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Batman Returns

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2:28

Batman Returns

PG-13

Released Jun 19, 1992

2h 6m

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

93 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

The monstrous Penguin (Danny DeVito), who lives in the sewers beneath Gotham, joins up with wicked shock-headed businessman Max Shreck (Christopher Walken) to topple the Batman (Michael Keaton) once and for all. But when Shreck's timid assistant, Selina Kyle (Michelle Pfeiffer), finds out, and Shreck tries to kill her, she is transformed into the sexy Catwoman. She teams up with the Penguin and Shreck to destroy Batman, but sparks fly unexpectedly when she confronts the caped crusader.

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Critics Consensus

Director Tim Burton's dark, brooding atmosphere, Michael Keaton's work as the tormented hero, and the flawless casting of Danny DeVito as The Penguin and Christopher Walken as, well, Christopher Walken make the sequel better than the first.

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Stephanie Rosenfeld

Bitch Media

Why isn't this movie called Catwoman?

Dec 17, 2020

Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

A strange beast.

Rated: 2/5

May 17, 2019

Full Review

Justin Clark

Slant Magazine

The strange, ambitious character work that comprises Batman Returns is wrapped in the perfunctory framework of a Tim Burton superhero film.

Jun 19, 2017

Full Review

Noah Gittell

Washington City Paper

Batman Returns transcends its genre and shines its Bat-Signal on our foibles and neuroses, conveying a collective humanity with neither heroism nor villainy, just a long, slow trip into the dark.

Dec 9, 2024

Full Review

Joshua Stevens

Loud and Clear Reviews

Ah, remember when superhero movies used to be weird? [...] Returns on its own is a fascinating beast, a movie following iconic characters that have been interpreted and reinterpreted throughout the years. Yet, it’s a movie only Burton could have made.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 3, 2024

Full Review

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Although Batman Returns is tonally lighter than its predecessor, the film nevertheless exists in the shadows. It’s also weirder, an indication of Burton exerting stronger creative control.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 12, 2024

Full Review

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patrick p

My son and I loved it !!! I saw it when it first came out in 1992, and didnt realize how well done it truly is until I grew older. Its visually amazing, and also has a great story, music, and just an all around great movie. Go and see it !! :)

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/18/22

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Oscar O

In three years the writing and acting went downhill from the first movie to the second movie everybody just wants to hump cat woman and the global warming agenda has started to be forced down our throats!!! It’s a shame. This movie is not appropriate for younger children and this movie is not as good as the first one by a huge margin.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

09/18/22

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Melissa M

my son and I loved seeing this Batman movie in the theater!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/18/22

Full Review

Nicholas B

Good movie, was not to exciting but good characters and casting.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/25/25

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John S

Somewhere along the line I had decided that this was my favourite of the first 4 Batman films, but it will be interesting to see the third and fourth again to compare them all. Batman Returns is entertaining and it's better than the (decent) first film, but I've found them both unsatisfying overall. I guess I've grown accustomed to superhero films having more serious stories with believable motives. The camp is fun. (Michelle Pfeiffer is effing phenomenal!) But the wanton destruction and silly props are callbacks to some very low standards in filmmaking. Though Gotham looks great and the soundtrack is bombastic fun, I just didn't love this the way I thought I once did.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/24/25

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Matt O

“Solid performances and a darker vibe” – 3/5 Batman Returns definitely feels like a step up from the earlier campy flicks. Michael Keaton is solid as always, and the characters are all well done, though this Penguin is definitely a different kind of creepy. Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman brings some charm, even if her performance can feel a bit corny at times. The story and plot hold together better than most Batman movies from that era, with a darker tone that works for me. It’s not perfect, but it’s got enough going on to keep you interested and entertained.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/22/25

Full Review

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Tim Burton

Director

Michael Keaton

Bruce Wayne

Danny DeVito

Oswald Cobblepot

Michelle Pfeiffer

Selina Kyle

Christopher Walken

Max Shreck

Michael Gough

Alfred Pennyworth

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Batman Returns: Trailer 1

2:28

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Synopsis

The monstrous Penguin (Danny DeVito), who lives in the sewers beneath Gotham, joins up with wicked shock-headed businessman Max Shreck (Christopher Walken) to topple the Batman (Michael Keaton) once and for all. But when Shreck's timid assistant, Selina Kyle (Michelle Pfeiffer), finds out, and Shreck tries to kill her, she is transformed into the sexy Catwoman. She teams up with the Penguin and Shreck to destroy Batman, but sparks fly unexpectedly when she confronts the caped crusader.

Director: Tim Burton
Producer: Tim Burton, Denise Di Novi
Screenwriter: Bob Kane, Sam Hamm, Daniel Waters
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Warner Brothers, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 19, 1992, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 31, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $160.3M
Runtime: 2h 6m
Sound Mix: Surround

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