The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will be released in 3D when it arrives in cinemas later this month, following a newly announced partnership between Lionsgate and Meta. The companies are also planning to bring the film to Meta’s upcoming VR glasses in 2027, giving audiences another way to experience the latest chapter in Panem after its theatrical run.
The collaboration, announced on Monday, November 2, marks the first time Meta has partnered with a Hollywood studio to convert a feature film into 3D for its cinema debut. Director Francis Lawrence worked with Oscar-winning visual effects studio DNEG on the conversion, with the aim of placing audiences closer to the action as a young Haymitch Abernathy enters the arena for the 50th Hunger Games.
Will ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ Be In 3D In UK Cinemas?
Yes. The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has classified a 3D version of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping for UK cinema exhibition, alongside separate 2D and 2D IMAX versions. The 3D classification was recorded on October 28, although which formats are offered will depend on individual cinemas and their screening schedules.
UK tickets are already on sale ahead of the film’s general release on Friday, November 20, with some venues offering advance showings from Wednesday, November 18. Popped has a separate guide to UK tickets, IMAX screenings and early showings, which is worth checking before booking. The new 3D announcement does not mean every IMAX screening will necessarily be shown in 3D.
How Will ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ Be Available In 3D At Home?
Following its cinema release, Lionsgate and Meta intend to make the film available in 3D on Meta VR Glasses, a new device scheduled to launch in spring 2027. The companies say the glasses will feature a 5K Infinite Display, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos spatial audio and IMAX Enhanced support. This is a separate home-viewing experience and should not be confused with a confirmed release on an ordinary subscription streaming service.
No exact release date for the film’s VR version has been announced, and the companies have not yet detailed how it will be purchased or accessed on the device. They have also indicated that further Lionsgate titles and availability information will be revealed later. For now, the confirmed development is the theatrical 3D conversion and the plan for a subsequent Meta VR release.
When Is ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ Released?
Based on the novel by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping follows a 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy, played by Joseph Zada, as he is selected for the Second Quarter Quell, a particularly brutal edition of the Games featuring twice the usual number of tributes. The film is set 24 years before the original The Hunger Games and features Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, alongside Ralph Fiennes, Jesse Plemons, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin and Elle Fanning.
The film opens in UK and US cinemas on Friday, November 20, 2026, with selected UK preview screenings beginning earlier that week. Viewers should check local listings for the 3D, standard and IMAX formats available at their chosen cinema.
