The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping First Reactions Are Officially In

This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.

The first reactions to The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping have come to Panem.

Based on Suzanne Collins' novel of the same name, Sunrise on the Reaping is set during the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell, which features 48 tributes instead of the usual 24 in a cruel twist. Joseph Zada plays Haymitch Abernathy, 24 years in the timeline before the Hunger Games that Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark will win together.

In the first reactions to the film, ScreenRant's Tatiana Hullender described it as "a beautiful, bittersweet story that translates very well to film. Joseph Zada, Mckenna Grace, and Jesse Plemons give especially powerful performances, but the entire ensemble of young tributes and District 12 loved ones are wonderful."

Zada was also praised by Collider's Perri Nemiroff, writing that "he had my jaw on the floor time and time again during Sunrise on the Reaping. His ability to capture Haymitch’s warmth and charm and then weave that into the rage and heartbreak the Hunger Games sparks is superb. SO much of this movie is on his shoulders, and he soars tackling every ounce of it. This is only the beginning for Zada."

Sunrise on the Reaping is the fifth Hunger Games movie directed by Francis Lawrence, and according to The Playlist and Discussing Film's Griffin Schiller, "Lawrence has always excelled at squaring our growing nihilism with the desire to disrupt the system, and Sunrise allows him to interrogate that tension more directly to great effect."

Along with praise for Zada's performance and Lawrence's direction, Next Best Picture's Lauren Lamango is impressed by the production design and the movie as a whole: "The rebellion is sparking with SUNRISE ON THE REAPING. Francis Lawrence continues to breathe new life into this world. The unique production design doesn’t let familiar beats get too dull. Joseph Zada is heartbreakingly radiant as Haymitch. A star is born role."

Catching Fire is often regarded as the best of The Hunger Games movies, and for critic DawsOnScreen, "SUNRISE ON THE REAPING feels like the follow up to Catching Fire I have always wanted. It’s a near perfect Hunger Games movie that is more brutal than you could imagine. Joseph Zada embodies a more hopeful Haymitch that I was enamoured to see evolve into the Haymitch we know and love."

Beyond being a worthy follow-up to Catching Fire, The Nerds of Color podcast calls 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. Filled with all-fire, it's a MUST-SEE in theaters."

Gavin Spoors of FilmHounds magazine admits that with Sunrise on the Reaping, "we’ve seen this all before." However, a "stellar third act pulls the rug out underneath you. Anchored by terrific performances (Zada is a star), this emotional thriller nails the themes of the cost of revolution and how we all need to play our part."

In addition to hailing Zada's portrayal of Haymitch, Next Best Picture's Matt Neglia was impressed by "some of the best casting of the year... Glenn Close, with her horror-inducing face, is a scene-stealer as is Jesse Plemons embodying the spirit of the late great Philip Seymour Hoffman. Joseph Zada is beyond impressive in a highly demanding role that pushes him to the limit physically and emotionally, perfectly capturing the essence of Haymitch with all the sympathy, charm and bitterness Woody Harrelson brought to the role."

More to come...

• 

  Maysilee Donner

• 

  Joseph Zada

  Haymitch Abernathy

• 

  Whitney Peak

  Lenore Dove Baird

• 

  Plutarch Heavensbee