THE official trailer for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 has been released.

Starring Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence as the heroine Katniss Everdeen, the much-anticipated film is the third instalment in the Hunger Games franchise.

Based on the first part of the final novel in Suzanne Collins' best-selling trilogy, the movie finds Katniss in District 13 after the earth-shattering events of Catching Fire.

"It's the things we love most that destroy us," Katniss is told as she fights to save Peeta (Josh Hutcherson).

Mockingjay: Part 1 is directed by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by Danny Strong and Peter Craig.

The star-studded cast also includes Liam Hemsworth, Julianne Moore and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Katniss was named the highest grossing action movie heroine in the 2015 Guinness World Record book earlier this month.

Lawrence's courageous character helped earn the first two Hunger Games movies £928 million worldwide.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 hits New Zealand cinemas on November 20.