Watchmen Running Time Gets Shortened

Posted on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 by Peter Sciretta

Last we heard (in October), Watchmen had a running time of 2 hours and 43 minutes. Well apparently is has gotten shorter. Sci-Fi reports that the current running time is two hours and 35 minutes, and the studio has yet to approve that cut. But fans shouldn’t worry as I wouldn’t expect the film to get that much shorter. I predict the film will end up around two and a half hour.

The eventual directors cut will be clock in at three hours and 10 minutes in length. Zack Snyder says that it has “even more than the theatrical version as far as the detail that gets even closer to the graphic novel.” But hardcore fans will have to wait for what Snyder is calling the “huge epic version” which will incorporate a 20-minute animated adaptation of The Black Freighter, bringing the total running time to three hours and 40 minutes.

Discuss: But why wait for Blu-ray/DVD?

Why doesn’t Warner Bros hold theatrical digital screenings of the “Epic Version” in a handful of the major cities after the film has been in theaters for a month or so? Sounds like a great way for the studio to make more money, without that much of an extra expense. We already know their plans to triple-dip the home video release, why not let us see the whole fucking thing on the big screen? Hardcore fans will make the trip to the city to see the extended cut, and I’m sure you could even charge a premium ticket prices for the screenings.

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  • Peter, I wouldn't be surprised if they release up to ten versions of this film.
  • charles
    No man fuck, if the movie is good then let it be as long as possible. I don't know why everyone has a short attention span these days. I love long movies I get my $10 bucks worth.
  • Oh superb! A movie studio trying to sell me three different versions of the same crap. The old "we're doing for the fans" spiel is wearing very thin. You just want more of my money. Pick a cut and stuck with it!
  • Leela
    I would love a theatrical release of the 'epic version'. Although The Watchmen doesn't release until March it's *the* movie I want to see and I don't care how long it is so long as it's true to the novel .
  • Luis B.
    It's understandable to post why you think they should show the "huge-epic" version, but why the hell would dedicate another paragraph that gives ideas to movie exec's to rip us off more than they already do?!
  • Hey hey easy with the premium ticket suggestion... =)
    I would definitely go see it. But whatever, the fans will come out, and will buy the eventual super epic whatever editions as well.
  • Becuase as a fan, I would like to see the epic version on the big screen, and not just on DVD/Bluray... am I alone?
  • I'm completely fine with paying double ticket price for an "epic version" which is almost 4 hours long, the length of two normal Hollywood films.
  • I would be completely fine with paying double ticket price for an "epic version" which is almost 4 hours long, the length of two normal Hollywood films.
  • While I want to see the epic version on the big screen, I don't think it's wise to do it that way as it would cost more money (think about shipping those puppies to theaters not to mention resubmitting that to the MPAA) Remember most Directors cuts are unrated since they don't have to go through ratings on DVD. I'd be down for seeing the movie, then buying the pirate story on DVD, giving me something to look forward to when I eventually buy the BluRay disc, giving me more incentive to pick it up instead of rent (remember the first Sin City DVD release anyone?)
  • Notice how I said theatrical DIGITAL version. Digital cinema would allow them to beam an entire film via satellite or the small shipping of a hard drive. They wouldn't even have to show the film all day, they could pick a few showtimes during the week or weekend if they wanted to. The film will already be digitally mastered.



    As for the rating: They could release it in theaters unrated, which would mean age restriction. I remember there were limited screenings of the extended Lord of the Rings films. Were those rerated by the MPAA? How was that dealt with?
  • Delta Assault
    No, I hear ya.

    It's pretty ironic that Zack Snyder's first comics movie, 300, was expanded quite a bit from the comic because he didn't have enough material for a full length movie, and yet now he's having to cut a lot of the source material away. Makes one wonder why the film format can't be as flexible with length as the comic format can.
  • Getting screwed by the studios once again...
  • As long as I get to see something awesome on the big screen, i'll be happy.

    Is it March yet?
  • How the ext movie could be distributed as described in the article sounds fine to me. As to the specifics, I'd just as well let the studio discuss that.
    And "boo" for shortening the film.
  • no you're not alone. i would love to see the epic version in theaters, but would WB really put something out like that? other than the fan base who else really knows what the watchmen is all about? it's not like it's the x-men where everyone knows who they are. for example i saw transporter 3 today and when the watchmen trailer came on the people next to me were saying it's the Justice League... we can only hope that this epic version will be a limited screening!
  • Well if they already have the footage and it's already digital, I don't really see where any extra expenses would come in.

    Also, since we're talking about Lord of the Rings, how the hell did Peter Jackson con the studios into letting him film all 3 at once?
  • Re: IMAX: IMAX is installing digital projectors in many of their IMAX venues and plans to do exactly that. They actually want to broadcast live events like the Superbowl in IMAX. How cool is that? But you're right, it probably wouldn't be on IMAX at this point.

    But a normal digital movie screen. If you saw Bolt in 3D, then you saw it on a digital screen. They can actually beam the data for a movie via satellite or T1. My press screening for the last Pirates film stopped half way through because they had a connection error in the transmission of the movie, which happened the night before. They had to re-download the film, and had us come back the next day. And the resulting digital "print" looks incredible. So this isn't actually technology of the future, this is technology that is in use for many of the digital releases today. It's actually very cool, if you think about it.
  • Dr. Lizardo
    Man, your idea is above and beyond what studio execs / distributors would ever think of. Sometimes it seems like these people don't have a clue. I would definitely be down for seeing a four hour cut in theaters, I absolutely love the experience of going to a movie theater compared to watching a DVD or Blu-Ray... we can only hope. For now I'm crossing my fingers for a Dark Knight theater re-release (although I did just get the Blu-Ray too hahah).
  • I'm sure the general public would cry in dismay to this unlike us. But I agree I'd go see it. I pay regular price regardless of nighttime showing or IMAX so of course I wouldn't mind. But I would still pay if I couldn't get in that cheap. Just like when a local spot played the Rings Trilogy in one night. That was fun although still the same movies that were shown before only all at once. Very exhausting night.
  • We all want the Epic verson to Be seen on the Big Screen? does cutting out another 10 mins, make more peeps go see it? Doubt it very much!!!
  • I remember when Return of the King was released here. There was a theater that played the extended versions of the first 2 movies leading into the premier of RotK. That was a very exhausting movie going experience.
  • Action fans in general which is like 85% of the market.
  • Delta Assault
    Why would you not want that? You're getting more for your buck with a longer movie, so... wouldn't that be a good thing?
  • Wow. I didn't even know that kind of technology existed.
  • Well, if that be the case, and they can get an unrated stamp of approval, I'm down, as long as that "ONE DAY ONLY" event doesn't fall on a week day.
  • More is not necessarily good, like the idea of John Woo's three-and-a-half hour cut of Mission: Impossible 2.
  • I'm all for the epic version on screen and I would pay a special price. Warners might need to make all the money they can this flick if their forced to share profits with Fox.
    While I despise the multiple DVD releases, I don't feel as ripped off when we know ahead of time and are given the opportunity to pick and choose on which we'll buy - one or all versions! lol
    I've been thinking lately that there is so much in the graphic novel that it feels neccessary to have a three hour long film. The trailer is fantastic, but I still have a few reservations on how well such a layered story will translate to screen.
  • Robby
    When they decided to play Watchmen in IMAX, they limited the run time to 155 min. The largest film platters can not hold more film than that.
  • Awwww sheeeeet. Peter, I've gotta say. I've been reading this blog more or less regularly for at least a year now, and I do believe this is the first time I've seen you use the fuck-word. I can't blame you. It makes a damn good point. Special screenings of IMAX happen in select cities, and that requires special equipment. I'd love to see directors' cuts before the DVD releases. Might give studios a good idea of who wants to see what, when.
  • Misunderstanding on my part on the whole Digital theatrical release. I was assuming you were referencing IMAX or something of that nature. I'm almost certain you cannot beam via satellite an IMAX quality image.

    As for the Lord of the Rings Extended versions, to my knowledge, they were rated when entering the theaters. My friend at the time gave me the heads up on it and I specifically remember seeing that the film was still rated pg-13. Aren't the extended versions on DVD rated as well? Probably because they went through the MPAA when released in theaters.

    Lord of the Rings had a HUGE budget, Watchmen not so much. And as it is, they are having budget problems.

    If I am wrong, please correct me. We are all friends here.

    EDIT: Was Blade Runner's re-release rated too? Ridley Scott said something about that at Comic-Con 07.
  • At some point, one of these graphic novel adaptations will burst the trends bubble and flop. This will not be it, but I do believe the length will deter people. Honestly, who, besides die-hard fans and film-buffers, are going to fork out and see this on the big screen? 3 hours of comic book superhero drama? Most might wait for DVD or cable, if bother at all.
  • A lot of mention as to whether the "normal folk" will suffer an extended version...

    Seems to me, first of all, that Peter is right on the money re: ease of digital (although, lord knows, there are certainly still kinks in the format). But if the real question is audience draw (will the hard-core fans be enough?), the initial release will certainly determine this to a certain extent, as in if the film succeeds or bombs...
  • I'd be willing to pay a special price but it really doesn't make sense from the theaters' point of view. If i recall correctly, ticket prices don't really matter much to theaters since the studios end up taking a majority of it anyway. An epic version still means there's less screening which means less people which means less concessions sold. The theater would have to throw in an intermission or something to give people a chance to buy more shit at gouged prices.
  • Not a big difference...but...BOOOO! I WANT MORE WATCHMEN!
  • I want to see the directors cut on the big screen. I'm sick and tired of paying for a movie ticket and not seeing the complete version in the cinema. The only reason for a directors cut on dvd is for people who have seen the movie in a cinema is find a reason for them to purchase or buy the movie on dvd. If the violence in the movie gets watered down by Warner Bros I'm not watching it. Like THE DARK KNIGHT this movie needs to be dark and violent in an end of the world kind of way.
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