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Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping Earns Praise at Premiere

1:08 PM ETConfirmed

Entertainment Desk

In Short: The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping, directed by Francis Lawrence, premiered in London on October 28, earning praise from critics.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping, directed by Francis Lawrence, premiered in London on October 28, earning praise from critics.

Set 24 years before Katniss Everdeen's story, the film follows a young Haymitch Abernathy (played by Joseph Zada) during the 50th Hunger Games.

The film is described as pushing the franchise into darker, more politically relevant territory, with some critics comparing it to 'Rogue One' and 'Andor.'

Gavin Spoors, editor-in-chief of Filmhounds Magazine, praised the third act as 'stellar,' noting it pulls the rug out from under the viewer.

The movie is set to release in Australian cinemas on November 19 and in the U.S. on November 20.

Initial tracking forecasts suggest the film could open with $60 million or more in the U.S.

The film also features Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, and Ralph Fiennes as President Snow.

Casting announcements were made far in advance, and with 14 years since the first movie's release, original fans have grown up alongside the franchise.

The film's premiere in London was met with enthusiasm, with critics calling it 'easily the best film' in the franchise.

Variety noted that the film breathes 'new life' into the franchise, anchored by terrific performances and a perfect adaptation.

WWD reported on Mckenna Grace's method dressing moments during the press tour, paying homage to the franchise and its universe.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• Set 24 years before The Hunger Games, Sunrise On The Reaping takes us back to the 50th Games, the Second Quarter Quell, where we see how a young Haymitch Abernathy, forced to compete, gets his goddamn soul ripped out to become the bitter, Woody Harrelson-played alcoholic we met in the original film.
• But, as an added bonus, the very last minute or so gives us a quick look at the next film in the franchise, The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping, pretty much showing us who’s playing who by cutting between the old actors and the new.
• Several reactions also said it pushes the series into darker, more politically relevant territory. #TheHungerGames Sunrise on the Reaping is the Rogue One/Andor of the franchise.
• The story follows Panem 24 years before Katniss’ saga, starting on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games, where a young Haymitch Abernathy takes part.
• The first reactions to ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ suggest the film may have delivered.
• Gavin Spoors, editor-in-chief of Filmhounds Magazine, praised the third act as "stellar" and said it pulls the rug out from under the viewer.
• Matt Neglia of Next Best Picture credited the film with “some of the best casting of the year,” said Jesse Plemons carries something of Philip Seymour Hoffman, who played Plutarch Heavensbee in the original quartet and died in 2014, and marked Glenn Close out as the scene-stealer of the night.

What's still developing

• I’m in the weird position of generally digging what The Hunger Games as a whole does while never really feeling like revisiting the films (or reading the books – I think that ship has sailed for good or ill).
• So, this latest missive from the good marketing bods at Lionsgate is perfect for me and my ilk – a 16 minute history of the whole filmic franchise to date, which gives you the Greatest Hits tour without getting bogged down in a world where animals have names like “Jackersnacks” or something.
• The film had its red carpet premiere in London on Wednesday, October 28, and the early word is glowing.
• Others went with big comparisons, as critic Griffin Schiller dubbed it the ‘Rogue One’ and ‘Andor’ of ‘The Hunger Games’, a sobering story of loss and the cost of rebellion.
• Few franchises have a grip on pop culture like ‘T he Hunger Games’.
• EXCLUSIVE: Just like Lionsgate fired up the early summer box office with their blast off of Michael ($97.2M U.S., $218.8M WW), they’re poised to be the saviors of the Thanksgiving box office as their highly anticipated prequel The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping has hit tracking with a floor of $60M+ U.S.
• On Wednesday night the film critic posted on X that the sixth Panem movie is “the Rogue One / Andor of the franchise,” then called it “a sobering, yet powerful story of devastating loss” and of what a rebellion costs the people who start it.
• The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes still racked up an impressive 89% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, but with far fewer viewers than its predecessors, it didn't get the attention it deserved.
• Sunrise on the Reaping is a direct sequel to 2023’s The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, and both films serve as prequels to Lionsgate’s main Hunger Games movie series that were released from 2012 to 2015.
• “Anchored by terrific performances (Zada is a star), this emotional thriller nails the themes of the cost of revolution and how we all need to play our part,” he wrote on X.
• The form-fitting silhouette of the sleeveless dress was “adorned with blooming florals, shimmering textures, and a harmony of colors inspired by nature’s beauty,” per a description of the dress from the brand’s official Instagram account.

Sources

• Blunt Magazinelink
• Comicbasicslink
• Comingsoonlink
• Culturelink
• Deadlinelink
• FanBoltlink
• MovieWeblink
• Teen Voguelink
• The Hollywood Reporterlink
• Thewraplink
• Varietylink
• WWDlink
• WarpBeat — background on Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping Earns Praise as Franchise's 'Rogue One' link
• Entertainment Tonight — video link