The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping Fixes One Of Hollywood's Biggest Problems

Published Sep 18, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT

Once head of Screen Rant's Star Wars coverage and co-lead of Superheroes, Tom Bacon now works with the movies and books teams. He's a lifelong fan of the fantasy and sci-fi genres, and loves franchises such as Doctor Who and Marvel. You can find him on Twitter @TomABacon, on LinkedIn @tabacon, or on Muckrack under tombacon.

Tom has a wide range of interests, and he continues to serve his university as a volunteer chaplain. He's heavily involved with his local church, and anyone who checks him out on Twitter will swiftly learn he's into British politics too.

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The first trailer for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping shows this movie is set to fix a major problem with modern Hollywood blockbusters. Director Francis Lawrence is no stranger to The Hunger Games franchise, and he views Sunrise on the Reaping as a welcome return to the core idea. As he explained in a Filmmaker Presentation (per Digital Spy), the Mockingjay movies were a rebellion and A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes had a very different structure.

But the first trailer for Sunrise on the Reaping confirms this is a return to form. We're back in the Hunger Games themselves, with a hero who's facing the horrific dystopian reality of a fight to the death with his peers. The subject matter is about as dark as can possibly be imagined - which makes it all the more remarkable that Lawrence has chosen to ditch one of Hollywood's most frustrating habits right now.

Sunrise On The Reaping's Visuals Stand Out From A Lot Of Modern Movies

Right from the start, one thing stands out in the trailer: even when there are nighttime scenes, this isn't a dark environment. The trailer absolutely pops, with every shot commanding attention. Thematically, it makes sense; the Capitol want the Hunger Games to be a spectacle for their twisted audience, and they would naturally arrange everything to look as visually impressive as possible. Even when there are monstrous creatures (such as terrifying butterflies), they're bright and attractive. That's always been part of what makes the Hunger Games so truly horrific.

But this is a departure from Hollywood norms. We've all seen recent films that tend to strip the environment as bare as possible, reducing it to a barren wasteland complete with clouds of dust. In part, this approach is common because of CGI; years ago, in one discussion with representatives of a VFX company, I was told that darkness is the best friend for quick effects. When the image is dark and the environment is dusty, any sloppy or hurried work is hard to see. But the age of bad CGI is over, and Sunrise on the Reaping returns to practical sets.

Sunrise On The Reaping's Use Of Color Is Perfect

Courtesy of Lionsgate

One thing's for sure; Sunrise on the Reaping promises to be an absolutely beautiful movie. Everything about it is absolutely gorgeous, and the color is perfectly designed to create a sense of dissonance with the horror of what it's showing. Set photos for Sunrise on the Reaping had already confirmed that the tributes would be dressed in white, and the contrast will surely become stark; that color will soon be stained red with blood. Artistically, this is cruelty dressed up as beauty, and that's what The Hunger Games should always have been.

Readers already know how Haymitch won the 50th Hunger Games. But Francis Lawrence is determined to make Haymitch's path to victory as disturbing as it should be, while also grounding it in a surprising way. Note how vivid the locations are as well as the costumes and effects; that should give the movie a strong sense of place. Again, that's ideal; it will add tension, as viewers gradually become familiar with the tricks and traps laid out around the arena.

All in all, then, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping promises to be a very different kind of movie. It's true that Hollywood does appear to be rediscovering the value of vibrancy of late, but this goes beyond the norm; the brightness and beauty makes this trailer stand out straight away. Don't expect the dust and dirt of Avengers: Endgame's final battle, but rather something much more grounded - a film that makes you feel every blow, where there's very real tension and drama. That's just what The Hunger Games should be.