New ‘Hunger Games’ Prequel Hailed as the Franchise’s ‘Rogue One’ in First Reactions

It’s been a whirlwind week for The Hunger Games universe, with Jennifer Lawrence weighing in on a long-debated topic and the question of whether Katniss will make a cameo in the highly anticipated prequel finally getting an answer. While her (traitor) opinion was confirmed — she’s Team Gale — she also confirmed she’ll make an appearance alongside Woody Harrelson and Josh Hutcherson. As if that weren’t enough, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is now receiving its first reactions, and it might just be the biggest surprise of all.

Sunrise on the Reaping isn’t the first prequel in the franchise. In 2023, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes explored the rise of the infamous President Snow, offering a glimpse into Panem’s history long before Katniss, Peeta, Gale, and the rest of the Hunger Games crew were first introduced to audiences in 2012. However, despite expanding the franchise’s lore, the prequel struggled to match the financial success of the original four films, which became box-office behemoths during the height of Hunger Games mania. It recorded the franchise’s lowest opening weekend and lowest overall box-office gross.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes still racked up an impressive 89% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, but with far fewer viewers than its predecessors, it didn’t get the attention it deserved. Lesson learned: Sunrise on the Reaping will not be another overlooked Hunger Games prequel. Casting announcements were made far in advance to amp up audience excitement, and with 14 years having passed since the first movie’s release, the original Hunger Games fans have grown up alongside the franchise. Now, Sunrise on the Reaping has the chance to bring longtime fans back to Panem while welcoming a new generation of viewers.

And of course, this prequel is centered on the beloved Haymitch Abernathy — a character audiences fell in love with through both the books and the movies; Harrelson’s witty portrayal helped make him a fan favorite. The demand for Haymitch’s backstory can even be traced all the way back to the very first movie. Now, actor Joseph Zada is taking on the role of a young Haymitch entering his first Games, finally giving fans answers to questions they’ve had for years. Viewers were also over the moon with his uncanny resemblance to Harrelson. Matt Neglia himself praised the film’s casting, stating that it “features some of the best casting of the year” and that 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.”

All of this shows that when you have an immersive world like The Hunger Games, a loyal fanbase, a star-studded cast, and the chance to finally explore the backstory of a beloved character years after the original books were released, it makes all the difference. Judging by the first reactions, Sunrise on the Reaping delivers all that and more.

Film Speak’s Griffin Schiller draws a comparison to Rogue One and Andor, calling Sunrise on the Reaping “the Rogue One/Andor of the franchise.” Schiller praises the film as “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 the book, he couldn’t have asked for a more perfect adaptation, praising how director Francis Lawrence “beautifully captures the invigorating spark of revolution and the tragedy of Haymitch’s journey, culminating in a resounding gut punch.”

Charles Papadopoulos excitedly states that the film is “everything book readers could possibly hope for, with a Joseph Zada cherry on top.” Papadopoulos isn’t alone in that sentiment, as viewers who got an early preview of the film are also raving about Zada’s performance, as well as the cameos from none other than Lawrence, Hutcherson, and Harrelson. Another viewer went a step further, calling Sunrise on the Reaping “easily the best film in the Hunger Games franchise. Joseph Zada is electrifying as Haymitch, and the cast is true to the characters we’re introduced to in the book.” The praise for Zada doesn’t stop there. Lauren LaMagna describes him as “heartbreakingly radiant as Haymitch.”

Sunrise on the Reaping hits theaters on Nov. 20.