Batman (1989)

All Critics (63) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (51) | Rotten (19) | DVD (20)

It's an unforgivably flat ending for a movie of such astonishing contours. But its first two-thirds -- which should be called The Joker's Big Misadventure -- is probably the best film of the year.

April 10, 2013 Full Review

Carrie Rickey

Philadelphia Inquirer

Top Critic

The storytelling has weaknesses, but the characters are fascinating.

April 10, 2013 Full Review

Jay Boyar

Orlando Sentinel

Top Critic

The idea of doing a dark, neurotic, highly stylized and highly claustrophobic superproduction is an audacious and appealing one, but director Tim Burton has only made it halfway there.

April 10, 2013 Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Tribune

Top Critic

Is it interesting? Fitfully. Is it fun? Not much, Gotham City fans, not much.

April 10, 2013 Full Review

Sheila Benson

Los Angeles Times

Top Critic

Director Tim Burton effectively echoes the visual style of the original Bob Kane comics while conjuring up a nightmarish world of his own.

April 16, 2007 Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

The conceptual side of the movie--two rather sick two-sided antagonists having it out in a black and sordid context -- lingers.

April 16, 2007 Full Review | Comments (6)

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

[Nicholson] has never been more commanding. Not only because he does an outstanding job, but also because so much of the movie's creative energy is devoted to making the Joker one of the most startling movie characters in recent memory.

April 10, 2013 Full Review

Gary Thompson

Philadelphia Daily News

As Robin might have said of this semi-boondoggle: "Holy overkill!"

April 10, 2013 Full Review

Candice Russell

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Michael Keaton makes a credible hero, and Jack Nicholson is downright manic as his nemesis.

April 10, 2013 Full Review

David Sterritt

Christian Science Monitor

Even though its standing has diminished in the wake of the countless superhero flicks that emerged in the new millennium, the pros still outweigh the cons.

October 4, 2012 Full Review

Matt Brunson

Creative Loafing

Only minor Burton, with hindsight on our side, and its chief merits and flaws are as one of the formative texts of superhero cinema.

July 17, 2012 Full Review

Tim Brayton

Antagony & Ecstasy

While Keaton and Nicholson are dazzling in their roles, Burton never quite finds much to explore with Bruce Wayne, and that's wasted potential.

July 1, 2012 Full Review | Comments (6)

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

Stylish, violent, and often dull Batman adventure.

January 1, 2011 Full Review | Comments (2)

Ed Grant

Common Sense Media

A dark and refreshing interpretation of one of comic kingdom's most beloved characters, Batman successfully wiped away the memory of the camp 1960s television show and proved that comic book movies can be highly entertaining viewing.

July 7, 2010 Full Review

Matthew Pejkovic

Matt's Movie Reviews

The element of surprise appears in every frame of this motion picture, creating a rich sense of joy and mystery that seems to befuddle Burton and his primitive instincts.

August 26, 2009 Full Review

Brian Orndorf

BrianOrndorf.com

...Batman hasn't gone totally stale.

July 24, 2009 Full Review

Bill Chambers

Film Freak Central

...this one provided all the right ingredients its fans had always hoped for. (20th Anniversary Blu-ray Book)

May 11, 2009 Full Review

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

Visually arresting but dramatically undernourished, the film suffers from bland characterization (particularly by Basinger's Vicki and the other "good" crime fighters) and is ultimately saved by Jack Nicholson's bravura turn as the diabolical Joker.

July 5, 2008 Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

A void of underdeveloped style and halfhearted execution.

June 5, 2008 Full Review | Comments (5)

Rob Humanick

Projection Booth

Supposedly a superhero movie for grown-ups, this is actually a pretentious farrago.

May 7, 2008 Full Review

Matthew De Abaitua

Film4

It was, however, easily the biggest box-office hit of 1989, and one of the highest grossing films in history, a testament more to its massive marketing campaign than to its quality.

April 16, 2007 Full Review

TV Guide's Movie Guide

• 1. Joker/Jack Napier: I have given a name to my pain. It is Batman.
  – Submitted by Thoroughly Entertain Me O (5 months ago)
• 1. Joker/Jack Napier: Haven't you ever heard of the healing power of laughter?
  – Submitted by Bryan O (6 months ago)
• 1. Batman/Bruce Wayne: What's on your mind, Alfred?
  2. Alfred Pennyworth: I have no wish to spend my few remaining years grieving for the loss of old friends. Or their sons.
  – Submitted by Cesar Isaac M (6 months ago)
• 1. Joker/Jack Napier: [Joker reads the newspaper] 'Winged freak terrorizes'? Wait till they get a load of me!
  – Submitted by Jan-Erik L (8 months ago)
• 1. Batman/Bruce Wayne: [echoing Joker] Excuse me. You ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight? [punches Joker]
  – Submitted by Jacob H (9 months ago)
• 1. Joker/Jack Napier: Tell me something my friend. You ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?
  – Submitted by Jacob H (9 months ago)