The Batman from helmer Matt Reeves certainly falls in the must-watch category of films in 2022 and thanks to Warner Bros. release strategy, the DC film will be available to stream on HBO Max as well after the film’s brief theatrical run. Though, the movie won’t be released on the scheduled worldwide release date on OTT, unlike The Suicide Squad, which debuted simultaneously in theatres and on streaming services.
Earlier this year, due to the ongoing pandemic, WarnerMedia adopted a hybrid release strategy to release all of its 2021 titles in theatres as well as on HBO Max on the same day. Over 17 blockbuster titles from Godzilla vs. Kong to the recently released The Matrix Resurrections have streamed on HBO Max on its scheduled theatre release. But in October, WarnerMedia assured that their films will go back to being theatre exclusive at least for a period of 45 days.
Fortunately, WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar has stood by those words and reaffirmed the studios’ decision stating in an interview with Vox’s Recode:
“Think about when movies would show up on HBO, which is eight to nine months after theatrical premiere. The Batman is going to show up on day 46 on HBO Max,” Kilar said. “That is a huge change from where things were in 2018, 2017, 2016.”
Warner Bros. DC films like The Batman confirmed to release on HBO Max after 45 day theater exclusive window
The Batman will be available to watch on HBO Max on April 19, 2022 – that’s on the 46th day after its exclusive theater window. Kilar further added that upcoming DC titles such as the Dwayne Johnson starrer’s Black Adam and The Flash from director Andy Muschietti will all hit HBO Max after its six-week theatre run.
“I feel really, really good knowing that The Batman, and Black Adam, and The Flash, and Elvis, and a whole host of other movies, are literally going to be showing up on day 46 on HBO Max in a variety of territories all over the world,” he said. “That is a very, very big change that I don’t think people appreciate, and I feel really good about it.”
It will be interesting to see what strategy WarnerMedia has planned for the film’s international release. Recently, The Suicide Squad directed by James Gunn found a home on Amazon Prime in India, Wonder Woman 1984 is also available to stream on the same platform.
