‎Batman (1989) directed by Tim Burton • Reviews, film + cast • Letterboxd

Batman

1989 Directed by Tim Burton

Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?

The Dark Knight of Gotham City begins his war on crime with his first major enemy being the clownishly homicidal Joker, who has seized control of Gotham's underworld.

Jack Nicholson Michael Keaton Kim Basinger Michael Gough Pat Hingle Billy Dee Williams Jack Palance Jerry Hall Tracey Walter Lee Wallace William Hootkins Edwin Craig Robert Wuhl Vincent Wong Richard Strange Christopher Fairbank Richard Durden Sam Douglas

126 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by Matt Singer ★★★★ 22

"Alfred, could you come here for a sec?"

"Yes, Master Bruce?"

"Did you let Vicki Vale in the Batcave?"

"..."

"Y'know I'm trying to maintain a secret identity here, right?"

"Yes, Master Bruce."

"Kinda hard to do that when YOU LET RANDOM WOMEN IN HERE."

"Yes, Master Bruce."

"And this was AFTER I told her we had to go out of town and YOU immediately told her we weren't going out of town! HOW DUMB DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO MAKE THAT MISTAKE?"

"Yes, Master Bruce."

"Look, I hate to do this. You're a good guy, and you make a really good bowl of chowder. But I'm afraid I'm going to have to let you go."

"But... Master Bruce..."…
Review by Sam Van Hallgren ★★★★★ 19

Count me among those few who prefers this to any of the Nolan films.

After revisiting for the first time in at least a decade (and likely two decades), I discovered a film whose power comes from a rare alchemy of artifice, absurdity and horror. It starts with the score. Elfman's work is one for the ages and does a lot of heavy lifting early in the film (specifically making Nicholson's Jack Napier about 80% more sinister in those early scenes). Secondly, the set design - with special adoring emphasis on that first shot of Gotham, all dark, smudged pastels, like something out of Caligari or Metropolis. The opening scene when we're introduced to Keaton's Batman is impeccable. His "I'm…
Review by Ivica_Pusticki ★★★★½ 1

I decided to watch Batman again as a moral support to Michael Keaton and him being robbed at the Oscars! IMO he should have jump on the stage, grab Redmayne and ask him "You ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?"!

Anyway...Batman is still awesome! Love the soundtrack, love the effects, look of the movie...everything! Although I still prefer Batman Returns just for an inch...
Review by Evan ★★★★½ 4

Jack Nicholson's Joker >>> Heath Ledger's Joker

Don't get me wrong both were absolutely fantastic. But based on who The Joker is in the comic book, Jack Nicholson literally embodied him perfectly. I love Heath Ledger and his Joker, but Jack Nicholson was a better comic book Joker.

Tim Burton's Batman is definitely one of the best comic book films out there.
Review by Arielrocks5 ★★★★★ 20

There's a lot of movies I watch again and wonder to myself why I don't watch them more often. It can't be because of time (I have plenty of that when I'm not working), but it could be because of an underlying fear of getting tired of seeing something you once loved.

After all, sometimes there can be too much of a good thing; but then other times, I revisit old favorites of mine that I watch every once and awhile to see if they still hold up, and sure enough, they often do, and this is definitely one of those cases.

There's always something I come to appreciate each time I end up seeing this, and I think the…
Review by DirkH ★★★★½ 13

I will be honest. I did not really care for the film the first time I saw it. As a kid I was always a Marvel man and automatically didn't care for the DC heroes at all.

But that was almost 25 years ago....

After rewatching it I was a bit shocked to discover it is that old. As it really doesn't show at all. I was also rather shocked by how much more I liked it this time round. If ever a film aged well it is this one.

This has, of course, a lot to do with Burton. Here his visual flair is fresh and absolutely spot on. He manages to give the film the feel of a…

Recent reviews

Review by shaunlybee

Certainly not the best Batman film, but I stand by Michael Keaton as the most enjoyable Batman.
Review by Greg Brown ★½

A big deal at the time for the franchise fervor and re-establishing Batman as a gloomy character after memories of the '60s show, but everything appealing here has been done way better elsewhere—particularly in the animated series following this film.

Anton Furst's matte paintings are outstanding but the rest of the production design comes across as sound-stagey (and not in the way that embraces it like Forever/B&R). Fun lines, but so many flat scenes that feel obligatory or expository.
Review by Kman123 ★

Jesus Christ what a piece of shit. Why do people like this?
Review by Hadi_E ★★★½

- "Tell me something my friend, have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?"

The movie that started it all, Tim Burton brings his unique vision of the caped crusador to the big screen. Batman is an all time classic.
Review by ferrisay ★★★★

This is cheesy, camp and at times a bit silly but ultimately a great deal of fun.

Gotham City is portrayed perfectly here, something I couldn't say for Nolan's mostly superior trilogy.
Batman has a real comic-book feel but it's definitely a lot darker and the storytelling is on another level to the American TV Series starring Adam West.

If certain elements were improved upon such as the electrocution scene or the Joker dancing about aimlessly and endlessly in the finale, this could well hold up even better.

I prefer to concentrate on the charm this movie provides, which it does in abundance.
Review by parrrker ★★★

wow nolan lifted a ton of stuff from this movie, the parade, the pen thing, the broadcast...
Review by Lewis Penney ★★★½

"Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?"

I'm so confused with what just happened in this film with all the prince stuff, like what?
Review by Henry Confidential ★★★★

The relationship between Bruce and Vicky make this movie more than just a superhero movie... it provides stakes and character.

Jack Nicholson as Jack Napier is great because, although not necessary, it wa cool to get a back story from the joker. Seeing him transform to regular scum to a tirade human being is beautiful. He was funny and menacing and an overall damn good character.

Solid movie with decent action and good characters despite various over the top dialogue and actions.

8.5/10
Review by bobby ★★★½

I want to start watching more superhero movies and I quite enjoyed this one.

I really liked Jack Nicholsen's Joker, he was more like the main character then batman to be honest but it worked because that character definitely suits Tim Burtons style more.

I'm still not sold on Michael Keaton as batman but I'll watch the next film in the series and see if seeing him more in the role changes my mind.