The Batman will be premiering in most parts of the globe on March 3 or 4, except for in Russia. The Matt Reeves film will notably be absent from Russian theaters after Warner Bros. confirmed their decision with Deadline.
Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine has sparked debate around the globe with many calling for peace amidst all that's going on in the world right now. Just as most countries are still barely recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, war is the last thing on everyone's minds. Unfortunately, with Russia fully intent on pursuing its initial goal, it appears that some companies are taking matters into their own hands.
Warner Bros.'s decision alone isn't likely to turn the tides of the war or make Russia reconsider, but it can help sway public opinion and add to the mounting pressure for Russia to end its campaign.
Having said that, Warner Bros. stands to lose a lot by skipping Russia. After receiving the AMC Artisan Film seal in February, the embargo on The Batman was officially lifted earlier this week and critics couldn't help but praise the Robert Pattinson-led movie. Although the film doesn't quite measure up to Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight from 2008, many are labeling it as the best DC Comics movie since then, which is no small feat considering the likes of 2019's Joker have premiered during this time.