Here's How You Can Watch Empire Of Light At Home

Director Sam Mendes is one of the most acclaimed and widely accomplished directors working today, having made Oscar-winning films like "American Beauty" as well as gigantic blockbuster hits like "Skyfall." But after making his World War I picture "1917," Mendes decided to scale things back for a drama set against the backdrop of a movie theater with "Empire of Light." Given that the film has earned some Oscar love, movie lovers may want to catch up on this one — and soon.

The good news is that Searchlight Pictures has announced that the film is hitting the home market sooner rather than later. This is good, given that Mendes' latest never had a particularly wide release and, unfortunately, didn't perform particularly well at the box office. In any event, those who wish to see this one from the comfort of home will have several options, and we're here to go over when, where, and how you can watch "Empire of Light" at home. Let's dig in.

"Empire of Light" will be available to rent and/or purchase through digital retailers beginning February 7, 2023. It will be, as most new movies are these days, at a premium VOD price of around $20 for a rental at first through retailers such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu, or your digital storefront of choice. That price typically comes down after several weeks, but studios have become accustomed to charging that premium price out of the gate.

As for what you will be getting for your money? The movie stars Oscar-winner Oliva Colman ("The Favourite"), who leads a stellar ensemble that includes Michael Ward ("Lovers Rock"), Toby Jones ("Captain America: The First Avenger"), and Colin Firth ("The King's Speech"). The synopsis for the film reads as follows:

"Empire of Light" is a moving drama about the power of human connection during turbulent times. Set in and around a faded old cinema in an English coastal town in the early 1980s, it follows Hilary (Olivia Colman), a cinema manager struggling with her mental health, and Stephen (Micheal Ward), a new employee who longs to escape this provincial town in which he faces daily adversity. Both Hilary and Stephen find a sense of belonging through their unlikely and tender relationship and come to experience the healing power of music, cinema, and community.

Fortunately, for those who prefer physical media, Disney, which owns Searchlight Pictures, hasn't given up on that part of the business just yet. "Empire of Light" will be arriving on Blu-ray and DVD beginning February 21, 2023, two weeks after premiering solely on digital. Unfortunately, according to an official press release, there is no word currently on a 4K Ultra HD release for the film. Also of note, it looks like the bonus features are going to be a little light for "Empire of Light" on home media, with only a single listed featurette titled "Creating Empire of Light," which is described as follows:

Go behind the scenes of this personal film with writer-director Sam Mendes, and uncover the story's origins and the director's love of cinema. See how the perfect location was found to rebuild a classic movie theater that had the cast in awe.

For those of you who are waiting to stream "Empire of Light" through a major streaming service, that will indeed be an option down the road. Searchlight Pictures releases from 2022 have been debuting on both Hulu and HBO Max following their run in theaters, including "The Menu" and "The Banshees of Inisherin" (which is nominated in several categories at the 2023 Academy Awards). While there is no specific streaming date set as of yet for "Empire of Light," it very likely won't be long after the VOD and Blu-ray release. So look for it on those services in late February or early March. Naturally, we will be sure to keep you updated on that front as more information is made available.

In the meantime, be sure and check out our review of "Empire of Light," which /Film's Sarah Bea Milner describes as being "as much a celebration of the old as it is a treatise on embracing the future."