Is ‘The Color Purple’ Streaming on HBO Max or Netflix?

Warner Bros. Pictures has had a busy month between Wonka and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Now, nearly 40 years after the original movie came out, the company is also gearing up to release a film adaptation of The Color Purple musical, which will hit theaters this Christmas. Luckily, we have you covered on all the ways you can watch this beloved flick!

Based on the book of the same name and the Broadway musical, The Color Purple follows the life of an African American woman living in the South in the early 1900s and the hardships she has faced. The movie stars Fantasia Barrino, Halle Bailey, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks and Colman Domingo.

So, where can you watch The Color Purple? Will it be on Max? What about Netflix?

Here’s everything we know about the upcoming movie:

WHERE TO WATCH THE COLOR PURPLE:

As of now, the only way to watch The Color Purple is to head out to a movie theater when it releases on Monday, Dec. 25. You can find a local showing on Fandango. Otherwise, you’ll just have to wait until it becomes available to rent or purchase on digital platforms like Vudu, Apple, YouTube and Amazon, or becomes available to stream on Max. Keep reading for more information.

UPDATE 1/16/24: The Color Purple officially became available to purchase or rent on digital platforms on Tuesday, Jan. 16.

WHEN WILL THE COLOR PURPLE BE STREAMING ON MAX? WHAT IS THE THE COLOR PURPLE MAX RELEASE DATE?

The Color Purple is being distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures — meaning it will indeed join Max. Since the company no longer drops its movies on the streaming platform the same day they’re released in theaters, we are going to have to wait at least 45 days before we can watch from the comfort of our living rooms.

While there is no official streaming release date yet, Blue Beetle, another Warner Bros. movie, was released in theaters on Aug. 18 and didn’t make its way to Max until Nov. 17 — about three months after it debuted. If The Color Purple follows the same trajectory, it’s possible we won’t be able to stream it until late March 2024.

UPDATE 2/29/24: The Color Purple began streaming on Max on Feb. 16.

WILL THE COLOR PURPLE BE ON NETFLIX?

No, The Color Purple will not be on Netflix — and it likely won’t be on the platform any time soon since it’s going to stream on Max. In the meantime, you’ll just have to head out to a theater or wait for it to become available on streaming.