In the first book of the Hunger Games trilogy, Katniss’s home of District 12 sends her off as a tribute to the games with a three finger salute, which, as author Suzanne Collins writes, means “thanks, it means admiration, it means good-bye to someone you love.”

While Katniss was shown this sign of respect throughout The Hunger Games, it is time for the fans to give a three finger salute to their beloved movies of the trilogy.  

The Hunger Games movies have come to an end, and what a bittersweet ending it came to.  

Mockingjay: Part 2 was released in theaters on November 20, concluding the story of Katniss Everdeen.  

Part 1 ends with Katniss being a symbol for the revolution against the leaders of her dystopian world, and with this power comes the challenge of protecting her family and her love, Peeta Mellark.  

Part 2 picks up with Katniss declaring war on the Capitol for their violent and unfair nature towards the other districts, and it ends with audiences leaving in tears.  

The trilogy began with the publication of the first book in 2008.  It is now almost eight years later, and The Hunger Games has become one of the most well known movie franchises in the world.  

Some fans have had the Hunger Games trilogy as part of their life since they were children, and now they are adults, grieving the end of their beloved books and movies.  

Elizabeth Huhn, a senior at South, read all the books as a middle school student and has been eagerly awaiting each movie since her eighth grade year:  “[Watching the movies come to an end] feels like the equivalent to people who grew up with Harry Potter.  You grow up with the characters in the story and love them like they’re real people!  I loved the last movie, and I’m sad that it’s over.”  

“When I saw the first Hunger Games, I was with a group after a middle school dance,” recalled Kaylie Beach, another senior at South who has grown up with the trilogy.  “We all got dressed up in tones of red because [Katniss is known as ‘The Girl on Fire’], and we stayed out late to see it.  It’s weird.  It feels like a lifetime ago when I first saw it.”  

The movies may have come to an end, but the love for the story and characters will never fade away.