‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ First Reactions Call It the Best Franchise Entry Yet

Few franchises have a grip on pop culture like ‘The Hunger Games’. Every new installment arrives with enormous pressure, and a prequel centered on a character fans have wondered about for years carries even more. The first reactions to ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ suggest the film may have delivered.

The movie is the sixth installment in the series and the second prequel, following 2023’s ‘The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’. Francis Lawrence directs again, adapting Suzanne Collins’ 2025 novel, and Lionsgate is set to release it in theaters on November 20 with a listed runtime of 158 minutes. 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.

We’ve seen this all before but #sunriseonthereaping stellar third act pulls the rug out underneath you. 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. https://t.co/v4lQkVwAlq

— Gavin Spoors 🇵🇸 (@supergavigator) October 28, 2026

The film had its red carpet premiere in London on Wednesday, October 28, and the early word is glowing. Nikita Francois of The Nerds of Color called it the best film in the franchise and urged people to see it in theaters. 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.

THE HUNGER GAMES: SUNRISE ON THE REAPING features some of the best casting of the year as many of the actors breathe new life into familiar characters, making them their own, while preserving the qualities that made them so compelling in the first place. Glenn Close, with her horror-inducing face, is a scene-stealer as is Jesse Plemons embodying the spirit of the late great Philip Seymour Hoffman. Joseph Zada is beyond impressive in a highly demanding role that pushes him to the limit physically and emotionally, perfectly capturing the essence of Haymitch with all the sympathy, charm and bitterness Woody Harrelson brought to the role. I’m continually blown away by how Francis Lawrence continues to find more layers in this familiar structure thematically and stylistically as the production and costume design continue to be dazzling highlights. If this is to be the end of his time working on these movies, it’s a good way to go out as this latest installment brings the franchise full circle with the character that’s always been the beating heart at its center.

— Matt Neglia (@NextBestPicture) October 28, 2026

Next Best Picture editor Lauren LaMagna said Lawrence continues to breathe new life into this world and praised the production design for keeping familiar beats from going stale. Another critic described it as a beautiful, bittersweet story that translates well to film. 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. A sobering, yet powerful story of devastating loss and the necessary cost of rebellion for a sunrise we may never see. As a massive fan of the series and especially this book, I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect adaptation. Francis Lawrence beautifully captures the invigorating spark of revolution and the tragedy of Haymitch’s journey, culminating in a resounding gut punch. Joseph Zada is a revelation. Completely floored by his performance. So charismatic, lovable, tender, and honest; he perfectly captures Haymitch’s love of people, pain, and rebellious spirit. In a series full of incredible performances, his might be the best behind Lawrence. He’s seriously THAT good. Like the book, the film challenges our own implicit submission and acceptance of terms we’ve never agreed to when the odds ARE in our favor. It sympathizes with how easy it is to feel hopeless and apathetic about the world today, how futile resistance seems, yet insists that every small act of defiance paves the way for future change, that every platform we have, for as briefly we have it, is a chance to reclaim control over the narrative. Not because that change is immediate, but because what other choice do we have? Lawrence has always excelled at squaring our growing nihilism with the desire to disrupt the system, and Sunrise allows him to interrogate that tension more directly to great effect. I’ve always maintained that The Hunger Games is one of our most consistent and vital franchises, and Sunrise on the Reaping makes it abundantly clear why the series has transcended the YA boom of the 2010s and is needed today more than ever.

— Griffin Schiller (@griffschiller) October 28, 2026

The performance getting the most attention is Joseph Zada’s. He plays a 16-year-old Haymitch, taking over a role that Woody Harrelson played in the original films. Francois called his work electrifying, and LaMagna described it as a star-is-born turn.

Collider’s Perri Nemiroff named Zada one of the film’s biggest highlights and said he left her jaw on the floor time and again. Matt Neglia of Next Best Picture said the role pushes Zada to his limit physically and emotionally, and that he captures the sympathy, charm and bitterness Harrelson brought to the character. Schiller went further, suggesting it could be the best performance in the franchise after Jennifer Lawrence’s.

The Hunger Games franchise remains a favorite. THE HUNGER GAMES: SUNRISE ON THE REAPING rocks a ton of stunning craftsmanship, yet another phenomenal cast, and an exhilarating narrative that serves as a powerful reminder that nothing is inevitable and it is possible to break a bad machine. One of the biggest highlights? Joseph Zada. I had high hopes for him after watching We Were Liars, but he had my jaw on the floor time and time again during Sunrise on the Reaping. His ability to capture Haymitch’s warmth and charm and then weave that into the rage and heartbreak the Hunger Games sparks is superb. SO much of this movie is on his shoulders, and he soars tackling every ounce of it. This is only the beginning for Zada.

— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) October 28, 2026

The prequel is stacked with big names. The cast includes Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Ralph Fiennes, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning and Billy Porter. Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Harrelson also return for appearances as Katniss, Peeta and Haymitch.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is a worthy addition to the franchise. Casting is phenomenal (Joseph Zada couldn’t be better), it looks and feels terrifyingly real, and it bridges the gap perfectly between the original stories and Ballad. A from me. https://t.co/Npl2MxnLYZ

— nina(delphia) (existential dread version) (@ninastarner) October 28, 2026

Early viewers highlighted several of those performances. Neglia called Close a scene-stealer and said Plemons embodies the spirit of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. He also said the film features some of the best casting of the year, with actors giving new life to familiar characters while keeping what made them compelling. Nina Starner of Static Media said Zada’s casting couldn’t be better.

For Zada, this is his biggest role yet. He recently drew praise for Netflix’s ‘East of Eden’, and he has also appeared in ‘We Were Liars’. The reactions make it clear that fans are seeing something more than an imitation of Harrelson.

That is a high bar, since Haymitch is one of the franchise’s most beloved characters. Many viewers said the film finally gives fans answers to questions they’ve had about his past for years.

Witness the beginning of the revolution. #TheHungerGames: Sunrise on the Reaping – in theaters & IMAX November 20. https://t.co/fKCrWXIk3T

— The Hunger Games (@TheHungerGames) September 16, 2026

The studio allowed these reactions to surface weeks before the official release, which signals strong confidence in the project. That contrasts with the typical approach of holding embargoes closer to a movie’s debut.

Still, first reactions don’t always match the final critical consensus, and early social posts tend to run enthusiastic. With the movie about three weeks from theaters, full reviews will show whether the hype holds up.

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