Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games world returns to the big screen three years after The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023). The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is based on Collins' 2025 novel, which went straight to the top of the bestseller lists. The film opens in Finnish cinemas on Thursday 19 November 2026, one day before the United States.
What is the film about?
The story is set in Panem 24 years before the original Hunger Games. It begins on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games. These Games are also known as the Second Quarter Quell, and the Capitol has decided to mark them with particular cruelty: twice the usual number of young people are reaped from each district.
The protagonist is Haymitch Abernathy, a 16-year-old boy from District 12. Viewers of the original trilogy remember him as the cynical, alcoholic mentor played by Woody Harrelson who coached Katniss and Peeta through their Games. Sunrise on the Reaping tells how Haymitch became that man. He is unexpectedly reaped and must leave behind his family and the girl he loves.
Two things stand out in Lionsgate's trailers. First, the Capitol's spectacle is more garish than ever: according to TheWrap, the film has a distinct 1970s aesthetic. Second, the trailers emphasise the seeds of rebellion. As Inverse put it, Haymitch's Games are the first seed of the revolution that erupts in the main series. In the trailer, Caesar Flickerman urges the children to look alive while they still can – a line that sums up the series' cruel satire.
Cast and roles
- Joseph Zada – Haymitch Abernathy
- Whitney Peak – Lenore Dove Baird, Haymitch's sweetheart
- Mckenna Grace – Maysilee Donner, District 12's other tribute
- Ben Wang – Wyatt Callow
- Elle Fanning – Effie Trinket
- Kieran Culkin – Caesar Flickerman
- Jesse Plemons – Plutarch Heavensbee
- Kelvin Harrison Jr. – Beetee
- Maya Hawke – Wiress
- Lili Taylor – Mags
- Ralph Fiennes – President Coriolanus Snow
- Glenn Close – Drusilla
Many of the names will be familiar to fans: Beetee, Wiress and Mags are victors from Catching Fire, seen here as younger versions of themselves. Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson return briefly as Katniss and Peeta. Since the story is set decades before their Games, the roles are small.
President Snow is now played by Ralph Fiennes. The character was previously played by Donald Sutherland in the original series and by Tom Blyth in the previous prequel.
Francis Lawrence – Panem's regular director
Francis Lawrence also directed Catching Fire (2013), the Mockingjay films (2014–2015) and The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023), making Sunrise on the Reaping his fifth Hunger Games film. The screenplay is by Billy Ray, who co-wrote the very first film in the series.
The continuity shows in the trailers: Panem looks consistent, but the period details have been changed. This is the Capitol before Katniss, when the system was still more certain of itself.
For readers of the book: what to expect?
Readers know that Haymitch's story is not a victor's hero tale. The novel is among the darkest in the series, and its central theme is the power of propaganda: who controls the story told to the viewers. The novel also fills gaps in the main series, such as why Haymitch is so bitter towards the Capitol and why he ultimately sides with Katniss.
The running time is 2 hours 38 minutes, making it one of the longest films in the series. This suggests the adaptation aims to follow the novel closely.
Age rating and screenings
KAVI has rated the film K12 in Finland because it contains violence and may cause anxiety – the same category as the earlier Hunger Games films. The film is distributed in Finland by Nordisk Film. Some cinemas are holding double bills during release week that also include the previous prequel.
Analysis: why do the Hunger Games still work?
The Hunger Games series was born in the golden age of reality TV, and its satire targeted suffering turned into entertainment. In 2026 the critique still feels relevant, just in a slightly different form: today, audiences follow lives through social media feeds. Sunrise on the Reaping's question of who writes the official version of events suits an era in which every crisis competes for attention on screens.
Commercially, the film is well placed. The previous prequel performed reasonably well, and this film centres on a familiar, beloved character. The brief return of the original stars will also draw in long-time fans. The late-November release gives the film a few weeks' head start before December's giant releases.
Before you go: a viewer's checklist
- The Hunger Games (2012) and Catching Fire (2013) – Woody Harrelson's adult Haymitch takes on new meaning once you know his background.
- The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) – the previous prequel and young Snow's story, set 40 years before this film.
- Collins' novel (2025) – if you want to know the story before the film. Note that the book is among the darkest in the series.
Our expectations
We expect the darkest and most political film in the series. The novel is unsparing, and its ending is not a traditional victor's story. Francis Lawrence knows Panem better than anyone, and under his direction the series has previously managed to balance spectacle with serious themes. Joseph Zada is a less familiar name to the wider public, and much depends on his performance. The strong supporting cast, from Ralph Fiennes to Kieran Culkin, provides a solid foundation, however. The long running time promises that the characters will be given room.
Frequently asked questions
When is The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping released in Finland?
It opens in Finnish cinemas on Thursday 19 November 2026. The film is distributed in Finland by Nordisk Film.
Who plays young Haymitch?
Australian actor Joseph Zada plays 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy.
Are Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson in it?
Yes, but only briefly. The story is set 24 years before Katniss and Peeta's Games.
What are the age rating and running time?
The film is rated K12 in Finland and runs 2 hours 38 minutes.
This text is based on information published by the film's distributors, production companies and film media. Assessments and interpretations are our own and are not based on seeing the finished film unless stated otherwise.
