Do you want to see ‘Batman’?

Batman (1989)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 6.6/10
Reviews Counted: 53
Fresh: 38 | Rotten: 15

An eerie, haunting spectacle, Batman succeeds as dark entertainment, even if Jack Nicholson's Joker too often overshadows the title character.

Average Rating: 5.9/10
Critic Reviews: 7
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 3

An eerie, haunting spectacle, Batman succeeds as dark entertainment, even if Jack Nicholson's Joker too often overshadows the title character.

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Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 823,712

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Movie Info

Jack Nicholson is the Joker, who emerged from a horrible accident as a maniacal criminal. Michael Keaton is the Caped Crusader, who emerged from a childhood trauma to become a masked crimefighter. Kim Basinger is Vicki Vale, the talented photojournalist desired by both men. And Batman is the movie, the all-out spectacular directed by Tim Burton, set to songs by Prince and a music score by Danny Elfman, and an Academy AwardO winner* for Best Art Direction/Set Decoration (Anton Furst and Peter Young).

PG-13, 2 hr. 6 min.

Action & Adventure

Directed By: Tim Burton

In Theaters: Jun 23, 1989 Wide

On DVD: Mar 25, 1997

Warner Bros. Pictures

Batman Trailer & Photos

Cast

Michael Keaton
Batman/Bruce Wayne
Jack Nicholson
Joker/Jack Napier
Kim Basinger
Vicki Vale
Robert Wuhl
Alexander Knox
Pat Hingle
Commissioner Gordon
Billy Dee Williams
District Attorney Harve...
Michael Gough
Alfred Pennyworth
Jack Palance
Carl Grissom
Jerry Hall
Alicia
Lee Wallace
Mayor
Tracey Walter
Bob the Goon
Michael Balfour
Scientist
David Baxt
Dr. Wayne
Paul Birchard
Another Reporter
Lachelle Carl
TV Technician
Carl Chase
Goon
Edwin Craig
Ratelli
John Dair
Ricorso
Keith Edwards
Reporter
Christopher Fairbanks
Nic
Garick Hagon
Dad
Kate Harper
Anchorwoman
William Hootkins
Eckhards
Amir M. Korangy
Wine Steward
Dennis Lili
Bob the Cartoonist
Mac McDonald
Goon
Bruce McGuire
Anchorman
Steve Plytas
Doctor
Liz Ross
Mom
George Roth
Eddie
Richard Strange
Goon
Philip Tan
Goon
Rocky Taylor
Napier Hood
Vincent Wong
Crimelord 1
John Lurie
Sam Douglas
Lawyer
Joel Cutrara
Crimelord 2
Leon Herbert
Reporter
Kit Hollerbach
Becky
Jazzer Jeyes
Napier Hood
John Sterland
Accountant
Marion Dougherty
Del Baker
Napier Hood
Wayne Michaels
Napier Hood
Elliott Stein
Man in Crowd
Richard Durden
TV Director
Philip O'Brien
Maitre d'

Critic Reviews for Batman

All Critics (53) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (45) | Rotten (15) | DVD (20)

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 Source: Variety

| Comment

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 Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment (1)

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

The wit is all pictorial. The film meanders mindlessly from one image to the next, as does a comic book. It doesn't help that the title character remains such a wimp even when played by Michael Keaton.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comments (4)

Vincent Canby

New York Times

Top Critic

There are a lot of things wrong with Batman, but it still makes for decent entertainment in the fine tradition of the typical low-intelligence summer movie.

March 27, 2001 Full Review Source: ReelViews

| Comment

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Top Critic

Dark, haunting and poetic

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post

| Comment

Hal Hinson

Washington Post

Top Critic

An exhilarating mix of cartoon lore (though not nearly enough for rabid Batpurists), screen presence (this is pretty much the Jack and Mike Show), psychological murkiness (though it could have used even more) and demented Gothic goofiness.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post

| Comment

Desson Thomson

Washington Post

Top Critic

Stylish, violent, and often dull Batman adventure.

January 1, 2011 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

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 Source: Matt's Movie Reviews

| Comment

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 Source: BrianOrndorf.com

| Comment

Brian Orndorf

BrianOrndorf.com

...Batman hasn't gone totally stale.

July 24, 2009 Full Review Source: Film Freak Central

| Comment

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 Source: Movie Metropolis

| Comment

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 Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

A hollow void of underdeveloped style and half-hearted execution.

June 5, 2008 Full Review Source: Projection Booth

| Comment

Rob Humanick

Projection Booth

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

May 7, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4

| Comment

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 Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

| Comment

TV Guide's Movie Guide

Wow. I can't believe how little I enjoyed about this movie after all of these years of NOT having seen it.

June 2, 2006 Full Review Source: JoBlo's Movie Emporium

| Comments (13)

JoBlo

JoBlo's Movie Emporium

Burton brings back film noir elements to the new Batman, elevating it to a dark, demented opera.

May 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid

| Comment

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

In the end, one's reaction to Burton's blockbuster is little more than that of the Joker to Batman: 'Where did he get those wonderful toys?'

January 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Time Out

We can finally look back on these films and give them their due without undue feelings of frustration getting too much in the way...

December 22, 2005 Full Review Source: Now Playing Magazine

| Comment

Scott Collura

Now Playing Magazine Source: Now Playing Magazine

The movie that gave birth to the summer blockbuster remains impressive.

November 3, 2005 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine

| Comments (2)

Andrew Collins

Empire Magazine

We weren't yet spoiled by cinema's ... ability to create on film anything that can be imagined, accepting anything that looked a bit clunky as part of the package.

October 18, 2005 Full Review Source: Now Playing Magazine

| Comment

Brian Thomas

Now Playing Magazine Source: Now Playing Magazine

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Batman

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How much awesomeness can you fit into one film? Well, this one certainly pushes the boundaries. This highly stylised Tim Burton adaptation of one of the most iconic comic characters ever is an exciting and darkly atmospheric adventure story. Michael Keaton plays a very straight and seriousness Bruce Wayne, under acts

November 15, 2011

Joel Kelly

Super Reviewer

The original is still the best.

September 30, 2011

Jason Robinson

Super Reviewer

Batman Quotes

View All

1. Vicki Vale: What exactly do you want?
2. Joker/Jack Napier: My face on the one dollar bill.
– Submitted by John P (1 day ago)
1. Goon: WHO ARE YOU?
2. Batman/Bruce Wayne: [pulls the thug up close] I'm Batman.
– Submitted by John P (1 day ago)
1. Carl Grissom: Jack Listen maybe we can cut a deal?
2. Joker/Jack Napier: Jack? Jack is dead my friend you can call me Joker and as you can see im alot happier.
– Submitted by Patryk G (15 days ago)
1. Carl Grissom: Jack, listen... maybe we can work some kind of deal.
2. Joker/Jack Napier: Jack? Jack is dead my friend. But you can call me... Joker. And as you can see, I'm a lot happier.
– Submitted by Michael C (51 days ago)
1. Joker/Jack Napier: I think I've got a live one here! [laughs]
– Submitted by Hayden ( (57 days ago)

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