Audience at the premiere of Batman in the US releases real bats as a prank

Moviegoers attending the opening night of Batman in Austin, Texas, were startled when a live bat was released inside the theater. According to CBS Austin, the incident was a "prank" and no harm was intended to anyone.

"We immediately contacted local animal control, who have been monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of our guests, associates and animals," said Moviehouse & Eatery, a Cinépolis spokesperson.

"To ensure a similar prank doesn't happen again, we have added extra security measures and are checking all bags upon entry."

During the screening, the film was paused after staff realized there was actually a bat flying around the theater. Moviegoers were offered a full refund. Most of the audience reportedly chose to stay and watch the rest of the film with the bat.

The Batman was released in North America on March 4, earning $128 million in its first weekend. This is Warner Bros.' first movie to be released in theaters since 2020's Tenet. The Batman will not be available on the HBO Max live streaming platform for at least 45 days after its first release, and will be released domestically on March 18.