Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 - 9 Easter Eggs You May Have Missed

Did you know there's a post-credits scene?

By Alex Leadbeater /

When the series first burst onto cinema screens, The Hunger Games was a world away from what it is now. Made for a comparatively slight $78 million and directed like an indie flick, its main claim to fame was that its plot had similarities to Battle Royale, a Japanese thriller most of those citing plagiarism hadn't even heard of before. Now, with Mockingjay: Part 1, the first half of an adaptation of the final book in the series, dominating the box office, it's a very different story. The adventures of Katniss Everdeen in the futuristic dystopia of Panem (real names went out of fashion about the same time as democracy) have become a phenomenon in their own right, the release of each movie serving as the definition of event cinema. Not bad from a young adult novel originally intended to just lightly satirise the media. As you'd expect of any modern, fan-driven movie, there's plenty hidden in Mockingjay: Part 1 for eagle-eyed viewers to uncover. Here's nine of the best easter eggs. Naturally, spoilers are present from the off.

Honourable Mention - Phillip Seymour Hoffman Tribute

It'd be easy for the final two Hunger Games to be overwhelmed by the death of Phillip Seymour Hoffman - for better or worse it was the only talking point around A Most Wanted Man, his final lead role, earlier this year. The actor died of a drug overdose while filming his role of Plutarch Heavensbee, naturally bringing a lot of focus to the film. It's commendable that director Francis Lawrence managed to keep Hoffman's performance as just a performance - the film never over-eggs it for the sake of legacy. There was, however, a nice, unavoidable tribute right after the closing title card dedicating the film in his memory, which while overt, is worth a mention.