So many of life’s big questions have yet to be answered. How was Stonehedge made? Is there a lost city of Atlantis? What is Jack the Ripper’s identity? What is the meaning of life? Perhaps we will never uncover these mysteries, but we will answer the big question that keeps us up at night. Which Batman movie is the best?
I will give you a hint: it is one of Tim Burton’s adaptations of Batman. However, the elephant in the room is which of the Dark Knights will stand the test of time as the best? There are so many Batmans to choose from: the campy Adam West, Iceman himself, Val Kilmer, the Batman with nipples, George Clooney, the one who needs a throat lozenge, Christian Bale, Dunkin’ Donuts king, Ben Affleck, emo vampire, Robert Pattinson, or Reese’s spokesperson, Will Arnett. However, the one Batman that rises to the top is Michael Keaton. Pattinson was not the first Batman to brute. Keaton paved the way. Keaton gave Batman more humanity and did a masterful job of separating the dual identities of Bruce Wayne and Batman.
We all know now how profitable superhero movies could be, but in the late eighties and early nineties, it was still mostly uncharted waters. Batman earned over four hundred million worldwide and is still today’s fifth highest-grossing Batman movie. During the time of its release, it was the sixth-highest-grossing film of all time.
Another reason why Tim Burton’s Batman movies are the best is because of the atmosphere. Gotham City came alive and was dripping with style. It was dark and gritty but also strangely whimsical. It was not reliant on CGI. Instead, it used practical effects, like miniatures and matte paintings. The cinematography and lighting were reminiscent of Film Noir, with long shadows, and canted angles. Danny Elfman’s haunting score elevated the film and perpetuated the dark tone. The costumes and makeup were intricate and inventive.
Batman is an astounding movie, not just for a superhero film but in general. Due to its massive financial success, the second Batman film (Batman Returns) was highly anticipated. However, the marketing team pushed the sequel hard with partnerships like McDonald’s and their Happy Meal toys. Some angry parents went to see Batman Returns with their children, thinking it was family-friendly. The sequel was much darker, which led the studios to hire Joel Schumacher to make a more family-appropriate Batman film, Batman Forever.
The third installment had neon lights and was a lot more light-hearted. Perhaps Batman Returns is not the best for little kids, but it is one of those rare sequels that might be better than the original. Batman Returns might not just be one of the best Batman films or sequels, but some might say it is one of the best Christmas movies. Gotham City is still tonally dark, but the festive Christmas lights are in nearly every frame.
Let’s talk about the villains. Some incredible actors have portrayed the most notorious Batman villain of all, the Joker. Jack Nicholson, the three-time Academy Award winner, set the groundwork for the character. Fun fact: Nicholson was always Burton’s first choice for the Joker. Allegedly, they used Robin Williams, who was interested in the role, as a negotiation tactic to get Nicholson on board. At the time, Nicholson was the highest-paid actor for a single movie, earning around ninety million. Originally seen as untraditional casting, Heath Ledger stole the show in The Dark Knight, earning him the Oscar posthumously.
Joaquin Phoenix surprised us all with a completely different but brilliant performance by the Joker, winning him the Oscar for his role in Joker. Here is why I would argue that Burton’s Batman films are still better. The Dark Knight was an incredible movie, but it was a little too grounded and gritty and suffered at times when Ledger was not on screen. Joker is a beautiful love letter to Martin Scorsese films, especially Taxi Driver, but it is not a Batman movie.
The Penguin, played by Danny DeVito, was dark, vile, and grotesque, but still managed for us to care for him as he was abandoned as a baby for being disfigured. Catwoman, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, was beautiful and elegant, but she was more than that. Pfeiffer was deranged and empathetic. The complexity of these villains was interesting and masterfully done.
In summary, the best Batman film is Batman Returns. It is entertaining, dark, scary, stylized, and performed well, with brilliant sets, costumes, cinematography, and practical effects. It has aged like a fine wine.
