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Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 154 Ratings

  • Starring: Jack Nicholson, Michael Keaton
  • Summary: Tim Burton's 1989 Blockbuster introduces us to the origins of Gotham City's fearless crimestopper Batman (Keaton) and his arch-enemy The Joker (Nicholson).
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 17
  2. Negative: 1 out of 17
  1. It's a rare, beautifully made movie that offers you another world. [23 June 1989, Daily Datebook, p.E1]
  2. Reviewed by: Andrew Collins
    80
    Jack Nicholson as The Joker helpfully provides all the colour.
  3. Reviewed by: Staff (Non Credited)
    60
    Despite its interesting, grim tone and undeniably striking visuals from director Burton and production designer Furst, the film fails to synthesize its strengths into a compelling whole.
  4. The Joker has been demoted into a broad-scale sociopath, without a tempter's power or a mythic villain's complexity. And that's the movie's real undoing. [23 June 1989, Calendar, p.6-1]

See all 17 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 42 out of 50
  2. Negative: 6 out of 50
  1. By no means is this is a
  2. An excellently written and technically superb action film, featuring one of the greatest turns of the titular character by way of Michael Keaton.
  3. Probably one of my most nostalgic movie franchise was the batman series, from Tim Burton's original to even Batman and Robin. With that said, this one was one I never watched as much compared to the sequal. I just didn't get into it. Watching it now I realize it's probably one of the best ones, in my opinion I like Batman returns more. I got this movie along with the next three in what's probably now called a box set, I watched all of them multiple times; I didn't know how bad the last one was, and enjoyed watching most of them. I guess I should start talking abut the movie now instead of how I got it, the best things in this movie are shown right in the opening. The score to this is now iconic, I think it's better than Nolan's score. It sets the mood, it gets exciting, and just feels so triumphant. The actors are a good choice as well. Michael Keaton is now famous for his role as Batman, giving a settle Bruce Wayne character and the bruting Batman. Jack Nicolson; I'm a big fan of his now, he gives a sorta hoakey performance. I mean, he's not at all scary, more funny in fact, but he does what he wants and we love him for it. The supporting cast from Bruce's butler Alfred are good, and the reporter is...okay. Okay so she isn't anything great, if anything she's annoying. I think the plot is interesting; being Tim Burton he gives a shot at 60's culture, satire of how people fancy themselves with make-up and other products, and decide to use it against the populous. The sleek and dark look of gotham is forever remembered in the eyes of filmmakers, having essence of Chicago and other crime driven cities. Also this film was I believe criticised for its dark tone; when that would come full bloom in the next installment, and in all honesty it's not that dark, it's darkly shot if that's what they meant. Now my final verdict for this film is what it is because it holds good nostalgia; even if it's not my favorite in the series, some good performances, and it's just to see the caped crusader on the big screen done right. Expand
  4. Riren
    4
    Good for children and little more, Tim Burton's vision of Gotham is underwhelming. Every set is either boring or art designed to death. The score is legendary, but can't save the wooden acting of all but one cast member - Jack Nicholson, who turns in an all-time great performance as the villain, the Joker. He gleefully steals every scene he's in, and thank goodness for him. The action is overwrought and cloying. Worse, several of its plot decisions (no spoilers here) became cliches that ruined several other franchises, including this one. Expand

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