The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping opens in US theaters on Friday, November 20, 2026. Early-access IMAX and premium-format screenings start Wednesday, November 18 at 6 p.m. local time. The prequel follows 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy through the 50th Hunger Games, 24 years before Katniss volunteers. Tickets have been on sale since October 28.
| US release date | November 20, 2026 (early access November 18) |
| UK release date | November 20, 2026 (rated 12A) |
| World premiere | London, October 28, 2026 |
| Rating | PG-13 |
| Runtime | 158 minutes (2 hr 38 min) |
| Director | Francis Lawrence |
| Screenplay | Billy Ray and Michael Lesslie |
| Based on | Sunrise on the Reaping (2025) by Suzanne Collins |
| Studio / distributor | Color Force / Lionsgate |
| Starring | Joseph Zada, Elle Fanning, Ralph Fiennes, Jesse Plemons, Mckenna Grace, Maya Hawke, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin |
| Formats | Standard, 3D, IMAX, Dolby Cinema, 4DX, ScreenX, D-Box, Cinemark XD, Regal RPX |
| Reported budget | $170–200 million |
| Streaming | Not announced; theatrical only for now |
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping Release date, Tickets and How to watch
The film is in theaters only. There is no streaming or digital release date yet.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Wed, Nov 18, 2026 | Early access from 6 p.m. local time in IMAX and premium formats at participating theaters |
| Thu, Nov 19, 2026 | Many theaters list regular previews from about noon. Lionsgate has not announced these. |
| Fri, Nov 20, 2026 | Official release in the US and UK |
| Nov 20–24, 2026 | Fandango promotes the IMAX run as “only in IMAX 11/20–11/24”; some Regal and Cinemark IMAX screens list shows through Dec 1 |
Where to buy tickets: Lionsgate names Fandango. AMC, Regal and Cinemark also sell through their own apps and websites. Alamo Drafthouse, Angelika, Landmark and other chains have showtimes listed too.
Ticket deals worth knowing:
- Fandango “SOTRIMAX” code: up to $14 off two or more IMAX tickets. It runs through Nov 24 and needs a signed-in account.
- Fandango collectible print bundle: $44.99 plus shipping for one ticket in any format and a print.
- Soundtrack discount: 20% off the vinyl or CD with a ticket bought by Dec 14.
- Accessible screenings: AMC sensory-friendly shows (Nov 25, 7 p.m., selected locations), open-caption shows at many AMC and Regal theaters, and baby-friendly shows at some Alamo Drafthouse locations.
Which format to pick: IMAX and Dolby give the arena sequences the most scale, and Lionsgate is promoting a limited IMAX window. Choose 4DX or ScreenX if you want a ride-style experience.
When will it stream? No date has been announced. The last prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, went to digital rental about a month after it opened. It then went to Starz, and later to Peacock under Lionsgate’s deal. Expect Sunrise on the Reaping to follow a similar path: digital purchase or rental around late December 2026 or January 2027, then Starz. This is a projection, not a confirmed date.
RELATED: Where to watch Sunrise on the Reaping Online: Is It Streaming Yet?
Cast and characters
Joseph Zada leads as young Haymitch Abernathy. He is surrounded by established names playing younger versions of familiar Capitol and district characters.
| Actor | Character | Who they are |
|---|---|---|
| Joseph Zada | Haymitch Abernathy | District 12 tribute, later Katniss and Peeta’s mentor |
| Whitney Peak | Lenore Dove Baird | Haymitch’s girlfriend in District 12 |
| Mckenna Grace | Maysilee Donner | District 12 tribute; aunt of Katniss’s friend Madge |
| Ralph Fiennes | President Coriolanus Snow | Panem’s president, decades into his rule |
| Elle Fanning | Effie Trinket | Young Capitol escort, years before Katniss’s Games |
| Jesse Plemons | Plutarch Heavensbee | Capitol filmmaker, later Head Gamemaker |
| Kieran Culkin | Caesar Flickerman | The Games’ showman host |
| Glenn Close | Drusilla Sickle | District 12 escort |
| Billy Porter | Magno Stift | Capitol stylist |
| Maya Hawke | Wiress | District 3 victor and mentor |
| Kelvin Harrison Jr. | Beetee Latier | District 3 victor and mentor |
| Lili Taylor | Mags Flanagan | District 4 victor and mentor |
| Ben Wang | Wyatt Callow | District 12 tribute |
| Molly McCann | Louella McCoy | District 12 tribute |
| Percy Daggs IV | Ampert Latier | District 3 tribute, Beetee’s son |
| Kara Tointon | Willamae Abernathy | Haymitch’s mother |
Returning faces: Reports say Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen) and Josh Hutcherson (Peeta Mellark) appear, and Apple TV’s cast list includes Lawrence. Woody Harrelson is also reported to return as the older Haymitch. Lionsgate has not detailed how big these appearances are.
What it’s about (spoiler-light)
The story is set 24 years before The Hunger Games (2012). It opens on reaping morning for the 50th Hunger Games, the Second Quarter Quell. To mark the anniversary, the Capitol makes every district send twice the usual number of tributes: four from each district, 48 in all.
Sixteen-year-old Haymitch Abernathy of District 12 is reaped. He is taken from his family and from Lenore Dove, and goes into the deadliest arena yet. Fans already know he wins. The book’s question is how the Capitol makes sure his victory costs him everything. The movie also shows how he became the bitter, hard-drinking mentor Katniss meets in the first film.
Themes to expect: propaganda and who controls the story, rebellion in its early forms, and the price of defying President Snow.
Suzanne Collins published the novel on March 18, 2025, and it went straight to number one on bestseller lists. She has an adaptation credit on the film.
RELATED: Sherlock Holmes 3: Release Date, Cast & Story Details (2026)
Trailers, music and production
Francis Lawrence returns for his fifth Hunger Games film. He has directed every entry since Catching Fire.
Trailers and marketing, newest first:
| Date | Release |
|---|---|
| Sep 16, 2026 | Second trailer |
| Aug 21, 2026 | Capitol.tv reactivated |
| Jul 4, 2026 | “Meet Haymitch” featurette |
| Apr 13, 2026 | First full trailer |
| Apr 2026 | Statues in 31 locations across 30 countries |
| Nov 20, 2025 | Surprise teaser |
Soundtrack: The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (The Album) comes out on November 13, 2026, on MCA. It has 29 tracks, produced by Dave Cobb. The singles so far:
- “Draw You Out” by Noah Kahan (lead single, Oct 2)
- “Black Stars” by The Smashing Pumpkins (Oct 16)
- “Favor” by Gigi Perez (Oct 29)
- “The Wheel” by Lizzy McAlpine (Nov 6)
James Newton Howard’s score album comes out on November 20, the film’s release day. Its first track, “Haymitch Meets Snow,” came out on October 23.
Behind the camera:
- Screenplay: Billy Ray and Michael Lesslie, from Suzanne Collins’ novel
- Producers: Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson and Francis Lawrence (Color Force)
- Cinematography: Jo Willems
- Editing: Mark Yoshikawa
- Filming: July to November 28, 2025, in Spain (including Somiedo and Teverga in Asturias) and Berlin, Germany
First reactions: Lionsgate lifted the social-media embargo after the October 28 London premiere, more than three weeks before release. Early reactions were very positive. Full reviews will show how well that holds up.
RELATED: Is The Hunger Games on HBO MAX, Hulu, Peacock, or Disney+?
Hunger Games movies in order
Sunrise on the Reaping is the second prequel. It is set 40 years after The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and 24 years before The Hunger Games.
Story (chronological) order:
- The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023): the 10th Games, young Coriolanus Snow
- The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (2026): the 50th Games, young Haymitch
- The Hunger Games (2012): the 74th Games
- The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013): the 75th Games, the Third Quarter Quell
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014)
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015)
Release order: The Hunger Games (2012), Catching Fire (2013), Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014), Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015), The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023), Sunrise on the Reaping (2026).
Best order for first-time viewers: release order. Haymitch’s story has more impact once you know the man Katniss meets. If you only have time to rewatch one film before going, choose Catching Fire. It is the other Quarter Quell, and it brings back Beetee, Wiress, Mags and the older Haymitch.
Book vs. movie, and links to the original films
The film adapts the whole 2025 novel in one movie, at 158 minutes. It is not split into two parts. Collins worked on the adaptation, so expect the main plot to stay close to the book. Book readers should still expect some arena scenes and side tributes to be condensed.
Connections to look for if you have only seen the original films:
- Haymitch’s past. His drinking and his distrust of the Capitol come from this story, and so does his first reaction to Katniss and Peeta.
- Effie, Plutarch and Caesar. All three appear decades younger, before they become the characters you know.
- Beetee, Wiress and Mags. You meet them as mentors here, 25 years before they enter the arena in Catching Fire.
- Maysilee Donner. She is tied to the mockingjay pin Madge gives Katniss in the books.
- President Snow. He is middle-aged, between the young Snow of Ballad and the elderly Snow of the original films.
- The Quarter Quell format. The next Quell, the 75th, is the one Katniss and Peeta are sent back for in Catching Fire.
No need to read the book first. The film is written to stand on its own.
Box office expectations
Presales are strong. The latest tracking puts the domestic opening at $80–100 million or more, which would make it the franchise’s biggest debut since Mockingjay – Part 2 in 2015. Tracking rose sharply over the last few weeks:
| Tracker / report | Opening weekend estimate (domestic) |
|---|---|
| Deadline, Nov 2026 (presales ahead of Wicked) | $80M+, range up to $100M |
| Global Box Office, Empire City Box Office | $100M+ |
| World of Reel (single report) | $120M |
| Boxoffice Pro long-range forecast (earlier) | $55–65M |
For comparison: Catching Fire holds the franchise record with a $158 million opening (2013). The last prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, opened to $44.6 million (2023). An opening above $97.2 million would beat Michael and be Lionsgate’s biggest domestic debut in 11 years.
The film has the week before Thanksgiving to itself, then holds over the five-day holiday weekend. That period is usually one of the strongest of the year for family and franchise films.
FAQs
When does Sunrise on the Reaping come out?
Friday, November 20, 2026, in US and UK theaters. Early-access IMAX shows start Wednesday, November 18, at 6 p.m.
How long is Sunrise on the Reaping?
158 minutes, or 2 hours 38 minutes, before trailers. Some theater listings round it differently.
What is it rated?
PG-13 in the US and 12A in the UK and Ireland.
Is it streaming on Netflix, Peacock or Starz?
Not yet. It is theatrical only. Based on the last prequel, expect digital rental first, then Starz, then Peacock. No dates are confirmed.
Who plays young Haymitch?
Australian actor Joseph Zada.
Is Jennifer Lawrence in it?
Reports say yes, as Katniss, and Josh Hutcherson as Peeta. The size of their roles has not been revealed.
Is Woody Harrelson in it?
He is reported to return as the older Haymitch. Lionsgate has not confirmed details.
Do I need to see the other movies first?
No, but it helps. Watch The Hunger Games and Catching Fire to get the most out of the connections.
Is there a post-credits scene?
This has not been confirmed. We will update this after release. Earlier Hunger Games films have none.
Is it based on a book?
Yes. It is based on Suzanne Collins’ Sunrise on the Reaping, published March 18, 2025.
Where was it filmed?
In Asturias, Spain (including Somiedo and Teverga), and in Berlin, Germany, between July and November 2025.
Will there be more Hunger Games movies?
Nothing has been announced. Collins has not published another Panem novel.
Sources
- Wikipedia: The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
- TMDB listing (rating, runtime)
- Drawpie: tickets, formats and early access
- ComingSoon: box office projections
- World of Reel: first reactions
- JustWatch: streaming status
- Dune: Part Three Release Date, IMAX 70mm Tickets, Cast, Plot and Everything to Know - November 11, 2026
- Avengers: Doomsday Release Date, Tickets, Cast, and Everything to Know - November 11, 2026
- The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping Release Date, Cast, Plot, Tickets & Everything to Know - November 10, 2026
