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Sunrise on the Reaping Presales Surge Past Wicked
6 Nov
Summary
- Sunrise on the Reaping presales significantly exceed those of Wicked.
- Advance tickets are the best post-Covid for any Lionsgate title.
- The film is projected to open to over $100 million at the box office.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is generating significant excitement, with its presales now well ahead of Universal's Wicked. These advance ticket sales represent the strongest performance Lionsgate has seen for any film since the Covid-19 pandemic. Prediction platforms and distribution sources suggest a potential opening weekend north of $100 million for the film based on Suzanne Collins' 2025 novel.
While past performance isn't always a direct indicator, the floor for the prequel, directed by Francis Lawrence, is now estimated at over $80 million. This strong showing positions Sunrise on the Reaping favorably for the Thanksgiving box office, where it faces less competition from other major blockbusters. The film's ensemble cast includes Jesse Plemons, Elle Fanning, and Mckenna Grace.
Notably, 2024's predecessor, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, is no longer considered a direct comparison for presales due to the actors' strike and a less popular source novel. Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes opened to $44.6 million domestically, marking the lowest in the franchise but achieving a strong 3.7x multiple for a final domestic gross of $166.3 million.
