‘Challengers’ Comes To Digital, But When Will ‘Challengers’ Be on Streaming?

Get ready to say “Yeah” times ten, because Challengers is now available to rent on premium video-on-demand.

This sexy sports drama from filmmaker Luca Guadagnino has everyone talking. Zendaya stars Tashi Duncan, a once-great tennis player forced to retire to a life of coaching after a career-ruining injury. She lives vicariously through her husband, fictional pro tennis player Art Donaldson (Mike Faist). Then an old romantic and tennis rival, Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor), reenters their lives. The stakes—of their careers and their relationship—have never been higher.

Challengers has so far been a critical and financial success, with nearly $69 million at the worldwide box office so far. (Which is good for an R-rated auteur film!) So why push it to digital after less than a month in theaters nationwide? Well, even box office hits are getting released on “premium” video-on-demand—which is the industry term for charging movie theater prices for an earlier release on digital platforms—after a month in theaters or less. Even Barbie, the most successful film of 2023, was released on digital platforms by Warner Bros. after 13 weeks in theaters. Clearly the studio, the Amazon-owned MGM, thinks they can make a few extra bucks from the people willing to pay $20 to watch the movie at home.

We’re not yet halfway through 2024, but Challengers had already made a strong case for itself as the movie of the year. If you haven’t watched this fantastic film in theaters, you’ll definitely want to watch it at home. Read on for all the information about the Challengers digital release, and when and where to expect Challengers on streaming.

Where to watch Challengers on streaming:

As of today, May 17, Challengers is now available to rent on “premium” video-on-demand on digital platforms like Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Vudu, Google Play and more. The movie costs $19.99 to rent, and is not currently available to buy on digital. When you rent the film, you will have 48 hours to watch it after hitting “play.”

Challengers is not yet available to watch free online on a subscription streaming service. That said, because Challengers is an MGM movie—a studio owned by Amazon since the 2022 acquisition—it is possible that Challengers will be streaming free on Amazon Prime someday.

When will Challengers be streaming free on Amazon Prime Video or MGM+?

There is not yet a Challengers Amazon Prime streaming release date, nor is it entirely clear if Challengers will ever stream free on Amazon Prime. Previous Amazon MGM theatrical releases, like The Beekeeper and The Boys in the Boat are still not available to stream free with an Amazon Prime subscription. However, both movies are available to buy and rent on Amazon, and both movies are available to stream free on MGM+, the premium channel previously known as Epix. Currently, MGM+ costs $5.99 a month, and there is a seven-day free trial.

It’s possible that Challengers will never stream on Amazon Prime, and instead will stream on MGM+. The Beekeeper began streaming on MGM+ on April 19, about four months after it opened in theaters on January 12. If Challengers follows a similar release strategy, you may see Challengers on MGM+ around late July or early August 2024.

That said, another buzzy MGM movie, Saltburn, began streaming free on Amazon on December 22, one month after the movie opened in theaters nationwide on November 22. So, there is not a clear precedent with what happens to the Amazon MGM titles after their theatrical run. If you want to watch Challengers online ASAP, your best bet is to buy the film on digital platforms today. Fair warning: This movie will make you crave churros.