After several pandemic-related release delays, a few production shutdowns in the wake of the coronavirus and several action-packed trailers promising big stunts and big brooding, The Batman movie is finally here. It’s been one heck of a wait, especially since the Robert Pattinson-starring project has been in the works for years now.
Finally, fans of the Dark Knight and his impressive array of crime-fighting tools no longer have to count down the days until The Batman is ready for general consumption.
Because today’s the day, folks. The Batman is out now.
Pattinson has emerged in recent years as one of the most interesting and talented actors of his generation, and the SPY team is very excited to see his take on the “world’s greatest detective,” as Batman is sometimes known. Keep reading for all the details on how to watch The Batman online and in movie theaters.
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When Can I Watch The Batman in Theaters?
The movie was originally supposed to hit theatres in June 2021. Then, because of fears surrounding the coronavirus, the film was pushed back to October 2021 before it was delayed yet again.
Now, The Batman has officially flown into theatres. The movie debuted in U.S. movie theaters on Friday, March 4.
If you want to watch The Batman in theaters during its opening weekend, then we highly recommend buying tickets online in advance. Speaking of, tickets have been on sale since Feb. 10, so truly — you might want to get on that. You’re already late!
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Can I Watch The Batman Online?
Yes, but not today.
Although WarnerMedia debuted all of its original movies on HBO Max last year on the same day and date as the theatrical releases, this year it’s trying something new. So if The Batman had stuck to its original release date, in all likelihood, you could have caught it at home.
However, in 2022, big-ticket flicks like The Batman won’t drop on the streaming service until 45 days after their theatrical release.
For those who aren’t great at doing math in their heads, that means The Batman debuts on HBO Max on April 19 and HBO on April 23.
“Think about when movies would show up on HBO, which is eight to nine months after the theatrical premiere,” WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar revealed on a podcast recently. “The Batman is going to show up on Day 46 on HBO Max. That is a huge change from where things were in 2018, 2017, 2016.”
If you want to wait and catch The Batman in your own home theater, you’ll need a subscription to HBO Max. Plans start at $9.99 per month (or $99.99 per year) for an ad-based subscription, or $14.99 per month (or $149.99 per year) for an ad-free subscription.
Watch The Batman Trailers
There are several trailers. First up was the DC Fandom teaser, set—fittingly—to Nirvana’s “Something In The Way.”
Since then the film has dropped two full trailers, as well as an intense funeral scene:
How Long is The Batman?
The movie’s runtime is a whopping two hours and 27 minutes, so plan your bathroom breaks accordingly. That makes The Batman the longest Batman film ever, not to mention the third-longest superhero film of all time.
Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame clocked in at three hours and one minute, while Zack Snyder’s Justice League is the official longest superhero film at four hours and two minutes.
What Is The Batman About?
According to the official logline, this flick is all about Batman’s fight to take down the Riddler:
“In his second year of fighting crime, Batman uncovers corruption in Gotham City that connects to his own family while facing a serial killer known as the Riddler. Robert Pattinson delivers a raw, intense portrayal of Batman as a disillusioned, desperate vigilante awakened by the realization that the anger consuming him makes him no better than the ruthless serial killer he’s hunting.”
Who Directs The Batman?
Matt Reeves, the guy behind movies like Cloverfield, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes, directs The Batman. He also co-wrote the movie with Peter Craig and Bob Kane.
In an interview with Empire, Reeves admitted when he was crafting this iteration of Bruce Wayne, he had Pattinson in mind after seeing him in the 2017 Safdie brothers movie Good Time. He was also heavily influenced by Kurt Cobain and Nirvana’s “Something In The Way.”
“That’s when it came to me that, rather than make Bruce Wayne the playboy version we’ve seen before, there’s another version who had gone through a great tragedy and become a recluse,” he said. “In [Good Time], you could really feel [Pattinson’s] vulnerability and desperation, but you could also feel his power,” the director added. “I thought that was a great mix. He’s also got that Kurt Cobain thing, where he looks like a rock star, but you also feel like he could be a recluse.”
Who Stars in The Batman?
Aside from Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz is a big draw as Selina Kyle, a.k.a. Catwoman. Colin Farrell is unrecognizable as Oswald Cobblepot (The Penguin), and Paul Dano is creepy as heck as Edward Nashton (The Riddler). Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Peter Sarsgaard and Andy Serkis round out the principal cast.
• Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne / Batman
• Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle / Catwoman
• Paul Dano as Edward Nashton / Riddler
• Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon
• John Turturro as Carmine Falcone
• Peter Sarsgaard as Gil Colson
• Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth
• Colin Farrell as Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot / Penguin
Are There Any The Batman Spin-Offs in the Works?
Actually, yes. Colin Farrell has signed on to star and executive produce a The Batman spinoff series revolving around his Penguin character. So far the potential HBO Max series is still in the early development stages, but according to Variety Lauren LeFranc will write the script and Matt Reeves will produce.
That isn’t the only project in the works, either. HBO Max has also ordered a drama revolving around the Gotham City Police Department, with Joe Barton (Invasion, The Ritual) on board as the showrunner. If things work out the way the Powers That Be hope, these projects could all be a part of a much larger Batman universe, much like the MCU is over at Disney.
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