Rob Zombie's rebirth of the classic television series crawls out of the streaming grave for a
Blu-ray release on September 27th.

Ever since this project was announced there has been a lot of controversy about Rob Zombie's The Munsters. While Zombie fans have hoped for the best, fans of the classic television series The Munsters have been bracing for the worst. After the less than enthusiastic reaction to the first trailer and news the film would be streaming exclusively on Netflix without word of a theatrical outing and news that the film has moved streaming services from its original home at Peacock to Netflix, the wind is not in this film's favor - to say the least.

[Correction]
Rob Zombie has taken to various social media platforms to correct the rumor that The Munsters was going to originally premier on Peacock and was sold off to Netflix. Apparently, it was always going to be on Netflix from the very beginning. The assumption that the film would be on Peacock came from the observation that since the film was funded by Universal Studios who owns Peacock and the original television series The Munsters is streaming on said service - so would the new movie. 

As a fan of House of a Thousand Corpses, The Devil's Rejects, and some aspects of his Halloween films, I keep rooting for Zombie to score a hit and prove he's a worthwhile filmmaker. I am going into this film cautiously with expectations set pretty low. I'm hoping to be surprised. I want to be surprised. But even after this new trailer that does actually look somewhat better, I still can't muster up a lot of excitement. 

Here's what's coming in the Blu-ray:

Rob Zombie's The Munsters - Blu-ray

EXCLUSIVE BONUS FEATURES ON BLU-RAY:

• The Munsters: Return To Mockingbird Lane – From the mind of Rob Zombie, this hour-long look behind the scenes of The Munsters gives an intimate window into his filmmaking process. Watch as he weaves his way through the production and collaborates with a dedicated team to bring his unique vision to life.
• Feature Commentary With Director/Writer/Producer Rob Zombie

TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAY:
Street Date: September 27, 2022
Selection Number: 1000818724 (US) /1000818724 (CDN)
Layers: BD 50
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 1.78:1 Widescreen
Rating: PG for macabre and suggestive material, scary images, and language
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, French European, Latin American Spanish
Sound: Feature in English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Latin American Spanish DTS Digital Surround 5.1 and bonus in English Dolby Digital 2.0
Run Time: 01:49:37

If you don't want to wait to stream The Munsters on Netflix before you purchase - the Blu-ray is now up for pre-order! 

A chase across the face of Mount Rushmore. A massive flock of vicious birds perched upon a playground jungle gym poised for attack. A frantic pursuit to the top of the Statue of Liberty. A crazed, knife-wielding maniac ripping open a shower curtain. A wheelchair-bound man with a broken leg peering into the rear windows of his tenement neighbors through a camera’s telephoto lens. A woman clutching the key to a notorious wine cellar where Nazi secrets may be hidden. An assassin escaping a rain-soaked murder scene amid a sea of jostling umbrellas. A merry-go-round kicked into high gear that spins off its axis while terrified fair-goers flee. A desperate man chasing the object of his desire up the narrow staircase of a church bell tower while battling the debilitating symptoms of vertigo. These are just a handful of iconic images crafted by the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock.

Elegant and sophisticated, clever and witty, yet always accessible and relatable, Hitchcock fashioned countless thrillers over the course of a career that spanned six decades. He chronicled espionage, murder, blackmail, psychosis, obsession, political intrigue, and bizarre phenomena all while pushing the cinematic envelope with innovative sight and sound techniques that enhance his arresting style. Sensual romances, risqué innuendoes, and dark yearnings also pepper his films. Along with his trademark MacGuffins, such titillations are essential distractions that add to the fun and make his stories more human. Sexual tension complements the other myriad tensions coursing through Hitchcock’s pictures and it’s often just as delectable as the nail-biting moments that make us squirm.

Since I joined the High-Def Digest staff in 2009, I’ve reviewed 27 Hitchcock movies for the site. That’s about half of the legendary director’s feature film output. While a few Hitchcock pictures have yet to make their Blu-ray debut (Sabotage, Secret Agent, Young and Innocent, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith chief among them), we’re blessed to have the bulk of Hitchcock's cinematic canon in high definition, as well as nine movies in 4K UHD, and one title in its native 3D. Not all of them are classics, but even Hitchcock’s misfires have merits and are just as fascinating to watch, assess, and analyze as his more renowned works.

The following list, though, isn’t about Hitchcock's failures, also-rans, guilty pleasures, and undiscovered gems. It’s about the crème-de-la-crème of Hitchcock in the home video realm. Below you’ll find a few quick takes on the best looking and the best sounding Hitchcock thrillers in 1080p and 2160p. First and foremost, this is an HD and 4K UHD list. If one of your favorite Hitchcock masterworks didn't make the cut, it's not because it isn't worthy artistically; it's because another Hitchcock masterwork boasts better picture and audio quality...at least to my eyes and ears. I've only singled out five movies, but all of them define this brilliant craftsman who not only produced some of the most exciting and entertaining motion pictures of all time, but also advanced the medium’s artistry through his creatIve vision and fluency in the nuanced language of film.

Hitchcock once said, “For me, cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake.”

Let’s sample five of this master baker’s most delicious creations that look good enough to eat…and sound great, too.

Best All-Around 4K UHD Hitchcock Release: VERTIGO (1958) 

"Beauty, at least in this film, is only skin deep, and Hitchcock takes that adage and runs with it..."

When I reviewed the first 4K UHD Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection in 2020, I called Vertigo “the crown jewel” of the set, and it remains the most breathtaking home video presentation of a Hitchcock film to date. The movie itself isn’t bad either. Vertigo may not rank as my favorite Hitchcock film (although it’s definitely up there), but I believe it to be the director’s finest. A masterpiece of mood, mystery, and slow-burn suspense, Vertigo casts a mesmerizing spell, and its equally hypnotic HDR10 transfer faithfully renders Robert Burks’ lush, colorful VistaVision cinematography that - believe it or not - is even more gorgeous than Kim Novak herself.

As I wrote in my review, “Provocative themes, shocking twists and turns, impeccable craftsmanship, inventive imagery, finely etched performances, overarching lyricism, and tension that grows ever tauter as the narrative progresses...all those key components of Hitchcock's best works are here. Vertigo, though, ramps them up to the same dizzying heights that force retired police detective John "Scottie" Ferguson (James Stewart) to succumb to the title affliction. Like Scottie, viewers often feel a bit disoriented and imbalanced while watching Vertigo, and that's part of the film's allure, along with the obligatory icy Hitchcock Blonde (portrayed by an aloof, enigmatic, and magnetic Kim Novak), who achieves mythic status in this defining production.” 

The particulars of the plot, as intriguing as they may be, really don’t matter. The disturbing underlying themes are what fuel the Vertigo narrative and Hitchcock’s stylish, often brash presentation. Beauty, at least in this film, is only skin deep, and Hitchcock takes that adage and runs with it, crafting serene, seductive, picture-perfect images that hide the deceptions and nefarious motives lurking underneath. Obsession, transformation, guilt, and burning desire swirl around this noir-ish tale of a damaged detective who falls down a rabbit hole after agreeing to tail a rich man’s mentally unbalanced wife. Hitchcock pulls out all the stops in this operatic opus that features stunning San Francisco locations, striking photographic effects, and a memorable chase up the steep steps of a claustrophobic church bell tower.

The video transfer has to be seen to be believed. Eye-popping color, seamless special effects, razor-sharp close-ups, and a glorious film-like feel are just a few of its joys, and though the DTS:X audio track won’t blow the roof off your house, it deftly honors this quiet film and Bernard Herrmann’s marvelous score. A bunch of great extras also enhance the disc, which is now available as a stand-alone release in both standard and steelbook packaging. I said it in 2020 and I’ll say it again: “Vertigo is one heady movie, and as Hitchcock spins his tangled yarn, he makes us dizzy...with delight.”

Best All-Around Blu-ray Hitchcock Release: NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)

"The quintessential chase film, a blueprint for the modern action epic..."

If I had to pick one Hitchcock flick that completely defines the director and reflects everything he has brought to the cinematic table over the course of his illustrious career, it would have to be North by Northwest. No contest, no discussion, a no-brainer. Other Hitchcock films may have more cachet, more notoriety, more gravitas, but this breathlessly paced, consistently thrilling concoction is hands-down the most fun. 

So many memorable elements… Of course, tanned, debonair Cary Grant rushing into a desolate Indiana cornfield to evade a deadly crop-dusting plane intent on gunning him down tops the list, but the climactic chase across the treacherous face of Mount Rushmore - as preposterous as it is - ranks a close second. Then there’s the crackling sexual chemistry and titillating banter between Grant and the Hitchcock blonde du jour Eva Marie Saint, whose duplicitous portrayal drips with icy-hot allure; the suave villainy of the mellifluous James Mason; Martin Landau as a silent, hulking henchman; Bernard Herrmann’s dramatic and playful score... The list goes on and on.

As I wrote in my original review 13 years ago, “When screenwriter Ernest Lehman first began collaborating with the Master of Suspense, he aspired to create ‘the Hitchcock picture to end all Hitchcock pictures,’ and many would agree North by Northwest is just that. The quintessential chase film, a blueprint for the modern action epic, and Hitchcock's personal homage to himself, this captivating transcontinental pursuit smoothly combines suspense, thrills, comedy, romance, and intrigue, and presents them with all the elegant artistry and brash innovation that has made Hitchcock one of cinema's most esteemed and admired directors.” Though I love many Hitchcock films for many different reasons, I would definitely choose North by Northwest as my desert island Hitchcock flick.

The fine grain structure, bold colors, and enhanced clarity of VistaVision make North by Northwest a Blu-ray natural, and Warner Home Video’s splashy restoration maximizes the impact of the process’ myriad attributes. The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio track immerses us in all the action (the bass boom when the crop-dusting plane hits the tanker truck is thunderous), and a sizable supplemental package sweetens the deal. The beautiful 50th Anniversary digibook edition is still available (albeit with a hefty price tag), but there’s also a disc-only release that fits everyone’s budget.

Best Black-and-White 4K UHD Hitchcock Release: PSYCHO (1960) 

"Often imitated but never equaled, Psycho remains a crazy-good chiller that never loses its edge..."

The shower. The stairs. The fruit cellar. Mother. Psycho is without a doubt Hitchcock’s most famous - and frightening - film, a low-budget tour de force that flipped the thriller genre on its ear and spawned the modern slasher flick. What starts as a brooding, atmospheric portrait of a woman on the run takes a hairpin turn the moment Janet Leigh steps into the shower, turns on the water, and confronts her wigged (and wigged-out) knife-wielding assailant. Psycho shocked audiences when it premiered in 1960, and though it’s tame when compared to the gory horror fare of today, it can still scare the bejesus out of you.

Especially in 4K UHD. Though John L. Russell’s gritty, naturalistic black-and-white cinematography doesn’t scream 2160p splendor, the terrific clarity and contrast of the HDR10 transfer makes Psycho more immersive and creepy than ever before, while remaining true to the film’s modest roots. Add a dynamite DTS:X track that makes full use of all the speakers during the torrential rain scenes and heightens the impact of Bernard Herrmann’s deliciously screechy score, and you’ve got the definitive home video presentation of this Hitchcock masterwork. A few snippets of cut footage add extra appeal to this release that includes all the supplements from the 50th anniversary Blu-ray edition. Like Vertigo, Psycho is also available in both stand-alone and steelbook editions.

As I wrote in my 2020 review, “Psycho is remembered as a physically violent film, marked by brutal slayings in the shower and on the stairs, and for its climactic chamber of horrors twist. Yet those three scenes comprise less than three minutes of the picture's 109-minute running time and feature surprisingly little gore. (Hitchcock's genius lies in his ability to make us think we see more than we actually do.) Sure, they leave an indelible impression, but they can't quite overshadow the more intriguing and complex psychological studies of both Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) and Marion Crane (Leigh), whose paths coincidentally and fatefully cross one dark and stormy night. That's where the true allure of Psycho lies, and Hitchcock expertly develops those characters so we identify and empathize with them. He also sprinkles in some welcome bits of ghoulish humor to take the edge off, and frames it all with his patented visual artistry. A close-up of an eye peering through a hole in the wall, reflections representing duality and duplicity, high and low angle shots altering perspective and enhancing a sense of unease…Hitchcock delicately and seamlessly weaves them into his fabric so we're only marginally aware of his technique.” 

Perkins had as much trouble shedding the skin of Norman Bates as Norman had freeing himself from his domineering mother, but that’s only because his finely etched, nuanced portrayal is so riveting. Though he would allow Norman to consume him later in his career in a series of entertaining - if misguided - sequels, Perkins could never top his original performance, which was criminally denied a Best Actor Oscar nomination. Leigh, who reportedly never took a shower again after she completed her scenes, got a well-deserved Best Supporting Actress nod for her terrific work, which stands the test of time and becomes more fascinating and dimensional each time I see the film.

Often imitated but never equaled, Psycho remains a crazy-good chiller that never loses its edge, no matter how often we revisit it. As I wrote in 2020, it’s “unique among Hitchcock films in its tone, execution, and look…[and] it's a movie to watch, enjoy, study, and scrutinize over and over again.”

Best Black-and-White Blu-ray Hitchcock Release: NOTORIOUS (1946) (Criterion) 

"...a climax that ranks among the most memorable - and quietest - in Hitchcock history."

I love the Hitchcock blondes, but there’s a reason the Master of Suspense cast the brunette Ingrid Bergman in three of his films over a four-year period in the late 1940s. Aside from her breathtaking beauty (always an important attribute to Hitchcock), Bergman is a great actress. I’d even go so far as to say she’s the best actress Hitchcock worked with during his long career. Grace Kelly and Tippi Hedren may be the Hitchcock poster girls, but Bergman brings heart and soul, flesh and blood, and sweat and tears to her Hitchcock heroines. In Hitch’s artificial world of action, intrigue, and murder, she’s often the one real element.

Bergman could play anything - good girl, bad girl, saint, seductress, victim, patriot - and she plays them all in Notorious, one of Hitchcock’s most fully realized, suspenseful, and elegantly crafted motion pictures. Vertigo may be Hitchcock’s most hypnotic film, Psycho may be the scariest, North by Northwest the most action-packed, but Notorious just might be the most perfect of all Hitchcock productions. Edgy, romantic, taut, sexy, substantive, and brimming with artistry and lyricism, Notorious grabs you from the first frame and holds you until that brilliant humdinger of an ending.

Cary Grant, who never looked more dashing or filed a more surly performance, portrays Devlin, a cynical government agent who enlists the services of Alicia Huberman (Bergman), the “notorious” daughter of a convicted Nazi spy, to go undercover and expose a ring of exiled Nazi conspirators in Rio de Janeiro. The plot sounds straightforward, but Ben Hecht’s literate, Oscar-nominated script focuses on the tangled relationships and myriad psychological conflicts that add complexity and spice to the story. Love vs. duty is a central theme, and issues of trust, jealousy, guilt, manipulation, and self-loathing - as well as a fascinating Oedipal relationship - fuel the film, but there’s plenty of agonizing tension, crackling sexual chemistry, and illicit deeds, too. 

Hitchcock delivers one dynamite scene after another. In addition to the justifiably famous, lengthy zoom shot that begins on the second floor of a mansion and ends on an extreme close-up of Bergman’s hand fidgeting with a key, there’s the breathlessly tense wine cellar sequence, a telephone conversation that’s gotta be one of the sexiest things I’ve ever seen on screen, several disorienting camera angles, and a climax that ranks among the most memorable - and quietest - in Hitchcock history. All that plus Grant, Bergman, the Oscar-nominated supporting work of the marvelous Claude Rains (it’s such a shame Hitchcock didn’t use him in any of his other pictures), and a virtuoso turn by Madame Konstantin, the film’s Machiavellian Madame Defarge.

Criterion’s 2019 Blu-ray outclasses the previous 2012 MGM release with a beautiful 4K restoration that’s largely drawn from the original camera negative, strong audio, and a bunch of fascinating supplements. Until we get a 4K UHD edition, this is the definitive presentation of Notorious, which in 2019 I called “a stirring, absorbing, emotionally involving, and artistically satisfying film that hits all the right notes - a symphony of suspense, if you will, conducted with nuance and gusto by the genre's most accomplished maestro.” Bravo, Hitch!

Best Blu-ray Release of a British Hitchcock Film: THE LADY VANISHES (1938)

"The Lady Vanishes is a prime example of lean, focused moviemaking."

There’s no denying Hitchcock made his best pictures in Hollywood, but the formative and largely admirable films he produced across the pond in his native Great Britain merit attention, too. Such exciting, engrossing, and innovative thrillers as the original The Man Who Knew Too Much (which I prefer to the bloated 1956 remake), The 39 Steps (a fantastic forerunner to such action-packed, on-the-run classics as Foreign Correspondent, Saboteur, and North by Northwest), and Sabotage all contain the patented hallmarks Hitchcock would continue to cultivate, expand upon, and refine over the ensuing four decades of his career. I’m a big fan of Hitchcock’s British period, and though I greatly appreciate and thoroughly enjoy all of the aforementioned movies, my vote for the best British Hitchcock flick goes to The Lady Vanishes. 

What starts as a screwball comedy and for the first half-hour seems like the antithesis of all things Hitchcock quickly evolves into another quintessential Master of Suspense movie. The disappearance of a kindly old lady (Dame May Whitty) on a European train forms the crux of the plot, but the narrative really gets interesting when no one except the woman’s fleeting travel companion (Margaret Lockwood) believes she exists at all. Though the story has been recycled and reinvented several times, this is the original version, and it has no peer. Humorous antics, vivid characters, a love/hate relationship, claustrophobic tension, and an edge-of-your-seat shootout finale pepper and propel the tale, and though at times it feels as if Hitchcock is just throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks, nothing could be further from the truth. A master planner, the Master of Suspense meticulously mapped out almost every frame of every film he directed, and The Lady Vanishes proves once again how adept he is at molding myriad, often competing elements into a cohesive whole.

As I wrote in my 2011 review of the film, “There's no fluff or extraneous palaver gumming up the works; The Lady Vanishes is a prime example of lean, focused moviemaking. Though the film takes its time laying its groundwork and might seem initially aimless, don't doubt Hitchcock. Like the train on which most of the action takes place, it quickly picks up steam and barrels full throttle toward a thrilling climax. And along the way, there's plenty of snappy dialogue and witty repartee to sweeten the journey, much of it pointedly aimed at British society, apathy, and egotism.” There’s no love lost between Hitchcock and England here. In fact, Hitchcock seems almost eager to bite the hand that feeds him, which of course makes the movie more fun. Not surprisingly, Hitch would become a British expatriate just two years later when he bolted to Hollywood to make Rebecca for producer David O. Selznick and cement his status as one of cinema’s first bona fide auteurs.

Criterion’s video transfer may not be a stunner, but it’s by far the best home video rendering of this timeless classic. Clean and vibrant, with great clarity, excellent contrast, and a pleasing grayscale, this film-like presentation immerses us in the action, while solid audio and plenty of extras enhance the experience. So hop aboard and hang on for a turbulent and terrific rollercoaster ride. If you haven’t yet seen any of Hitchcock’s British films, The Lady Vanishes is a great introduction to a highly interesting period, and will surely whet your appetite for more.  

HIGH-DEF DIGEST’S HITCHCOCK INDEX
If you’re interested in reading full reviews of dozens of Hitchcock movies, many of which come highly recommended, check out the links below, listed in chronological order by date of theatrical release with the name of the reviewer in parentheses.

The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog (1927) (David Krauss)

Blackmail (1929) (David Krauss)

Murder! (1930) (David Krauss)

Rich and Strange (1931) (David Krauss)

Number Seventeen (1932) (David Krauss)

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) (David Krauss)

The 39 Steps (1935) (David Krauss)

The Lady Vanishes (1938) (David Krauss)

Rebecca (1940) (David Krauss)

Foreign Correspondent (1940) (David Krauss)

Suspicion (1941) (David Krauss)

Saboteur (1942) (M. Enois Duarte)

Shadow of a Doubt (1943) (M. Enois Duarte)

Lifeboat (1944) (David Krauss)

Spellbound (1945) (David Krauss)

Notorious (1946) (David Krauss)

The Paradine Case (1947) (David Krauss)

Rope (1948) (Aaron Peck)

Under Capricorn (1949) (David Krauss)

Stage Fright (1950) (David Krauss)

Strangers on a Train (1951) (David Krauss)

I Confess (1953) (David Krauss)

Dial M for Murder (1954) (David Krauss)

Rear Window (1954) (David Krauss)

To Catch a Thief (1955) (David Krauss)

The Trouble with Harry (1956) (Matthew Hartman)

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) (Aaron Peck)

The Wrong Man (1957) (David Krauss)

Vertigo (1958) (David Krauss)

North by Northwest (1959) (David Krauss)

Psycho (1960) (David Krauss)

The Birds (1963) (David Krauss)

Marnie (1964) (M. Enois Duarte)

Torn Curtain (1966) (Aaron Peck)

Topaz (1969) (Aaron Peck)

Frenzy (1972) (Aaron Peck)

Family Plot (1976) (M. Enois Duarte)

The biggest film of 2022 (so far) and one of the best comic book movies ever made, The Batman comes home to Digital April 18th and 4K UHD and Blu-ray Disc May 24th, 2022

Just this morning we posted on social about how The Batman was now available for pre-order from Best Buy due to hit store shelves May 24th. Now Warner Bros. makes it official. Premier digital retailers like iTunes and Vudu should see The Batman arrive for purchase on April 18th - the same day it arrives on HBO Max. As usual, Disc Collectors will have to sit tight a few more weeks until May 24th to get their hands on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray copies. The cool thing is you'll have some options with some exciting store exclusives for picking this one up! Personally, after three visits to IMAX, I'm just glad to see this coming home sooner rather than later! 

The Batman - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Standard Release

The Batman - Blu-ray

The Batman - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook

Now here's where things get interesting. Walmart is showing a listing for a pretty snazzy deluxe Gift Set option with three discs. All artwork we've seen for other editions and the official press release indicate a 2-Disc release and nothing in Walmart's listing tells us what is on that third disc yet. We've made inquiries so hopefully, we'll find out soon what is on that third disc that's clearly labeled "bonus features"

The Batman - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Walmart Exclusive Gift Set

There is also a listing for a Target Exclusive Blu-ray - but it looks like the standard artwork and there's nothing to indicate what the exclusive is. When we find out we'll create a listing and add that to this roster of releases. 

Right now we don't quite have full specs for the 4K Ultra HD - we know that it will have Atmos Audio (as will the Blu-ray) but we have not heard back yet about HDR grade so count on base HDR10 for now. As soon as we know more we'll update our listings and this article. Until then, you can check out Warner Bros. full press release below. 

"A mesmerizing mind-bender that grabs you hard and never lets go.”

Peter Travers, ABC News

The Batman

COMES HOME FROM

WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Premium Digital Ownership

debuts early on April 18

Stream on HBO Max on April 18

 4K, Blu-ray and DVD arrive on May 24

Burbank, CA, April 11 – Unmask the truth behind Gotham City’s vigilante detective and his alter ego, reclusive billionaire Bruce Wayne, when “The Batman” arrives for Premium Digital Ownership at home on April 18. The film is directed by Matt Reeves from a screenplay by Reeves and Peter Craig, based on characters created by DC, and stars Robert Pattinson (“Tenet,” “The Lighthouse”). The film will also be available to stream on HBO Max on April 18 and will be available on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD beginning on May 24.

The film also stars Zoë Kravitz (TV’s “Big Little Lies,” “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of

Grindelwald”), Paul Dano (“Love & Mercy,” “12 Years a Slave”), Jeffrey Wright (“No Time to Die,” TV’s “Westworld”), John Turturro (the “Transformers” films, “The Plot Against America”); Peter Sarsgaard (“The Magnificent Seven,” “Interrogation”), Jayme Lawson (“Farewell Amor”), Andy Serkis (the “Planet of the Apes” films, “Black Panther”) and Colin Farrell (“The Gentlemen,” “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”). The film was produced by Dylan Clark and Reeves, with Michael E. Uslan, Walter Hamada, Chantal Nong Vo and Simon Emanuel executive producing.

• On April 18, “The Batman” will be available for early Premium Digital Ownership at home for $29.99 and for 48-hour rental via PVOD for $24.99 SRP on participating digital platforms where you purchase movies.

• On April 18, “The Batman” will be available to stream on HBO Max

• On May 24, “The Batman” will be available on 4K, Blu-ray and DVD. “The Batman” will also continue to be available to own in high definition and standard definition from participating digital retailers.

“The Batman” can be enjoyed at home with Filmmaker Mode ^TM. Developed by studios, TV manufacturers and some of Hollywood’s leading directors, Filmmaker Mode disables all post processing (e.g. motion smoothing), preserves the correct aspect ratios, colors and frame rates, and enables your TV to display the film precisely as it was intended by the filmmaker.  Filmmaker Mode is available on televisions from select manufacturers.

“The Batman” will also be available on Movies Anywhere. Using the free Movies Anywhere app and website, consumers can access all their eligible movies by connecting their Movies Anywhere account with their participating digital retailer accounts.

SYNOPSIS

More than a year of stalking the streets as the Batman (Robert Pattinson), striking fear

into the hearts of criminals, has led Bruce Wayne deep into the shadows of Gotham City. With

only a few trusted allies—Alfred (Andy Serkis), Lt. James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright)—amongst the city’s corrupt network of officials and high-profile figures, the lone vigilante has established himself as the sole embodiment of vengeance amongst his fellow citizens.

When a killer targets Gotham’s elite with a series of sadistic machinations, a trail of cryptic

clues sends the World’s Greatest Detective on an investigation into the underworld, where he

encounters such characters as Selina Kyle (Zoë Kravitz), Oz, aka The Penguin (Colin Farrell),

Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), and Edward Nashton/aka The Riddler (Paul Dano). As the

evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans becomes clear,

Batman must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit, and bring justice to the abuse of power

and corruption that has long plagued Gotham City.

DIGITAL, 4K, BLU-RAY & DVD ELEMENTS

“The Batman” Premium Digital Ownership contains the following special features:  

• Vengeance In The Making
• Vengeance Meets Justice
• The Batman: Genesis
• Becoming Catwoman
• Looking for Vengeance
• Anatomy of The Car Chase
• Anatomy of The Wingsuit
• A Transformation: The Penguin
• The Batmobile
• Deleted Scenes with Director’s Commentary

“The Batman” 4K UHD combo pack and Blu-ray contain the following special features: 

• Vengeance In The Making
• Vengeance Meets Justice
• The Batman: Genesis
• Becoming Catwoman
• Looking for Vengeance
• Anatomy of The Car Chase
• Anatomy of The Wingsuit
• A Transformation: The Penguin
• The Batmobile
• Unpacking The Icons
• Deleted Scenes with Director’s Commentary

“The Batman” DVD contains the following special feature: 

• Unpacking The Icons

ABOUT MOVIES ANYWHERE

Your Movies, Together at Last.TM MOVIES ANYWHERE lets you enjoy your favorite purchased or redeemed digital movies combined in one simplified, personal collection. MOVIES ANYWHERE brings together movies from Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal Pictures (including DreamWorks and Illumination Entertainment), The Walt Disney Studios (including Disney, Pixar, Twentieth Century Studios, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm), and Warner Bros. Entertainment. MOVIES ANYWHERE offers a library of over 7,900 digital movies, including new releases, and old favorites, and the user experience will continue to grow as more content providers, digital retailers and platforms are added. Using the MOVIES ANYWHERE app and website, consumers can connect their MOVIES ANYWHERE account with participating digital retailers and enjoy their favorite digital movies across multiple devices and platforms. Participating digital retailers include Apple TV, Prime Video, Vudu, Xfinity, Google Play/YouTube, Microsoft Movies & TV, FandangoNOW, Verizon Fios TV and DIRECTV. Consumers may also redeem digital codes found in eligible Blu-ray Discs™ and DVDs from participating studios: just look for the MOVIES ANYWHERE logo, redeem the code, then instantly enjoy your movie.

ABOUT DIGITAL

*Digital movies or TV episodes allow fans to watch a digital version of their movie or TV show anywhere, on their favorite devices. Digital movies or TV episodes are included with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs. With digital, consumers are able to instantly stream and download movies and TV shows to TVs, computers, tablets and smartphones through retail services. For more information on compatible devices and services go to wb.com/digitalmoviefaq. Consult a digital retailer for details and requirements and for a list of digital-compatible devices.

BASICS

PRODUCT                                                                            SRP

            4K UHD Combo Pack                                                                        $29.99

Blu-ray                                                                                                $24.99

DVD                                                                                                   $19.99

Digital Ownership: April 18, 2022

PVOD: April 18, 2022

4K, Blu-ray and DVD Street Date: May 24, 2022

DVD Languages: Canadian French, English, Latin Spanish

BD Languages: Brazilian Portuguese, Canadian French, English, Latin Spanish

4K Languages: Canadian French, English, German, Italian, Latin Spanish

DVD Subtitles: Canadian French, English SDH, Latin Spanish, Parisian French

BD Subtitles: Brazilian Portugese, Canadian French, English SDH, Latin Spanish, Parisian French

4K Subtitles: Swedish, Latin Spanish, Norwegian, Italian, German, Parisian French, Canadian French, Finnish, Danish, English SDH ,

Running Time: 175 minutes

Rating: Rated PG-13 by the MPA for strong violent and disturbing content, drug

content, strong language, and some suggestive material

DVD: DLBY/DGTL

Blu-ray: ATMOS TrueHD

4K: ATMOS TrueHD

THE CREDITS

About “The Batman”

The film is directed by Matt Reeves from a screenplay by Reeves and Peter Craig, based on characters created by DC, produced by Dylan Clark and Reeves, with Michael E. Uslan, Walter Hamada, Chantal Nong Vo and Simon Emanuel executive producing.

The ensemble stars Robert Pattinson (“Tenet,” “The Lighthouse”), alongside Zoë Kravitz (TV’s “Big Little Lies,” “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald”), Paul Dano (“Love & Mercy,” “12 Years a Slave”), Jeffrey Wright (“No Time to Die,” TV’s “Westworld”), John Turturro (the “Transformers” films, “The Plot Against America”); Peter Sarsgaard (“The Magnificent Seven,” “Interrogation”), Jayme Lawson (“Farewell Amor”), Andy Serkis (the “Planet of the Apes” films, “Black Panther”) and Colin Farrell (“The Gentlemen,” “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”).

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents a 6th & Idaho/Dylan Clark Productions Production, a Matt

Reeves Film, “The Batman.”