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It’s the age-old question that has sparked many a heated debate: is Batman Returns a Christmas movie? We take a look at the evidence to try and answer this question once and for all.
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Introduction
The answer to this question is a resounding no, Batman Returns is not a Christmas movie. While the film was released in June of 1992, and takes place during the holiday season, it is not a film about Christmas. Rather, it is a dark and brooding superhero movie that happens to take place during Christmas. So while you can watch it during the holiday season, don’t expect it to bring any holiday cheer.
What is Batman Returns?
Batman Returns is a 1992 American superhero film directed by Tim Burton, based on the DC Comics character Batman. It is the sequel to Batman (1989) and the second installment of Warner Bros.’ initial Batman film series, and stars Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Danny DeVito as the Penguin, and Michelle Pfeiffer as Selina Kyle / Catwoman.
The plot of Batman Returns
Batman Returns is a 1992 American superhero film directed by Tim Burton, based on the DC Comics character Batman. It is the sequel to the 1989 film Batman and stars Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne / Batman, alongside Danny DeVito as the Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer as Selina Kyle / Catwoman.
The Penguin is an unassuming businessman who controls Gotham City’s underworld and has allied himself with crime boss Max Shreck. Shreck plans to build a power plant for Gotham that will require the demolition of large sections of the city, which the Penguin intends to use to his advantage. meanwhile, Selina Kyle, a meek secretary whose life was saved by Batman when she was pushed out of a building by Shreck, discovers that her boss is planning to destroy Gotham’s historic Old Zoo. Faced with the loss of her home and employment, she turns to cat burglary and adopts a feline alter ego of her own: Catwoman.
As Christmas approaches, the two villains hatch separate plots to discredit Batman and take over Gotham. Ultimately, their schemes fail and they are both defeated by Batman; Catwoman reforming in the process. The film was released on June 19, 1992, grossing over $266 million worldwide.
The characters of Batman Returns
Batman Returns is a 1992 American superhero film directed by Tim Burton, based on the DC Comics character Batman. The sequel to Batman (1989), it features Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Danny DeVito as Oswald Cobblepot / The Penguin, and Michelle Pfeiffer as Selina Kyle / Catwoman.
The setting of Batman Returns
The film is set during the Christmas season in Gotham City.
Themes in Batman Returns
Batman Returns is a 1992 American superhero film directed by Tim Burton, based on the DC Comics character Batman. It is the sequel to the 1989 film Batman and stars Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Danny DeVito as Oswald Cobblepot / The Penguin, and Michelle Pfeiffer as Selina Kyle / Catwoman.
Thematically, Batman Returns is about loners. These are characters who either don’t fit in, or who have been pushed out of their social groups. Bruce Wayne is an obvious loner – he’s a billionaire playboy who lives in a giant mansion with no one but his butler Alfred for company. Oswald Cobblepot is a deformed man who was abandoned by his parents and raised by penguins in the Gotham Zoo. And Selina Kyle is a woman who was abused by her father and then rejected by society when she tried to change her life for the better. These three characters are all loners who are looking for a place to belong.
Is Batman Returns a Christmas movie?
The answer to this question is highly debatable. Batman Returns was released in the United States on June 19, 1992, just in time for summer blockbuster season. The film was set during the Christmas season, but unlike other holiday-themed movies, it did not have a Christmas release date. This has led many people to wonder if Batman Returns is actually a Christmas movie.
There are several factors that could be considered when determining whether or not a movie is a Christmas movie. For example, does the movie take place during the Christmas season? Does the movie focus on the holiday or use it as a backdrop? Does the movie have any holiday-themed elements such as carols, snow, or Santa Claus?
In the case of Batman Returns, the answer is not clear cut. The movie does take place during the Christmas season and there are several holiday-themed elements present, but it is also a dark and gritty film that does not feel particularly festive. Ultimately, whether or not Batman Returns is considered a Christmas movie is up to the individual viewer.
The reception of Batman Returns
Batman Returns divided critics and audiences upon its release in the summer of 1992. The movie was a commercial success, grossing over $411 million worldwide. However, many people were put off by the film’s dark tone and Tim Burton’s artistic direction.
The legacy of Batman Returns
Batman Returns is a 1992 American superhero film directed by Tim Burton, based on the DC Comics character Batman. It is the second installment of Warner Bros.’ initial Batman trilogy, and a sequel to 1989’s Batman. The film stars Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne / Batman, alongside Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Michael Gough, Pat Hingle, and Billy Dee Williams. In the film’s plot, Gotham City is plunged into chaos when business tycoon Max Shreck (Walken) creates a new villain called the Penguin (DeVito) who plans to become mayor of Gotham City and create an alliance with Shreck.
While Warner Bros. had been happy with 1989’s Batman grossing over $400 million worldwide, Burton was interested in making a darker and more mature sequel with higher stakes than its predecessor. He recruited Danny DeVito to fill the role of Oswald Cobblepot / Penguin after deeming Robin Williams unsuitable for the part (Williams would later be cast as Riddler in 1995’s Batman Forever). Wesley Strick was brought on to rework the original script by Sam Hamm and Caroline Thompson; Strick removed references toBatman creator Bob Kane from the script out of respect for him after he passed away midway through production.
Production on Batman Returns began in June 1991 at Pinewood Studios in England; filming locations also included Rockefeller Center and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan as well as Chicago. The film completed principal photography on November 6 that year before entering post-production.
Batman Returns was released on June 19, 1992 and grossed over $266 million worldwide against its $80 million budget; this made it the sixth highest-grossing film worldwide that year and set a new record for an opening weekend with $47 million (a record which remained unbroken until 2002 with Spider-Man). The film received mixed reviews from critics but was praised for its performances (particularly those of Keaton and DeVito), Dark Knight-esque tone, visual style, action sequences, makeup (particularly DeVito’s), score by Elfman and production design; some critics who didn’t like it felt it didn’t live up to its predecessor or didn’t understand Burton’s vision for the franchise. Despite its mixed reception upon release 30 years ago today, time has been kinder to Batman Returns; it has since come to be considered one of the best Christmas films ever made as well as one of Burton’s best films overall.
Conclusion
Batman Returns is not a Christmas movie. While it is set during the holiday season, and features some Christmas elements, the overall tone of the film is dark and brooding. There are also very few references to Christmas, and the ones that are present are mostly negative. For these reasons, Batman Returns cannot be considered a Christmas movie.
