You’ve seen the trailers. Josh Hartnett looking like a doting dad one second and a stone-cold killer the next. It’s a classic M. Night Shyamalan setup—high concept, weirdly tense, and definitely a bit goofy. If you’re looking for the Trap 2024 release date, you’ve probably realized that this movie had several different "birthdays" depending on whether you wanted to see it in a theater or on your couch.
Honestly, the rollout was pretty standard for a Warner Bros. flick, but keeping track of which streaming service has it now can be a bit of a headache.
When Did Trap Actually Come Out?
The theatrical journey for Trap officially kicked off on August 2, 2024.
It’s funny because the date actually bounced around a bit before landing there. Warner Bros. originally had it slated for a different slot, then moved it up to July, then finally settled on that first Friday in August. It was a mid-budget gamble that paid off well enough, pulling in about $83 million worldwide against a $30 million budget. Not a Sixth Sense level blockbuster, but a solid win for a guy who self-finances his own movies.
✨ Don't miss: Bound for the Floor Lyrics: What Local H Still Gets Right About Being a Loser
If you missed the theatrical run, you weren't alone. A lot of people waited for the home release.
The digital version (the one you buy or rent on Amazon or Apple) dropped on August 30, 2024. This was less than a month after it hit theaters. That's the world we live in now; the "theatrical window" is basically just a hallway.
The Physical Media and Streaming Timeline
For the collectors who still like having a box on their shelf, the 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD release happened on November 5, 2024.
But let’s be real—most people just want to know when they can stream it for "free" with their subscriptions. Because Trap is a Warner Bros. project, its first streaming home was Max. It officially started streaming there on October 25, 2024.
Then, things got interesting. In a surprise move that caught a lot of people off guard, Trap landed on Netflix on March 11, 2025. It wasn't even on the official "coming soon" list for the month. It just appeared.
What’s the Movie Even About?
Basically, Josh Hartnett plays Cooper, a firefighter who takes his teenage daughter, Riley (Ariel Donoghue), to a massive pop concert for a singer named Lady Raven.
The twist? Well, it’s not much of a twist since the trailer tells you immediately: Cooper is actually a serial killer known as "The Butcher."
✨ Don't miss: When Did Naruto Become Hokage? The Timeline Most Fans Actually Miss
The entire concert is a massive sting operation. The FBI knows the killer is in the building, and they've set up a perimeter to catch him. The movie is essentially a 105-minute game of cat-and-mouse where you’re watching a monster try to escape a crowded arena without upsetting his kid.
Why People Are Still Talking About It
It's divisive. Very divisive.
Some people love the sheer audacity of the premise. Others can't get past the "Shyamalan-speak"—that specific way his characters talk that feels like they've never met another human before. Plus, Saleka Shyamalan (M. Night's daughter) plays the pop star Lady Raven, and the movie features a lot of her music. Some critics called it a glorified music video; others thought it added to the surreal atmosphere.
Josh Hartnett is the glue here. He’s doing this weird, twitchy, over-the-top performance that somehow works. It’s part of the "Hartnett Renaissance" we've been seeing lately, and he carries the movie even when the plot starts to leak logic in the third act.
Where Can You Watch It Right Now?
As of early 2026, you have a few options:
🔗 Read more: In the Summertime Mungo Jerry Lyrics: What Most People Get Wrong
- Netflix: It’s currently available there in the U.S., though these licensing deals usually only last for a few months. Current reports suggest it might leave Netflix by mid-2026.
- Max: Since it's a WB title, this is its permanent streaming home for the foreseeable future.
- VOD: You can still buy or rent it on the usual suspects like YouTube, Prime Video, and Apple TV.
If you haven't seen it yet, go in expecting something more like a dark comedy or a Hitchcockian thriller rather than a straight horror movie. It’s weird, it’s loud, and it’s very much a "dad movie" at its core.
If you want to dive deeper into the M. Night Shyamalan catalog, now is a great time to revisit Split or Unbreakable to see how his style has evolved—or stayed exactly the same—over the decades. Keep an eye on your Netflix "Recently Added" section, as these WB titles tend to shuffle around without much warning.