Who volunteers? Volunteers to watch 12 hours of Hunger Games movies?
All five films in the survival thriller franchise are being offered for free — well, ad-supported — for on-demand streaming together for the first time.
Fandango and Lionsgate announced Thursday that the films will be on Fandango’s free streaming app, Fandango at Home, starting Friday through Oct. 31 (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 is released in theaters Nov. 20.
The 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 collectively grossed $3.3 billion at the global box office.
The films will be presented, Fandango assures, with “limited commercials.”
“This first-of-its-kind takeover demonstrates how Fandango can help studios engage audiences across the full entertainment journey – from rediscovering the films they love at home to building excitement for the next chapter of The Hunger Games franchise on the big screen,” said Will McIntosh, president, digital platforms & ventures, Versant. “We’re thrilled to partner with Lionsgate to give audiences a premium, immersive way to revisit this iconic franchise for free before seeing the new release in theatres.”
The new film, adapted from Hunger Games author Suzanne Collins’ novel of the same name, centers on fan favorite Haymitch (portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the previous Hunger Games films; played by Joseph Zada here), who later acted 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, starting on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.
The story “follows Haymitch into the arena, where he forms an unlikely alliance with fellow tribute Maysilee Donner (Mckenna Grace) and joins a coalition determined to challenge the Capitol’s control under President Snow (Ralph Fiennes). As the competition unfolds, Haymitch risks everything to take down the Games from within the arena — setting in motion the rebellion that will change Panem forever,” according to the synopsis.