'Sunrise on the Reaping' tickets are on sale now ahead of the Nov. 20 release

Tickets for “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” went on sale Wednesday morning, about three weeks before the movie hits theaters. Lionsgate confirmed the sale would open Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 6 a.m. PT (9 a.m. ET), according to Bleeding Cool, which cited the franchise’s official account.

When does Sunrise on the Reaping come out?

The film opens nationwide on Friday, Nov. 20, 2026. Just Jared and BroadwayWorld reported that early-access screenings in premium formats will start at participating U.S. theaters on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m. local time. Availability varies by theater, so check your local listings for formats and showtimes.

What is Sunrise on the Reaping about?

The story revisits Panem 24 years before the events of “The Hunger Games,” starting on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games, the Second Quarter Quell, according to the official synopsis quoted by Bleeding Cool. It follows a young Haymitch Abernathy, the District 12 victor who later mentors Katniss Everdeen.

Who is in the cast?

Joseph Zada plays Haymitch, with Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird and Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner. The cast also includes Jesse Plemons as a young Plutarch Heavensbee, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee, Maya Hawke as Wiress, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman, Glenn Close and Billy Porter. Francis Lawrence directs from a screenplay by Billy Ray.

Why the ticket launch matters

Bleeding Cool noted that early sales will offer the first real read on demand for the film in a crowded fall blockbuster season. The last prequel, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” drew in audiences beyond book readers, and Lawrence has said this one is closer in tone to the original films.

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