The film premiered on 16 October 2018 as a Special Presentation at the BFI London Film Festival, in the presence of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, while being released in several selected cinemas across the country. Copies were sent to UK schools the same day.[13][10] The film was simultaneously screened in 2D and 3D at cinemas, schools and special venues across the UK. The simulcast included a special post-screening Q&A with Jackson, hosted by the film critic Mark Kermode.[13]
The film was broadcast on BBC Two on 11 November 2018, the one-hundredth anniversary of the Armistice of 11 November 1918.[18] To accompany the film, a special episode of the documentary series What Do Artists Do All Day? which followed Peter Jackson making the film, aired the following day on BBC Four.[19]
The film received a special United States release through Fathom Events in 2D and 3D, on 17 and 27 December 2018.[20] Warner Bros. launched a theatrical release in New York, Los Angeles and Washington, DC, on 11 January 2019 with plans to expand to 25 markets on 1 February.[5] Because it missed the 1 October 2018 filing deadline, the film was deemed ineligible for consideration for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 91st Academy Awards. Because it was a 2018 film, it was ineligible for the ceremony the following year.[21][22]
