The April HBO Max premiere date for current box office sensation The Batman has reportedly been revealed. After years of breathless anticipation and fervent online theorizing, The Batman arrived in theaters two weeks ago to a great deal of acclaim. Directed by Matt Reeves, the DC film stars Robert Pattinson as a Bruce Wayne that is far from the playboy persona fans are used to. The Batman takes place within Bruce's second year of attempting to rid Gotham of crime, though all he's seemed to achieve is more darkness. This is highlighted by the arrival of a masked serial killer (Paul Dano's the Riddler) who preys upon Gotham's prominent public figures.
In earning $134 million in its first weekend, The Batman notched the second-best opening since 2019. It has brought some welcome life back to movie theaters and currently stands at $252.5 million domestically. Not only is this a relief for exhibitors, but it's a big win for Warner Bros. The Batman is the studio's first movie since early 2020 to get an exclusive theatrical run; every single 2021 movie debuted day and date on HBO Max, which has become the premium home for the studio's biggest films.
Though it hasn't been officially announced, Deadline has reported the likely HBO Max debut date for The Batman. A technical issue on HBO's website temporarily revealed different premiere dates for the film, and it's said they are legitimate. Reportedly, The Batman will be available on HBO Max on Tuesday, April 19, and then it will premiere on HBO proper on Saturday, April 23.
Even without an official confirmation from HBO Max or Warner Bros., this planned date for The Batman makes sense. WB's current plan is to have its movies arrive on streaming 45 days after theaters, and the April 19 date is 46 days after The Batman's early March premiere. Still, expect HBO Max to really hype up The Batman's streaming premiere; even though the film is doing very well in theaters, it is also likely to pull in some excellent figures on HBO Max. Anyone still wary of movie theaters can finally seek it out, and others who didn't want to shell out money for another ticket (particularly at AMC, where prices are higher for The Batman) can finally rewatch it whenever they wish.
Before the pandemic, a movie as big and financially successful as The Batman would never be available at home just over one month after arriving in theaters. However, the entertainment industry has been forced to adjust to the situation, and streaming truly has been a great way to expand audiences for certain movies. The Batman still has plenty of time to drum up even more money, particularly since the next comparable competition is Morbius on April 1. Therefore, an HBO Max premiere in only a few weeks can only be seen as a good thing.
Source: Deadline
