The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping has launched its international press tour. Young leads Joseph Zada and Mckenna Grace continued kicking things off in Sydney on October 14, 2026. Here’s a roundup of the movie, the tour so far, fan reactions, box-office history, and prospects.
Movie Summary
Directed by Francis Lawrence (returning for his fifth Hunger Games film) and based on Suzanne Collins’ 2025 novel, the film is a prequel set 24 years before the original trilogy. It follows 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) from District 12 on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games—the Second Quarter Quell, which doubles the number of tributes to 48.
Haymitch forms an unlikely alliance with fellow District 12 tribute Maysilee Donner (Mckenna Grace). He joins efforts to challenge the Capitol under President Snow (Ralph Fiennes). The stacked supporting cast includes Jesse Plemons, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Maya Hawke, Whitney Peak, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and others. Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are expected to appear in a cameo (tied to the novel’s epilogue).
The film is rated PG-13 and runs approximately 2 hours 38 minutes—the longest in the franchise. It arrives in U.S. theaters and IMAX on November 20, 2026 (November 19 in Australia).
Press Tour So Far: Where They’ve Been
The campaign has mixed major promotional activations with the formal international tour.
- Paris (early October 2026): Zada and Grace appeared at the “Elegance Is Authority” sartorial salon at the Musée Rodin, which Lionsgate transformed into a Capitol-inspired setting. Grace wore a Monique Lhuillier gown nodding to Katniss’s Catching Fire wedding dress. Pop Crave and others shared video of them speaking and posing in costume-inspired looks.
- New York (early–mid October): Activity centered on New York Comic-Con (October 8–11). Lionsgate ran a free immersive Sunrise on the Reaping experience across from the Javits Center featuring floral/sensory environments, a Caesar Flickerman stage, personalized photo moments, fan art, and scent partnerships with Scentbird and Drift. Cast members including Zada, Grace, Ben Wang, and Whitney Peak visited. The official account and others also posted about Empire State Building stops and related events.
- Sydney (October 14, 2026): Official kickoff of the international press tour. Australian-born Zada and Grace did a waterfront photo call with the Sydney Opera House and Harbour as backdrop (Zada in Louis Gabriel Nouchi; Grace in a House of Giles gown). That evening they held a fan event at The Eveleigh / The Grounds of Alexandria, hosted by comedian Joel Creasey, featuring a live Q&A and a surprise aerial performance inspired by the Games. Coverage from Deadline, Just Jared, and local outlets highlighted the looks and fan access.
These stops emphasize fashion (a franchise hallmark), immersive Capitol aesthetics, and direct fan engagement.
Where They’re Going
Specific subsequent city stops for the formal press tour have not been fully detailed publicly yet beyond Sydney marking the start of the international leg. With roughly a month until release, additional major-market stops (likely including more of Europe, the UK, and further U.S. cities) plus continued social and experiential marketing are expected. Earlier global activations already included floral installations in multiple countries.
Fan Reaction
Reaction has been largely enthusiastic, especially around the new cast and book-faithful elements.
- Positive buzz focuses on Zada as young Haymitch and Grace as Maysilee. Fans have shared Sydney and Paris photos widely, praising their chemistry, fashion choices (particularly Grace’s Katniss-inspired look), and the return of franchise spectacle. Trailer and soundtrack reactions (including cast reaction videos) have drawn strong engagement, with many expressing excitement for the emotional weight of Haymitch’s story and the expanded Games.
- The book’s 2025 release already generated strong fan turnout (midnight events, cosplay). The film campaign is building on that, with official fan-edit trailers and Comic-Con experiences feeding online discussion.
- Some online chatter notes the limited number of stars traveling so far. That is mainly Zada and Grace for the early international stops. Therefore, it draws comparisons to more expansive past Hunger Games tours. Overall sentiment remains high, with the prequel’s focus on a beloved character helping drive anticipation.
Box Office History and Prospects
The Lionsgate franchise has a strong but uneven track record:
| Film | Worldwide Gross (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Hunger Games (2012) | $678M | Strong original |
| Catching Fire (2013) | $865M | Franchise peak |
| Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014) | $767M | — |
| Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015) | $651M | — |
| The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) | $348M | Lowest; $44.6M domestic opening |
The five films have collectively grossed roughly $3.3 billion worldwide. Ballad was solidly profitable on a ~$100M budget but a clear step down from the Jennifer Lawrence-era peaks.
Sunrise on the Reaping carries a higher reported budget (roughly $170–200M, with The Numbers citing ~$185M). Positive factors include the novel’s strong sales (reportedly the series’ biggest launch week), Lawrence’s return as director, a more fan-friendly lead character than Snow, the high-profile supporting cast, and the broader marketing push (including the recent theatrical re-releases of the prior films).
Realistic expectations position it above Ballad but well below the original quartet’s peaks. Analyst ranges have pointed to a domestic opening in the $60–90M area (with some tracking lower) and worldwide totals potentially in the $450–650M range if reviews and word-of-mouth cooperate. A result closer to or above the later Mockingjay films would be a success given the budget; falling near or below Ballad would be disappointing. The November timing gives it a clear runway before bigger December competition.
Overall, the press tour is successfully reintroducing the world of Panem through fashion, fan events, and the new generation of actors, capitalizing on the franchise’s enduring appeal and the specific pull of Haymitch’s origin story.
The Smashing Pumpkins On Board
In a TikTok post this evening, Smashing Pumpkins singer Billy Corgan teases participation in the movie soundtrack.
