Clayface, DC Studios' R-rated horror take on the Batman villain starring Tom Rhys Harries, releases in theatres on 23 October 2026.
Clayface releases in theatres on Friday, 23 October 2026, in English. The James Watkins-directed DC Studios film is an R-rated horror thriller built around Batman villain Matt Hagen, played by Tom Rhys Harries (1, 5).
Clayface release date
Clayface is set for a theatrical release on 23 October 2026, timed just ahead of Halloween (9). Several reports note the film arrives as only the third release in James Gunn's rebooted DC Universe slate (3, 6).
Clayface cast
The cast list comes from the film database. Tom Rhys Harries plays Matt Hagen, the man who becomes Clayface (1, 5). Naomi Ackie and Max Minghella round out the principal cast (1). David Dencik has said he plays a Gotham underworld figure named Markos Szabo, as he described it in an interview, and said he relied on watching DC films with his eight-year-old son to get up to speed on the franchise (10).
Clayface story
The film traces Matt Hagen's fall from a Gotham kid with Hollywood dreams to a disfigured man chasing an experimental cure that goes horribly wrong, unravelling his grip on reality and sending him down a path of revenge (1). One report describes him as a rising actor disfigured in an accident who volunteers for the treatment that turns him into living clay (5), while another describes the triggering event as a brutal attack rather than an accident (9). The film is being described as a psychological body-horror story about identity, trauma and transformation rather than a conventional superhero film (1, 8, 9).
Clayface certificate and runtime
The MPA has given Clayface an R-rating, citing strong bloody violence, gore, language, some nudity and brief drug use (1).
Clayface rights deals and budget
Reports on the film's budget vary. One report puts it at $100 million needed to break even (7), while a more recent report puts the production budget at $40 million (9). As the most recent figure, the $40 million budget is the current reported number (9). Warner Bros Pictures is distributing the film (7).
Clayface advance booking and box office
Early tracking estimates have put Clayface's North American opening between $23 million and $33 million (3, 4), with a more recent report narrowing that to $20 million to $29 million domestically (9). Global opening estimates were earlier put around $50 million to $55 million (4). One report said the film needs $127 million worldwide to surpass Supergirl's $126.5 million global haul and become the DCU's second-highest-grossing film so far (5), while another said it would need $620 million worldwide to beat Superman's $618.7 million worldwide run (4). Early reactions from critics have been largely positive, with ComicBook's Chris Killian calling the film "incredible" (11), and reports describing the critical response as a rare bright spot for DC Studios' recent output (12).
Clayface OTT release
No OTT release date has been reported yet.
Sources
- Clayface Gets R-Rating For Gore, Nudity And Drug Use
- Clayface Tracking Below Supergirl Ahead of DCU's Third Outing
- Clayface Needs $620 Million Worldwide To Beat Superman
- Clayface’s Survival Run: Can It Beat Supergirl’s Box Office Ghost?
- Clayface Is Here — And James Gunn Isn’t Asking for Permission
- Clayface Budget: How One Horror Film Needs $100M To Survive
- Tom Rhys Harries Plays Clayface in DC Horror Thriller
- DC’s Next Bet: A Movie About a Man Who Melts
- David Dencik Says His Son Helped Him Crack Clayface
- Clayface R-rated Horror Film Hits Theaters Friday
- Clayface Release Date Set: Horror Movie Gets Early Praise From Critics
Last updated 14 October 2026. This guide is kept by CutMirchi's automated Guide Desk from the stories listed above and from our release tracker, and is refreshed as new reports come in. Dates and figures are as those reports gave them; trade figures are estimates.
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