Barbie gets disappointing Max streaming release update

It seems the wait to enjoy Barbie on Max is going to last longer than fans might have hoped as Max has delivered a truly disappointing Barbie streaming update.

From the moment Barbie hit theaters on July 21, the film has set the box office on fire becoming the most successful movie of 2023 and giving Warner Bros. Discovery something no DC movie has been able to do this year: a win.

The Greta Gerwig-directed project has become a global sensation with audiences across the globe falling in love with the iconic character all over again. Not only has the movie raked in over $1 billion at the worldwide box office, but it’s also cemented itself as a cultural phenomenon. It’s changed our vocabulary, given us a viral dance craze, gifted us with one of the greatest movie soundtracks, and most importantly created a space for important conversations to be had.

Fans can’t get enough of the movie and many have been eagerly awaiting its arrival on Max so that they can enjoy the movie again from the comfort of their homes whenever they please. The hope was that perhaps the movie could be released on Max in October; however, that sadly does not seem to be the plan.

The full slate of shows and movies coming to Max in October has been released and while there is a major summer blockbuster on the list, it’s unfortunately, not Barbie.

When is Barbie coming to Max? (Barbie streaming release date predictions)

Given Barbie did not appear on the list of new movies and shows coming to Max in October, it’s looking likely that the Margot Robbie-led film will not be arriving until November. In fact, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has assured fans the movie will be coming to Max this fall!

"“We really believe in the motion picture window — let it play out … go into PVOD, take it through the windows that have worked forever [in the business]. When it goes on Max, it will have a good impact in the fall,” Zaslav told Deadline when discussing the film’s streaming timeline."

Considering Meg 2: The Trench is coming to Max on Sept. 29, less than two months after its theatrical release there is some understandable confusion among fans. After all, Meg 2 opened in theaters on Aug. 4, two weeks after Barbie opened in theaters on July 21. So to see Meg 2 arriving on Max sooner is puzzling; however, there is a reasonable explanation for why Barbie won’t be coming before Meg 2. 

On Sept. 22, Barbie received a limited one-week Imax engagement with an exclusive new posts-credits scene for fans to enjoy. With the special release, it makes sense Warner Bros. Discovery would not want to release Barbie on Max around the same time. In fact, there is a chance the studio could still release Barbie on Max in October and simply did not include the movie on the New to Max list for October as a way to avoid stealing hype away from the movie’s new extended cut.

We’ll be keeping an eye out for an exact release date in the weeks ahead, but for now, it’s looking highly likely that Barbie will begin streaming on Max in early November or late October.