All five "Hunger Games" films will be available for free streaming for the first time
Fandango at Home, with ad support, is set to offer all previous "Hunger Games" films ahead of "The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping."
Who volunteers? Are you willing to watch 12 hours of the Hunger Games movie?
All five films in the survival thriller series are available for free – ad-supported – to stream on demand for the first time.
Fandango and Lionsgate announced Thursday that the films will be available Friday through Oct. 31 on Fandango's free streaming program, Fandango at Home (they were previously available as a linear stream on an LG pop-up channel).
The idea is to drive interest and ticket sales to the upcoming The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, which opens in theaters on November 20.
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This lineup includes The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. The franchise has grossed a total of $3.3 billion at the global box office.
Fandango assures that the videos will be served with "limited advertising".
"This first-of-its-kind acquisition demonstrates how Fandango can help studios engage audiences on the complete entertainment journey – from rediscovering the movies they love at home to building excitement for the next season of The Hunger Games franchise on the big screen," said Will McIntosh, head of digital platforms and investments, Versant. "We are thrilled to partner with Lionsgate to offer audiences a premium, immersive way to experience this iconic franchise for free before seeing the new release in theaters.
Adapted from the novel by Hunger Games author Suzanne Collins, the new film focuses on fan-favorite Haymitch (played by Woody Harrelson in the previous Hunger Games movies; played by Joseph Zada here), who later serves as a mentor in The Hunger Games to heroine Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence). The film revisits the world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, beginning on the morning of the 50th season of The Hunger Games, also known as the second quarter.
The story follows Haymitch into the arena, where he forms an unlikely alliance with Missy Donner (McNa Grace) and joins a coalition determined to challenge President Snow's (Ralph Fiennes) control of Congress. As the rivalry unfolds, Haymitch risks everything to take the Games out of the arena—starting a rebellion that will change Panem forever."