When Can You Stream The Bikeriders?

Jeff Nichols’ “The Bikeriders” has unfortunately underperformed at the box office and now appears to be shifting gears toward streaming services. With an impressive cast boasting names like Tom Hardy, Austin Butler, and Jodie Comer, the film has garnered a mere $23 million in revenue.

When can fans expect to see “The Bikeriders” streaming? According to When To Stream, the film will be available on PVOD streaming platforms starting Tuesday, July 9. This transition to streaming will occur just three weeks after its theatrical release.

This shift to streaming is not entirely unexpected. The industry has seen other recent examples where a quick move to streaming follows an underwhelming theater performance. For instance, while “Inside Out 2” reached a staggering $1 billion after 19 days in theaters, films like “The Bikeriders” and “IF”, which grossed $184 million globally, have opted for earlier streaming releases.

The release date for “The Bikeriders” coincides with other films like “The Exorcism”, a horror movie starring Russell Crowe, and “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” which has already enjoyed a more favorable box office run, accumulating $389 million worldwide since its release on May 10. Interestingly, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” despite being the lowest-grossing film in its reboot series, still outperformed Tim Burton’s 2001 remake, which made $362 million.

“The Bikeriders” faced challenges from the start. After its premiere at the 2023 Telluride Film Festival, the film was set for a December 1 release. However, the release date faced delays due to the SAG-AFTRA strike. Subsequently, 20th Century Fox dropped it, and Focus Features, via New Regency, picked up the distribution, setting a new release date for June 21, 2024.

During its opening weekend, “The Bikeriders” managed to earn $9,698,275 domestically, but struggled in the competitive market. It contended with “Inside Out 2” in its second weekend, which generated over $100 million, and “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” in its third weekend.

The film’s performance dropped 66% in its second weekend, earning just $3.3 million domestically. During the same weekend, new releases such as “A Quiet Place: Day One” grossed $53 million and “Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1” made $11 million, both surpassing “The Bikeriders.” Even “Kalki 2898 AD,” which opened in only 1,049 theaters, earned $5,475,000.

“The Bikeriders” is a portrayal of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, inspired by Danny Lyon’s photographic book of the same name. In the movie, the club is renamed the Vandals Motorcycle Club. Jeff Nichols, known for his work with films like “Shotgun Stories,” wrote and directed the movie, keeping his trend of featuring actor Michael Shannon, who also appears in this film.

Jodie Comer stars as Kathy Cross, who falls in love with Benny Cross, portrayed by Austin Butler. Comer gained fame from her role in “Killing Eve” and later starred in “Free Guy” and “The Last Duel.” Austin Butler, known for “Zoey 101” and his Oscar-nominated role in “Elvis,” takes the male lead role.

Also in the cast are Tom Hardy and Mike Faist. Hardy, recognized for his roles as Eddie Brock/Venom in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe and notable performances in “Mad Max: Fury Road” and multiple Christopher Nolan films, brings his star power to the movie. Faist, who rose to fame in Broadway’s “Newsies” and gained further acclaim in Spielberg’s “West Side Story,” is another key actor in the lineup.

Ultimately, while “The Bikeriders” may not have found its footing in theaters, its imminent shift to streaming platforms offers a new avenue for audiences to engage with the film.

Source: Journal and Courier, USA TODAY NETWORK