Batman Returns
| Batman Returns | |
|---|---|
.png){kind=logo} Official Logo | |
| Directed by | Tim Burton |
| Screenplay by | Daniel Waters |
| Story by |
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| Based on |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Stefan Czapsky |
| Edited by | Chris Lebenzon |
| Music by | Danny Elfman |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Warner Bros.[5] |
Release dates |
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Running time | 126 minutes[6] |
| Country | United States[7] |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $50–80 million[8] |
| Box office | $266.8 million[9][lower-roman 2] |
Batman Returns is a 1992 American superhero movie directed by Tim Burton and written by Daniel Waters. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, it is the sequel to Batman (1989), also directed by Burton, and the second film in the Batman film series (1989–1997). The cast includes Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Michael Gough, Pat Hingle, and Michael Murphy. Set during Christmas in Gotham City, the film follows Batman (Keaton) as he confronts corrupt businessman Max Shreck (Walken) and deformed crime boss Oswald Cobblepot / the Penguin (DeVito), whose bid for power threatens the city. Their schemes are further complicated by Shreck's former secretary Selina Kyle (Pfeiffer), who seeks revenge against him as Catwoman.
Burton was initially uninterested in directing a sequel to Batman, feeling creatively constrained by Warner Bros.' expectations. He agreed to return only after being granted greater creative control, which included replacing writer Sam Hamm with Daniel Waters and reuniting with many of his previous collaborators. Waters's script emphasized characterization over plot, and Wesley Strick was later hired for an uncredited rewrite that added, among other elements, a master plan for the Penguin. Filming took place from September 1991 to February 1992 on a budget of $50–80 million, primarily on sets and soundstages at Warner Bros. Studios and the Universal Studios Lot in California. The special effects relied mainly on practical techniques and makeup, supplemented with animatronics, limited computer-generated imagery (CGI), and dozens of live penguins.
The marketing campaign was extensive, featuring brand tie-ins and merchandise. Released on June 19, 1992, Batman Returns broke several box-office records and grossed $266.8 million worldwide, becoming the sixth-highest-grossing film of 1992, but fell short of Batman in overall success and longevity. The darker tone, along with violent and sexual content, was cited as alienating family audiences and prompted backlash against marketing partners for promoting the film to children. Critical reception was polarized, though most reviewers praised the principal cast.
Following the mixed reception, Burton was replaced for its more family-friendly sequel, Batman Forever (1995). Keaton also declined to return. In the years since its release, Batman Returns has been reappraised as one of the strongest Batman films and a pivotal early example of auteur-driven superhero cinema that helped shape the genre's darker, more ambitious direction. It is also recognized as an alternative Christmas film for its winter setting, festive imagery, and themes of loneliness and isolation. Its story was revisited in the comic series Batman '89 (2021), and Keaton reprised his version of Batman in The Flash (2023).
Plot
[change | change source]A couple throws their deformed child into the sewers. 33 years later, the child becomes the criminalistic animal known as the Penguin. He kidnaps a businessman named Max, blackmailing him into helping him become an evil citizen of Gotham City using evidence of his corporate crimes. Meanwhile, Max finds out his secretary, Selina, has found out he is planning to build a power plant which will drain Gotham City of its electricity. Max pushes her out of a window, ensuring that she will not tell anyone present. However, a flock of alley cats lick her, reviving her. She returns home, suffering a mental breakdown, becoming a Catwoman.
The Penguin makes one of his clowns to kidnap the mayor's baby while he saves him, becoming a hero in the eyes of the people. However, Bruce is suspicious of this new hero, and finds out that he is the leader of evil clowns that are called as Red Triangles. As Batman, Bruce decides to protect Gotham. After the Penguin finds out that his real name is Oswald, Max decides to make the Penguin the mayor of Gotham City because the current mayor will not approve Max's power plant.
To do this, the Penguin controls the Red Triangles to create a riot, making the people lose all faith in the mayor, but Batman stops it. During the riot, Catwoman vandalizes Shreck's Department Store. When Batman and the Penguin confront each other, she intervenes, before the store blows up. The Penguin escapes, but Catwoman fights Batman. Batman pushes her off a rooftop but a sandbox on a truck saves her. The next day, the Penguin and Catwoman work together to destroy Batman. Bruce and Selina also have a romantic relationship. Penguin and Catwoman kidnap the Ice Princess, an actress chosen to turn on the Gotham City Christmas Tree Lights, framing Batman for it. Batman finds her but Catwoman takes her to a rooftop where Penguin releases a swarm of flying bats which make the Princess retreat backwards, falling off, making the people believe Batman killed her. Catwoman is shocked that the Penguin killed the Princess and rejects the Penguin's advances, prompting him to kill her, unsuccessfully though. Batman enters the Batmobile and finds out that the Penguin has control over her. The Penguin takes her on a devastating rampage, but Batman regains control over her, escaping death from the creature.
During the rampage, Batman recorded the Penguin's evil plans and plays it during the Penguin's election speech, turning the people against him. The Penguin goes mad with rage and kidnaps all the first-born sons of Gotham City and Max too. Batman saves all the babies and pushes the monster into toxic liquid. Catwoman tries to kill Max, but Batman stops her. Max shoots Batman, knocking him out and Catwoman claims that she has six of her nine lives left, but Max shoots her four times, leaving her with two lives. Catwoman kisses Max with an electrical taser between their lips and connects it to a broken wire, creating an explosion which kills Max but Batman cannot find Selina's corpse. The Penguin emerges from the water, but the heat kills him.
Afterwards, Alfred, Bruce's butler, drives Bruce home. Suddenly, Bruce spots Selina's shadow in an alley. He investigates the area, only finding her black cat, Miss Kitty, taking her with him. He and Alfred exchange Christmas wishes. Finally, the Batsignal lights up in the night sky and Catwoman rises up, staring at it, confirming that she is alive.
Production
[change | change source]Tim Burton was not willing to direct a second Batman. However, when the studio told him if it was a Burton movie, not a Batman movie, it got his attention and he agreed to direct it. They cast Michael Keaton as Batman, Danny DeVito as Penguin and Annette Bening as Catwoman. However, Bening dropped out due to pregnancy and every actress from 20 to 45 on the planet wanted to be Catwoman. When Michelle Pfeiffer expressed an interest, something clicked to the producers thinking "You know, she's perfect. She also could be both Selina Kyle and Catwoman." The final shot of Catwoman staring at the Batsignal was shot during post-production and cost US$250 000.
Release
[change | change source]The movie was released on June 19, 1992 worldwide. It received a score of 81% approval on Rotten Tomatoes and grossed $282,822,354[8] worldwide, being the sixth highest-grossing film of 1992. It is then and now, the best reviewed Batman movie from the Burton/Schumacher movie series.
Related pages
[change | change source]References
[change | change source]- ↑ Meenan, Devin (January 24, 2022). "Batman: Bill Finger's 10 Most Important Contributions To The Character". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
- ↑ Meenan, Devin (January 24, 2022). "Batman's Co-Creator Bill Finger Finally Receives Recognition". Vulture. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ Anders, Charlie Jane (May 8, 2017). "Who Really Created Batman? It Depends What Batman Means To You". Wired. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
- ↑ Holub, Christian (September 8, 2017). "Batman Co-Creator Bill Finger Finally Will Receive Writing Credit On Gotham, Batman V Superman". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 20, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
- ↑ "Batman Returns (1992)". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on March 20, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
- ↑ "Batman Returns". British Board of Film Classification. Archived from the original on September 3, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
Approved Running time 126m 18s
- ↑ "Batman Returns (1992)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
- 1 2 Ardnt, Tom (August 19, 1992). "The Bat is Back!".
- ↑ "Batman Returns". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on June 17, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
Other websites
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Quotations related to Batman Returns at Wikiquote
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- ↑ Although Bob Kane received sole credit for Batman and his associated characters in Batman Returns, it was established in 2015 that writer Bill Finger was jointly involved in the creation of Batman as well as The Penguin and Catwoman, among others. He received equal credit to Kane in future adaptations of the Batman comic books.[1][2][3][4]
- ↑ The 1992 theatrical box office gross of $266.8 million is equivalent to $515 million in 2021.
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