Is ‘Pearl’ Streaming on HBO Max or Netflix?

Spooky season is very nearly upon us, and filmmaker Ti West has a brand new slasher film—Pearl, coming to theaters this weekend—to help you celebrate.

The prequel to West’s porno horror slasher X, which was released in theaters earlier this year, Pearl brings back star Mia Goth to tell her her villain origin story. Taking place in 1918, during the Spanish Flu pandemic and World War I, Pearl (Goth, this time sans old-age make-up) is stuck on an isolated farm with her family, caring for her sickly father and dealing with her overbearing mother. Pearl dreams of a life of Hollywood glamour and is eventually driven over the edge.

Pearl is certainly a must-watch for those who saw X. Don’t you want to know how that creepy old lady became so gosh-darned creepy? Here’s what you need to know about how to watch Pearl, including when to expect Pearl on streaming.

WHERE TO WATCH TI WEST’S PEARL MOVIE:

Right now, the only place to watch Pearl, Ti West’s prequel to X, is in a movie theater when the film opens in the U.S. on September 16. You can find a showing near you via Fandango. After the film’s theatrical run, you’ll be able to purchase it on digital platforms like iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, YouTube, and Vudu.

WHEN WILL THE 2022 PEARL MOVIE BE STREAMING?

The Pearl digital release date has not yet been announced. It’s hard to say when Pearl, which is an A24 release, will come to digital, but we can make an educated guess based on previous A24 releases, as well as based on X, which was released in theaters and on VOD earlier this year.

X became available to rent for $19.99 on digital platforms after one month in theaters. (It opened in theaters on March 18 and came to VOD on April 15.) If Pearl follows a similar release strategy, you may be able to rent the movie for $19.99 around mid-to-late October 2022.

That said, it’s possible that if Pearl does better in theaters than X, A24 may want to keep the movie in theaters for at least 45 days, or longer, as the studio has been doing with some of its other releases, including Marcel the Shell and Men. If that’s the case, you may have to wait until late 2022 or early 2023 to buy Pearl on digital. We’ll have to wait and see.

WILL PEARL BE ON HBO MAX?

No. Pearl will not be on HBO Max, because Pearl is an A24 film and not a Warner Bros. film. Also, HBO Max will no longer be streaming theatrical movies in 2022. (Last year, Warner Bros. opted to simultaneously release its theatrical slate on streaming, meaning HBO Max subscribers could watch movies like Matrix Resurrections at home. This year, however, Warner Bros. theatrical movies will have a 45-day theaters-only run before moving to HBO Max.) It’s possible that Pearl will be on HBO and HBO Max someday, but it will not be any time soon.

IS PEARL 2022 ON NETFLIX?

No. It’s possible that Pearl will be on Netflix someday, given that the streaming service hosts a number of A24 films, including Uncut Gems. But there’s no guarantee. If you don’t want to miss the film, your best bet is to see Pearl in a movie theater or wait to rent it for $19.99.