Batman, the iconic DC superhero of many monikers has varied in tone and texture over the decades. Ranging from uber-campy and colorful ZAP! POW! BOP! Adam West-style Batman, to the dark & gritty Frank Miller-esque “Creature of the Shadows” Batman in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight franchise. Tim Burton directed the first big-budget Batman films, with Batman hitting theaters in 1989 and its sequel, Batman Returns, following in 1992. The iconic and eccentric director thus set the tone for the Batman film franchise going forward. Contrasting heavily from its 1960 predecessor, Burton’s Batman delved into the shadows of Bruce Wayne’s past, exploring the story of his parent’s cruel and tragic death, and the trauma a young Bruce had to unpack.
Foreshadowing Nolan’s franchise decades later, Burton was the first director to explore the darker origins of the caped crusader. Burton also originally intended to direct a third Batman film, but due to marketing faux pas concerning Batman Returns, it was ultimately and irrevocably derailed, much to the consternation of Burton fans everywhere. Batman Forever, as it would be called, was ultimately handed over to Joel Schumacher, who would discard Burton’s playbook in favor of his own creative vision. Schumacher’s Batman 3 and 4 were so abruptly different in tone from the first two movies that they are generally considered outliers in the Batman movie universe. There is no doubt that the definitive version of Batman throughout the ’90s was Tim Burton’s iteration. We have compiled the best moments from Tim Burton’s Batman movies.
Updated on August 17th, 2023 by Federico Furzan: This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.
13 The Opening Scene in Batman Returns
Gotham is as corrupt as ever. While wealthy Max Shreck is discussing the future of Gotham in a meeting, and a Christmas tree is lit in a celebration, there's something taking place in the belly of the city. Politicians are being politicians and giving speeches, but then, a giant wrapped present appears in the background.
Suddenly, hundreds of spooky acrobats take over Gotham in a "circus from Hell" fashion. This is the Penguin's doing, and it's everything but harmless. The bat-signal lights up, and Bruce Wayne gets assigned the film's first mission. It's a display of practical and miniature effects, and the creepiest clowns ever put on film.
12 Burton’s Interpretation of Gotham City
Tim Burton’s Gotham City is the most realistic portrayal of Batman's home in the entire catalog of films. It is portrayed as a once-magnificent city in spectacular decline. Its former opulence is hidden behind years of filth and decay.
There are astounding similarities between the art-deco-inspired Gotham City and German expressionist Fritz Lang’s 1927 silent film Metropolis. Production designer Anton Furst won an Oscar for his work on Batman along with set decorator Peter Young.
11 Bat-Signal
The bat signal was a well-known symbol before the movie had even been released due largely to some clever marketing strategies and the superhero’s extensive history. The scene at the end of 1989’s Batman, when the night lights up with the bat signal, is iconic.
It symbolizes hope for all Gotham City residents and reminds criminals that Batman is keeping watch. It was also a memorable moment for fans, as it represented a potential sequel to the superhero blockbuster.
10 Joker Dies in Batman
Batman's finale is a show of epic proportions that puts the Joker (Jack Nicholson) and Batman on a rooftop fighting each other to death. We all know how this will go, but when it finally happens, Joker's death feels immensely tragic and unsettling.
Batman has defeated him and his body lies now broken in the dark of night. What remains is an eternal smile on his face and an electronic sound of laughter that proves his legacy has already been written in the annals of Gotham.
9 Catwoman Emerges
After discovering Max Shreck’s (Christopher Walken) dirty secret about his new power plant, Shreck pushes Selina Kyle (Michelle Pfeiffer) out of a towering building to her presumed death. When Kyle wakes up, she is surrounded by a multitude of stray cats licking her wounds.
She stumbles home in a daze ostensibly unphased by recent events. When a seemingly benign perfume ad on her answering machine sets her off, she frantically begins the transformation into Catwoman, pilfering her apartment for items to create the iconic costume.
8 Ice Princess Falls into the Christmas Tree
The Christmas tree scene in Batman Returns is noteworthy as it is a great example of Burton’s visual artistry. In an elaborate attempt to frame Batman, Catwoman and Penguin (Danny DeVito) kidnap the Ice Princess and eventually hold her hostage on a rooftop above Gotham City Plaza.
While Batman endeavors to rescue her, Penguin releases an umbrella full of bats. Startled by the bats, the Ice Princess falls to her death, landing on the button she would have pressed for the tree lighting ceremony, had she survived. The tree does not light up but rather releases hundreds of bats into the night sky, casting doubt on Batman in the eyes of the citizens of Gotham.
7 The Costume Party
During Max Shreck’s annual “Max-querade Ball”, Bruce Wayne arrives eyeing the room for Selina Kyle, who he’s been courting. Neither Wayne nor Kyle wears a costume in a cheeky twist of events, both seeking respite from their superhuman alter-egos.
While dancing under the mistletoe, the two discover each other’s secret identities through cheeky banter. Once her identity is revealed, Selina confides in Wayne her intention to murder Shreck. The Penguin interrupts her plans though, when he crashes the party with ill intent of his own.
6 Electric Kiss
The movie’s climax takes place at Arctic World, where Catwoman, now revealed to Max as Selina, Kyle is still bent on revenge. Max attempts to kill her but runs out of bullets and subsequently leaves her with 2 of her 9 lives. She mentions coyly she will save one for next Christmas.
While placing her O’Mega Stun-Gun under the chin of Max she symbolically kisses him goodbye, before electrocuting him to a blackened husk. Shreck’s death is symbolic of his desire to siphon the power from Gotham with his surplus power plant, and also plays into Catwoman's statement to Batman earlier in the film "A kiss can be even deadlier if you mean it."
5 Catwoman and the Whip
As Penguin's gang keeps terrorizing the city, and the villain gains momentum becoming a notable figure in politics, Batman keeps fighting. Meanwhile, we see Catwoman being a playful and lethal anti-hero who breaks into a department store and gives a showcase of her abilities.
This is Pfeiffer's pivotal scene in the film, as Catwoman grabs her whip and in a series of continuous moves, decapitates mannequins from a distance, showing her skills in using force if it becomes necessary. Pfeiffer did this herself, turning the scene into an iconic moment in the Batman verse.
4 The Museum Scene from Batman
Napier is now in full-Joker mode. Burton doesn't care much for logic and positions the Joker as a clown whose only way to terrorize is to attack unexpectedly, but also to play around and damage what's left of the city. In one scene, he prepares himself to "go make some art." Vicky Vale arrives at a museum to eat dinner with Bruce Wayne, but he's a late arrival.
When she sits at their table, a present marked "urgent" arrives. It contains a gas mask. Suddenly, sleeping gas enters through the ducts and Vale puts on the mask while panicking. The doors burst open and the Joker arrives. Set to the tune of Prince's "Partyman," he and his gang destroy every piece of art hanging on the walls.
3 Jack Becomes the Joker
Jack Napier makes his big reveal as the Joker with expert timing. Shortly after plotting (unsuccessfully) to kill Jack, Gotham crime boss Carl Grissom (the late Jack Palance) is surprised at home by a vengeful Jack.
Grissom proposes a deal to Jack in return for his life. Napier however, replies, “Jack? Jack is dead, my friend. You can call me Joker." Just as Napier is announcing himself as the Joker, his face once shrouded in shadows enters the light, revealing his Joker makeup to the audience.
2 Joker Takes Over Gotham
Joker is now a Gotham star. He has escaped from Batman once more and is now planning to throw a party like Gotham never knew. Giant balloons flood the streets in a parade reminiscent of the real one Macy's is famous for.
Only in Gotham, the Joker starts throwing money in the streets and dance to Prince's Trust. People are ecstatic as bills keep raining from the sky. However, things take a dark turn when gas starts being sprayed from the balloons and into the crowd. Batman arrives with his awesome flying vehicle and cuts the balloons, meaning the party's over.
1 Batman’s Introduction
The scene in which we first see Keaton’s Batman is epic in large part because of the tense moments leading up to it. Two criminals having just mugged someone under Batman’s watchful eye, are dividing the loot and simultaneously debating the existence of an elusive vigilante, “The Bat."
In true dramatic irony, viewers can see Batman’s silhouette approaching as one of the thugs denies his existence. The crooks hear rustling behind them and turn around to see Batman in the flesh. After a bit of a scuffle, Batman announces himself to one of the thugs before leaping from the rooftop into the night.