The Batman: 2022 streaming and Blu-ray UK release date, HBO Max - and Amazon Prime digital rental details

2022 had already been a good year for film fans, with releases of movies like Licorice Pizza and the new Scream reboot in the UK.

But things really kicked into high gear in March with the release of The Batman, which finally unveiled Robert Pattinson as The Caped Crusader.

The film quickly became one of the biggest blockbusters of 2022., but as screenings in cinemas become less frequent more than a month after its initial release, when can viewers in the UK expect to see it on streaming services?

Here is everything you need to know.

What happens in The Batman?

When a killer targets Gotham’s elite, a trail of cryptic clues sends Batman on an investigation, pursuing the Riddler.

He uncovers corruption that connects to his own family during the investigation, and is forced to make new allies - including with Catwoman - to catch the Riddler and bring the corrupt to justice.

As always with high-profile superhero movies, the exact details of the film’s plot are being kept under wraps, but we have had a few enticing clues.

In October 2020, a stunt double dressed as Batman was pictured on top of the Royal Liver Building in Liverpool, leaning off the famous landmark.

That same month, Robert Pattinson was seen filming a funeral scene as extras dressed as mourners also arrived in dark clothing carrying flowers.

Meanwhile, other extras were dressed as members of the Gotham City Police Department, with others appearing as protesters holding signs reading: “Lies, lies, lies” and: “Our day of judgement”.

Who’s in the cast?

The Warner Bros and DC Comics film, which is directed by Matt Reeves, will see British actor Robert Pattinson follow in the footsteps of Christian Bale, Val Kilmer, Michael Keaton, and George Clooney in playing the Dark Knight.

He takes over from Ben Affleck as a vengeful Bruce Wayne.

American actor Paul Dano, known for supporting roles in films including Prisoners and There Will Be Blood, will play criminal mastermind, the Riddler.

Dano is an actor, writer and director and has won critical acclaim for roles in films such as Little Miss Sunshine, 12 Years A Slave and Love & Mercy, in which he played Beach Boys singer Brian Wilson.

His version of the classic villain will be named Edward Nashton, who in the comics later goes by the name Edward Nygma.

Big Little Lies actress Zoe Kravitz will play Catwoman, and follows in the footsteps of actresses like Halle Berry and Michelle Pfeiffer, who have previously portrayed the character.

The film also stars Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth, and James Bond and Westworld star Jeffrey Wright as Gotham City’s police chief, Commissioner Gordon.

How long is the film?

The runtime of the film is a rather weighty two hours and 55 minutes.

That’s nearly three hours, so don’t fill up on fizzy drinks before you sit down to watch it.

When can I watch it?

Filming began in Glasgow in early 2020 but was halted due to the pandemic.

Filming resumed in September 2021, but Robert Pattinson reportedly tested positive for Covid-19 just days later, halting production once again.

After facing continuous delays due to the coronavirus pandemic, the highly anticipated reboot was released in cinemas on 4 March 2022.

The film was initially due for release in June 2021, but was then delayed to 1 October 2021.

When will The Batman be avaialable to stream?

The Batman was recently made available to stream in the US through HBO Max, at no extra cost to subscribers.

Unfortunately, HBO Max is not currently available for film fans in the UK.

It is possible to sign up for the service from Britain through a VPN, which changes your IP address to make it appear as if your computer is located in America.

You will also need a payment method linked to the US to be able to subscribe.

It’s quite a complicated process, so most fans will simply want to just wait until the film is available through a UK streaming service.

However, The Batman is available digitally in the UK, albeit you will have to pay extra for the priveledge of watching it.

As of 19 April, The Batman is now available to purchase and stream digitally in the UKas a ‘Home Premiere’ (also known as a Premium Rental) through Amazon’s Prime Video.

The cost, as of this writing, is £15.99, for either the 4K (UHD), Full HD or SD edition.

Once you start playing it, you will only have 48 hours to complete your watching. The film is also available on other services, such a Rakuten TV, Google Play Store and others.

When will it be released on Blu-ray?

As for the film’s Blu-ray and DVD release, UK release dates have not yet be confirmed, although the The Batman’s official home release in the US is set for 24 May.