The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping: early reactions are in

There’s another Hunger Games film out and, if you’re a fan, you know the routine: loud talk online, a new lead with an impossibly high bar, and plenty of debate over whether the extra trip round Panem is worth your ticket money. This one’s called Sunrise on the Reaping, and it comes swinging in as the franchise’s second prequel, following up from that 2023 Songbirds & Snakes flick. Only this time, it’s not Snow in the spotlight – we’re rolling back the clock a full 24 years before Katniss and co., and landing firmly at the feet of a young Haymitch Abernathy.

“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.”

What’s the setup?

So, the film kicks off at the Second Quarter Quell – that’s the fiftieth running of these twisted games, or as fans of the books will already know, the time Haymitch first got thrown into the pit. Joseph Zada’s taken up the role of young Haymitch, with direction once again by Francis Lawrence, the chap behind most of the earlier films. If you’re picturing endless déjà vu from the YA boom days, apparently not: early crowds and diehards have already packed social media with genuinely positive notes. Not something you see every sequel around these days.

Sunrise on the Reaping premieres as the franchise's second prequel, pulling focus to Haymitch Abernathy's brutal early story set 24 years before the original film.

First reactions: critics and fans

The biggest talking point is Zada himself. Practically every early reaction calls him out as the main event here – apparently, he’s managed to make Haymitch somewhere between heartbreak and hero, not just the tortured mentor stuck with a bottle. Perri Nemiroff, who’s already a fan of the series, reckons Zada’s ability to juggle charm, warmth, anger, and loss is enough to carry an entire film on his own. She’d seen him before in We Were Liars, but claims this performance downright floored her.

If you’re wondering whether the production itself lands, from what’s been said, Francis Lawrence isn’t just repeating old notes. There’s credit to a refreshed look and feel – unique production design, apparently, stops things from getting repetitive despite the familiar setup. Lauren LaMagna calls Zada “heartbreakingly radiant” and pins this as the role that’ll make him a star. Nikita Francois has gone all-in too, labelling the film the 'best in the franchise' and declaring it proper must-see material for the big screen.

Book loyalists aren’t left in the dust: Charle Papadopoulos has piped up to say that readers will get exactly what they’ve been hoping for, especially with Zada’s take on Haymitch. There’s a lot of mood about the series managing to still feel “vital” in 2026, with both book and film balancing hopelessness and rebellion, insisting every small act still counts.

• Film: Sunrise on the Reaping
• Premise: Haymitch’s first Hunger Games – the infamous Second Quarter Quell, 24 years before the events of Katniss’s games
• Lead: Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy
• Director: Francis Lawrence (back for another round)
• Key reactions: Massive praise for Zada, faithfulness to the source, a fresh look to Panem
• Viewer consensus: Early fans call it the franchise’s best effort yet; new must-see status among those that have seen it early