When Will Aquaman & The Lost Kingdom Release On Streaming?

James Wan’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is the final project releasing in the DCEU before the franchise is rebooted into the new DC Universe. The sequel to 2018’s Aquaman premieres on December 22, 2023, acting not only as the DCEU’s final film of 2023, but also marking the end of the Warner Bros. franchise following a year of disappointments for the studio. DC Studios’ previous 2023 projects including Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Flash and Blue Beetle performed abysmally at the box office, and early projections for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom unfortunately don’t spell good news, suggesting many may wait to watch when it releases on streaming.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will once again see Jason Momoa sport the iconic orange-and-green costume and wield the trident of King Atlan as the half-human, half-Atlantean King of Atlantis. While 2018’s Aquaman focused on Arthur Curry’s relationship with Amber Heard’s Mera, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will see Arthur employ the assistance of his imprisoned half-brother, Patrick Wilson’s Orm, in an effort to battle the Black Trident-empowered Black Manta, portrayed by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. Hopes aren’t high for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’s theatrical release, but viewers may not have to wait long for the film to release on Max, Warner Bros.’ streaming service formerly known as HBO Max.

Aquaman & The Lost Kingdom Can Release On Max As Early As February 2024

While an official streaming date for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom hasn’t yet been confirmed, Warner Bros. typically takes between 60 and 90 days to release their projects on streaming following their theatrical premieres. By releasing on December 22, 2023, this means Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom could release on Max as early as February 2024. 2022’s Black Adam came to streaming 56 days after its premiere and Shazam! Fury of the Gods took 67 days, while Blue Beetle took a whopping 91 days to hit Max. It’s possible Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom could take longer to release on streaming, though this is dependent on its box office draw.

Will Aquaman & The Lost Kingdom Actually Release On Max In February 2024?

According to Box Office Pro, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is on track to make between $32 and $42 million domestically in its opening weekend, with a total range of between $105 and $168 million. With its budget of $205 million, this is setting Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom up to be yet another major box office bomb for Warner Bros. and the DCEU, which suggests the project may release on streaming earlier than suspected. This is a far cry from 2018’s Aquaman’s $1.152 billion box office total, potentially marking another disappointing addition to the DCEU, and suggesting Warner Bros. will release Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom on streaming soon.

When Is The Earliest Aquaman 2 Could Release On Streaming?

60 days after Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’s December 22, 2023, release falls on February 20, 2023, which is potentially the earliest the upcoming project could release on Max. It’s possible the film could take longer to come to streaming, depending on how it fares at the box office, but with DC’s poor track record in 2023, this is looking unlikely. Currently, Todd Phillips’ highly-anticipated Joker: Folie à Deux is the only planned theatrical release from DC Studios in 2024, set to premiere on October 4, so bringing Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom to streaming earlier in the year could keep DC on viewers’ minds ahead of DC Universe reboot.