Sunrise on the Reaping gets 3D release with Meta, VR glasses next
By Tanishq BhattEntertainment Writer, Peepals Global
Representative image: NikolayFrolochkin / Pixabay
Lionsgate and Meta said on 2 November 2026 that The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will play in 3D from its 20 November opening, then on Meta's VR glasses.
What Happened
Lionsgate and Meta announced on Monday, 2 November 2026, that The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will be released in 3D in cinemas when it opens on Friday, 20 November, and will later be available in 3D on Meta's VR glasses. The companies said it is the first time Meta has partnered with a Hollywood studio to convert a feature film into 3D to support its theatrical release. The visual effects studio DNEG worked on the 3D conversion. The VR glasses version will follow the cinema run, once the glasses launch in the spring.
Key Facts
- Film: The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, from Lionsgate, based on the novel of the same name.
- Theatrical release: Friday, 20 November 2026, with 3D screenings.
- Partner: Meta, in what the companies describe as its first deal with a Hollywood studio to convert a feature film to 3D for a cinema release.
- Conversion: carried out with DNEG, the Oscar-winning visual effects studio.
- Home viewing: after the cinema run, the film will be available in 3D on Meta's VR glasses, which are due to launch in the spring, which reports place in 2027.
- More titles: Lionsgate says further films and availability details will be announced later.
- Not announced: a date or price for the VR glasses version.
Why It Matters
This deal tries something new: a technology company paying for, or helping with, a 3D version of a major film so that it can later be watched on its own device. For Meta, a big franchise title in 3D gives people a reason to buy its VR glasses when they reach the market. For Lionsgate, it adds a premium format in cinemas and a new window after the theatrical run.
It also adds a new step between cinemas and home viewing. Here, a new window is being created for a specific device. If it works, other studios and device makers could sign similar deals, and viewers could see films offered in special formats tied to particular gadgets.
For audiences, including in India, the immediate question is where the 3D version will be shown. The companies' announcement concerns the 3D release and the later VR version; cinema chains in each country decide which formats they screen, so viewers should check local listings closer to the release date. The VR version will depend on whether and when Meta's glasses are sold in a given country.
Peepals timeline: Lionsgate and Meta announced the 3D partnership on Monday, 2 November 2026, 18 days before the film's cinema release on Friday, 20 November 2026. The film opens in cinemas in 3D on 20 November. After the theatrical run, it is due to come to Meta's VR glasses when they launch in the spring, a date the companies have not fixed. Lionsgate says it will name further titles later.
| Date | Step |
|---|---|
| 2 November 2026 | Lionsgate and Meta announce the 3D partnership |
| 20 November 2026 | Film opens in cinemas, with 3D screenings |
| Spring (reports say 2027) | 3D version due on Meta's VR glasses |
Impact
Short-term: Cinemas that screen the film in 3D get a premium format for a big franchise release, and fans get a choice of 2D or 3D.
Long-term: If the partnership draws viewers, more films could be converted to 3D for both cinemas and VR devices, and technology companies could become regular partners in film releases.
Who is affected: Hunger Games fans and cinema-goers; cinema chains with 3D screens; visual effects studios that do 3D conversion; and future buyers of Meta's VR glasses.
What to watch next: The cinema release on Friday, 20 November 2026, and Lionsgate's announcement of further titles for the partnership.
Key Takeaway
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will open in 3D on 20 November 2026 under a first-of-its-kind Lionsgate-Meta conversion deal, and will later come to Meta's VR glasses.
Questions and Answers
Is The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping releasing in 3D?
Yes. Lionsgate and Meta said on 2 November 2026 that the film will be shown in 3D in cinemas from its release on Friday, 20 November.
When does Sunrise on the Reaping release in theatres?
The film opens in cinemas on Friday, 20 November 2026.
Can I watch Sunrise on the Reaping in VR?
After its cinema run, the 3D version will be available on Meta's VR glasses once they launch in the spring. No date or price has been given.
Who converted the film to 3D?
The conversion was done with the visual effects studio DNEG, as part of Meta's partnership with Lionsgate.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Tanishq Bhatt, Entertainment WriterCovers Entertainment and more for Peepals Global. All stories by Tanishq Bhatt
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Tanishq Bhatt is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
