News — Books and film
Sunrise on the Reaping Release Date: Movie, Books, Box Sets
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping opens in US theaters on 20 November, USA Today reports. Where to stream the 5 earlier films, and which book or box set to read first.
This guide is research-led: we have not handled these units ourselves. If you buy through our links we may earn a commission — it never changes a pick.Research-led, nothing handled. We may earn from links; it never changes a pick. How we choose
This page sets out when The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping reaches theaters, where to watch the earlier films, and the Suzanne Collins books to read before it. The 4 picks are ordered by how Amazon shoppers rate them, as How we choose describes, and the page is updated as the release firms up. Nothing here was handled or tested.
Sunrise on the Reaping (A Hunger Games Novel)
Good fit A fan who wants the story in full before 20 November
Not for A reader who has not read the original trilogy, whose ending it assumes
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (A Hunger Games Novel)
Good fit A reader who wants Snow's side before Haymitch's
Not for Anyone short of time before 20 November: it is not needed to follow the new film
Hunger Games 5-Book Hardcover Box Set
Good fit A teenager meeting the series for the first time at Christmas
Not for A household that already owns the trilogy
Hunger Games 5-Book Paperback Box Set
Good fit A reader who carries the book in a school bag
Not for A shelf gift, where the hardcovers look the part
In US theaters on 20 November, USA Today reports
The film opens in theaters on 20 November, USA Today reported on 14 November. Lionsgate’s official site says tickets are on sale now. Francis Lawrence directs, as he did 4 of the 5 earlier films, from a screenplay by Billy Ray and Michael Lesslie.
Lionsgate’s synopsis sets it 24 years before The Hunger Games, on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Games, the Second Quarter Quell. Joseph Zada plays the young Haymitch Abernathy, and USA Today reports Woody Harrelson returns as the older one.
All 5 earlier films stream on Peacock from 14 November
The 4 Katniss films and The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes arrived on Peacock on 14 November, 6 days before the new film opens, SuperHeroHype reported. A household that prefers to own the films can find the Hunger Games film collections on disc.
The novel is the quickest way into the story
Sunrise on the Reaping was published in 2025, and the film adapts it. It follows Haymitch, who is celebrating his 16th birthday on reaping day, through the 50th Games. USA Today points out that Mockingjay has already told how his story ends, so the book is the backstory to a fate a reader already knows.
Sunrise on the Reaping (A Hunger Games Novel)
Suzanne Collins's 2025 novel of Haymitch Abernathy's Games, the book the film adapts.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Series | The Hunger Games, prequel |
|---|---|
| Author | Suzanne Collins |
The book the film adapts, for a fan who wants it before 20 November.
Buy it if
- A fan who wants the story in full before 20 November
Don't buy it if
- A reader who has not read the original trilogy, whose ending it assumes
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the 2020 prequel, rewinds further, to a young Coriolanus Snow at the 10th Games. It is not needed to follow the new film. It suits the reader who wants Snow’s side of Panem first.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (A Hunger Games Novel)
The 2020 prequel about a young Coriolanus Snow and the 10th Hunger Games.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Series | The Hunger Games, prequel |
|---|---|
| Film | Released 2023 |
The first prequel, for Snow’s side of the story.
Buy it if
- A reader who wants Snow's side before Haymitch's
Don't buy it if
- Anyone short of time before 20 November: it is not needed to follow the new film
A 5-book box set is the Christmas gift
Both 5-book box sets hold the full series, from The Hunger Games to Sunrise on the Reaping. The hardcover set is the one to wrap for a teenager meeting Panem for the first time. The paperback set is a newer listing with few reviews yet, and lighter in a school bag. Stocking stuffers for teens and gifts for 13-year-olds carry more ideas for the same reader.
Hunger Games 5-Book Hardcover Box Set
All 5 novels in hardcover, from The Hunger Games to Sunrise on the Reaping.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Books | 5, hardcover |
|---|---|
| Includes | Sunrise on the Reaping |
All 5 novels in hardcover, the set to wrap.
Buy it if
- A teenager meeting the series for the first time at Christmas
Don't buy it if
- A household that already owns the trilogy
Hunger Games 5-Book Paperback Box Set
The same 5 novels in paperback, a newer listing with few reviews yet.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Books | 5, paperback |
|---|---|
| Includes | Sunrise on the Reaping |
The same 5 novels in paperback, for reading on the bus.
Buy it if
- A reader who carries the book in a school bag
Don't buy it if
- A shelf gift, where the hardcovers look the part
Amazon’s book and Audible offers run before Black Friday Week
IGN reported on 13 November that the paperback, the Collector’s Gift Edition and the 5-book paperback box set are in Amazon’s buy 2, get 1 free book sale. The standard hardcover is not, IGN says. It also reports an Audible offer of 3 discounted months for new and returning members, with 1 audiobook a month. Neither offer has a published end date, and IGN expects the book sale to close before Amazon’s Black Friday Week starts on 19 November. What actually drops on Black Friday covers the rest of the week.
Prices, savings and deal badges are Amazon's own, read from Amazon within the last hour. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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