Sunrise on the Reaping first reactions: 'the Rogue One of The Hunger Games', and Joseph Zada steals it
By Fuzzy Mushroom · Published
The first reactions from the London premiere of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping are glowing: one early viewer called it the 'Rogue One' of the franchise and another 'easily the best' Hunger Games film yet. Almost everyone singled out Joseph Zada as the young Haymitch, with Collider's Perri Nemiroff saying he had her 'jaw on the floor'. It reaches cinemas next month.
Best Hunger Games yet, or premiere-night hype?
How solid is this story?
Spore Score for the story: 84 (Rock solid). Status: Confirmed. On the record: Named reviewers' first reactions on X after the London premiere, gathered by Variety, TheWrap and The Hollywood Reporter.
The films
- The Hunger Games (2012): Spore Score 76, The Pros 76 vs The Punters 75
Coming up
- The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is out 20 November 2026.
Sources
- Variety: 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping' First Reactions Call Prequel the 'Rogue One' of the Franchise and Praise Joseph Zada as Haymitch (29 October 2026)
- TheWrap: 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping' Is 'Easily the Best' in the Franchise, First Reactions Say (29 October 2026)
- The Hollywood Reporter: 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping' First Reactions (29 October 2026)
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