The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping Leaves All The Critics Stunned

"The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping" doesn't come out until November 20, but the hype train has already left the station. A select few have now seen the movie, and those lucky critics have heaped a cornucopia's worth of praise onto the new film. You can watch Looper's video above for some of the best reactions out there so far, but Looper's own Nina Starner took to X to write, "Casting is phenomenal (Joseph Zada couldn't be better), it looks and feels terrifyingly real, and it bridges the gap perfectly between the original stories and Ballad."

"Sunrise on the Reaping" serving as a bridge to other Hunger Games installments is a result of the film taking place during the second quarter quell, marking the 50th anniversary of the games when Haymitch Abernathy (Zada) became the victor. We see how the seeds of rebellion were planted long ago and witness the beginning of Haymitch's deterioration to show how he got to where he is in the first "Hunger Games."

Those themes of rebellion are echoed in Griffin Schiller's reaction: "Sunrise on the Reaping is the 'Rogue One'/'Andor' of the franchise. A sobering, yet powerful story of devastating loss and the necessary cost of rebellion for a sunrise we may never see." The Hunger Games series has always been political, but it sounds like "Sunrise on the Reaping" goes all in on those themes, offering a prequel that shows how true change takes a while but is worth it.

As a prequel, there was always a fear that Joseph Zada may stand in Woody Harrelson's shadow too much, but he makes Haymitch his own in "Sunrise on the Reaping." There are 41 characters of note in "Sunrise on the Reaping," and the film recasts younger versions of many of them. Critics have noted how most of them shine. Collider's Perri Nemiroff notes, "Kelvin Harrison Jr. is too good following in Jeffrey Wright's footsteps, and Jesse Plemons makes the complexity of Plutarch's situation a standout."

There is one familiar face returning to the Hunger Games franchise, albeit it's behind the camera. Director Francis Lawrence returns to helm "Sunrise on the Reaping," and Next Best Picture's Matt Neglia was amazed at how Lawrence manages to keep this franchise fresh. "I'm continually blown away by how Francis Lawrence continues to find more layers in this familiar structure thematically and stylistically as the production and costume design continue to be dazzling highlights."

Of course, all of this praise is thanks to the book, which Looper ranked as the second best Hunger Games book in the series. There are plenty of juicy themes and characterizations to dive into, so it's no surprise to see some critics, like Rachel Leishman, call it "the best of the entire franchise and that's saying something because these films have always been brilliant."

All of these words will surely only increase the anticipation Hunger Games fans are feeling, but they'll have to hold out a little longer until the film releases in theaters on November 20. For now, you can watch Looper's video above to see what else critics have to say.