‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ Presales Have Trackers Dreaming of a Box Office Comeback for ‘The Hunger Games’
Every franchise revival hinges on one question: will audiences actually show up? For ‘The Hunger Games’, that answer has been murky since the last prequel disappointed. Now the first wave of ticket sales for ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ is giving box office watchers a reason to get optimistic.
Tickets for the Haymitch prequel went on sale Wednesday, October 28, at 9 a.m. ET for every showtime, including early-access screenings on November 18 in premium formats such as IMAX, Dolby Cinema, 4DX and ScreenX. The film opens nationwide on November 20, and the PG-13 movie runs 158 minutes, the longest in the franchise.
Within hours, box office trackers were taking notice. They described robust demand and suggested a return to the franchise’s glory days, with one respected tracker hinting that a $100 million-plus domestic opening is now a real possibility. That would be a big leap from the film’s long-range tracking.
It’s worth keeping those claims in perspective. Boxoffice Pro’s long-range forecast puts the opening weekend at $55 million to $65 million, and another analyst said the film was tracking around $60 million while arguing it would end up higher. If the film lands in that range, it would be the second-lowest opening in the franchise’s history.
Welcome back @TheHungerGames! No, not that mediocre $44.6m opening of Songbirds & Snakes, but a return to the $100m+ opening weekends of the originals. Looking like a great possibility on Nov. 20th after the first few hours of presales for Sunrise on the Reaping and @Lionsgate. https://t.co/Y3ZWahFFhg
— EmpireCity Box Office (@EmpireCityBO) October 28, 2026
The original four films opened to roughly $152.5 million, $158.1 million, $121.9 million and $102.7 million, so every one of them cleared $100 million. Then came ‘The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’ in 2023, which opened to $44.6 million, the franchise’s lowest debut, about 57% below the last installment. It still finished with roughly $348 million worldwide on a $100 million budget.
That result left Lionsgate with a prequel that was a respectable performer but not a revival. ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ is a much bigger swing, with a reported budget of $170 million to $200 million, and The Numbers tracks it at $185 million.
Several factors are working in the film’s favor. Suzanne Collins’ novel sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide in its first week, the biggest launch the series has ever had, with U.S. sales running at more than double the pace of ‘Songbirds’. That suggests pent-up demand among readers.
Casting is another draw. Joseph Zada plays young Haymitch, and the cast includes Ralph Fiennes, Elle Fanning, Jesse Plemons, Kieran Culkin, Maya Hawke, Glenn Close, Mckenna Grace and Lili Taylor. Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are also returning as Katniss and Peeta, giving longtime fans another reason to buy tickets on opening weekend.
The first critic reactions have also been glowing, with several early viewers calling it the best film in the franchise. Strong word of mouth could help turn presales into a durable run, especially since the film arrives in a crowded fall season.
The early-access screenings add another lever. Theater chains including Cinemark and Regal have posted listings for the November 18 shows, which let fans see the film two days early, and those premium seats can inflate opening numbers.
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
Theaters are also leaning in on collectibles. AMC, Regal, Cinemark, Marcus and Showcase all revealed ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ popcorn buckets as tickets went on sale. Regal has three items arriving at select theaters starting November 18, and Cinemark is offering a $40 Super Ticket with four more items coming soon.
Those items won’t decide the box office, but they signal that exhibitors see the film as an event. A collectible-heavy rollout tends to follow films that theaters believe will draw crowds.
Presales are an early read, not a verdict. The first few hours of ticket sales tend to be driven by the most dedicated fans, and early momentum doesn’t always carry into a general audience. Trackers will be watching previews and the second-weekend drop for a clearer picture.
Still, after the disappointment of the last prequel, any sign of life is welcome news for Lionsgate. If the early numbers hold, the studio could have the revival it was hoping for.
How big do you think its opening weekend will be?
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