Batman (1989)

Prior to this 1989 masterpiece, the Batman character was struggling a little bit against the popular series Adam West, which had thrown a huge shadow over him. Even though comics like The Dark Knight Returns have made some impacts, it was quite clear at the time that Batman’s number 1 spot as the most beloved hero was in danger. He reclaimed his throne when Batman (1989) was launched.

Although Batman (1989) brought about an unfamiliar change in the visual aesthetic of Dark Knight brand (the Gotham City was created by production design expert Anton Furst) it is still a highly enjoyable film. Director Tim Burton was clearly in love with the 1960s comic books, but he still wanted to produce something new and different.

Michael Keaton's Bruce Wayne is a charming but quirky millionaire. Meanwhile, the Joker, as portrayed by the magnificent Jack Nicholson, is hysterically theatrical. Keaton matches Nicholson's quiet portrayal, despite the latter's obvious star power at the time. Hence, it is no surprise that fans still enjoy Keaton's Batman decades later. This 1989 film launched a wave of “Batmanmania” years later, cementing the Dark Knight's status as one of Hollywood's most significant fictional characters.

Release year: 1989

Stars: Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson

IMDB Score: 7.5/10