The Batman, the most recent interpretation of the classic DC comics hero “Batman”, starring Robert Pattinson (Twilight, Good Time, Tenet, The Lighthouse) and Zoe Kravitz (High Fidelity, Divergent, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them) has made quite a shake in the recent pop culture news. The film, directed by Matt Reeves (Planet of the Apes Franchise, Cloverfield), has been praised for it’s cast, visual effects, and plot, and will soon be released to streaming on HBO Max, with a date to be announced. But the question on everyone’s mind: Should I see it in theaters, or wait to watch it on streaming?

One of the main reasons to see the movie while it’s still in theaters, is the sheer atmosphere created by the film, which has a largely dark composition, heightened by the darkness of the theater. The film is about three hours long, quite an endeavor, but seeing the film in a theater setting tends to be rather immersive and allows the viewer to get lost in the story. The plot of The Batman is rich with details and points of interest, which might be lost if a watcher chooses to see the film on streaming. This darkness has been commented on by audiences, as a running theme with DC Comics films, like Wonder Woman and Justice League.

The score of the film, composed by Michael Giacchino (Ratatouille, Up, The Incredibles, JoJo Rabbit) expertly crafts a narrative through sound, with returning leitmotifs and well-chosen soundtrack, utilizing songs like Something In The Way by Nirvana, which through the popularity of the film is almost surpassing their most popular song, Smells Like Teen Spirit, in streaming. Other choices, such as costuming and makeup, frame the characters with unique identities, adding a level of uniqueness to the film, and putting new life and interpretation into a popular character.