, and he is unable to meet Katniss’ eye, prompting her to ask him:
Was it ours? The bomb.
Katniss then realises that Gale was involved in the rebels’ plan to bomb the Capitol’s children. She directly asks him about his involvement, but Gale simply responds with “I don’t know”. In this scene, it’s evident that Gale had helped to create the trap which lured people in to help the injured before releasing the second set of bombs. Because of Gale’s involvement, he is partly responsible for Prim’s death, consequently ending his and Katniss’ friendship.
Coin then summons Katniss to a meeting with the remaining Victors. In this shocking scene, it’s revealed that Coin is holding a vote to decide whether the rebels should hold one final Hunger Games. Coin describes this Hunger Games as “symbolic” and explains that it would feature the Capitol’s children, including Snow’s granddaughter. In this scene, it’s obvious that Coin has learned nothing from the Capitol’s reign of terror. Rather than representing the rebels, it’s clear that Coin only has herself in mind and is simply just power hungry – just like Snow.
Peeta, Annie, and Beetee all vote against the Games, but Katniss agrees to Coin’s preposition on the condition that she gets to kill Snow herself. Coin agrees to this and informs the group that the Games will be announced after Snow’s execution.
At Snow’s public execution, Katniss aims her bow and arrow at the President, preparing to shoot him in the chest. However, in a shocking twist, Katniss then aims her arrow at Coin and releases it, killing her. The crowd then lunges towards Snow, and he is killed by the aggressive mob.
Following the deaths of Coin and Snow, Katniss returns home. She is devastated by Prim’s death and the sight of her sister’s beloved cat sends Katniss into a downward spiral of grief. Fortunately, however, she finds comfort in Peeta’s presence, who has also returned home. By now, Peeta is finally recovering from the Capitol’s mindless torturing, but is still traumatized by his participation in the Hunger Games.
In the movie’s final moments, Peeta receives a letter from Annie who announces that she has given birth to a baby boy. Annie is still reeling from the death of her husband, Finnick, but goes on to write:
We’ve all suffered so much, but we owe it to their memories, and to our children, to do our best with these lives. I hope you’re both finding some peace.
Mockingjay – Part 2 concludes with an epilogue, showing Katniss and Peeta’s life together. The pair now have two children together and Katniss watches on as Peeta plays with their eldest child in the meadow. It’s evident that the pair have managed to find peace, despite both being plagued by their memories of the Games. This epilogue scene is a flashback to the first Hunger Games film in which Katniss told Gale that she would never have children in this destructive world. Katniss and Peeta’s children prove that the Hunger Games have not been restored and that the war is finally over. Despite this satisfactory ending, fans have often questioned the movie’s dramatic finale, particularly focusing on Katniss’ shocking decision to kill Coin.
Why Did Katniss Kill Coin?
In this shocking twist, Katniss decides to kill Coin instead of Snow. As fans will know, Snow has been Katniss’ antagonist since the franchise’s first installment, which is why viewers are often perplexed at Katniss’ decision to kill Coin.
As previously mentioned, Coin was responsible for the bombing of the Capitol children, which subsequently killed Prim. At this point, Snow revealed that he was going to surrender anyway, meaning that their deaths were for nothing. In addition to this, Coin wanted to host another Hunger Games composed of the Capitol’s children. These acts of villainy prove that Coin is just like Snow. If Katniss had not killed Coin, then she would’ve gone on to take Snow’s place, meaning that the revolution would’ve been for nothing. Desperate to break out of this cycle, Katniss kills Coin, putting an end to her reign of terror before it can even begin. Because of Coin’s death, Katniss and Peeta can go on to raise their children in peace, free from the looming threat of the Hunger Games.
The Hunger Games
In a Dystopian future, food has become the world's most valuable resource, and children must fight to the death in a televised event in order to win resources for their home districts. When Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her sister's place, she sets in motion an uprising to change the world. Based on the hit YA novels by author Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games quickly became a phenomenon with four star-studded movies based on the original series and a prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, released in 2023. The series has featured performances by Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence, Donald Sutherland, Woody Harrelson, Peter Dinklage, and Rachel Zegler.
- Created by
- Suzanne Collins
- First Film
- The Hunger Games
- Latest Film
- The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
- Cast
- Jennifer Lawrence , Woody Harrelson , Donald Sutherland , Josh Hutcherson , Liam Hemsworth , Philip Seymour Hoffman , Jena Malone , Elizabeth Banks , Rachel Zegler , Peter Dinklage , Viola Davis , Stanley Tucci
- Movies
- The Hunger Games (2012) , The Hunger Games catching fire (2013) , The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part One (2014) , The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part Two (2015) , The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023)
