The Hunger Games Returns
All Five Hunger Games Films to Rerelease in Theaters This September Before New Prequel
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Key Points
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Sunrise on the Reaping is set 24 years before the original Hunger Games, during the 50th Hunger Games (the Second Quarter Quell), following a young Haymitch Abernathy.
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The Sunrise on the Reaping cast includes Joseph Zada as Haymitch, with Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Ralph Fiennes, Elle Fanning, Kieran Culkin, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor, Ben Wang and Molly McCann in supporting roles.
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Glenn Close is part of Sunrise on the Reaping's cast, expanding the prequel's ensemble alongside the previously announced names.
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Promotional material for the rerelease carries the tagline Five films you'll always remember, back in theaters this September as part of the rollout.
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The September rerelease is a collaboration between Lionsgate and Fathom Events to bring all five Hunger Games films back to theaters.
All five Hunger Games films are heading back to the big screen this September, just months before the franchise's next chapter arrives. Variety reports that Lionsgate and Fathom Events will screen the complete saga from September 3 to 7, 2026, ahead of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, which hits theaters on November 20.
The five-film run carries the tagline "Five films you'll always remember, back in theaters this September." Nerdist notes this marks the first time the complete saga has been brought back to theaters in a single event before a new chapter in the franchise.
Five Films, Five Days, One September Event
The rerelease spans five consecutive days, with each film getting its own dedicated screening. The lineup covers The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay Part 1, Mockingjay Part 2, and The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. Reactor Magazine confirms the event runs from September 3 through September 7, 2026.
Lionsgate has not yet announced specific ticket details or exact theater locations. Just Jared reports that more information will be released in the coming weeks. The event gives fans nearly two months to revisit the full story before Sunrise on the Reaping opens in late November.
Sunrise on the Reaping Takes Haymitch Back to the 50th Games
The new film is set 24 years before the original Hunger Games. It follows a young Haymitch Abernathy during the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell. That edition of the Games was particularly brutal, requiring twice the usual number of tributes from each district.
Joseph Zada plays the young Haymitch in the prequel. Head Topics reports the cast also includes Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Ralph Fiennes, Elle Fanning, Kieran Culkin, Maya Hawke, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Lili Taylor, Ben Wang, Molly McCann, and Glenn Close. Francis Lawrence, who directed Catching Fire and both Mockingjay films, returns to direct.
Franchise Rereleases Are a Growing Hollywood Strategy
Bringing back older films before a new entry is a trend gaining steam in Hollywood. Studios use it to remind fans why they love a franchise and to pull in newer audiences who missed the originals. A full five-film theatrical run is a bigger bet than a simple single-movie rerelease.
The Hunger Games series has earned well over $2.9 billion worldwide across its first four films. Variety notes the September event includes a sneak peek at Sunrise on the Reaping, giving audiences a first look at the new film before its November 20 opening weekend.
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