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The Batman (film)
2022 superhero film by Matt Reeves From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Batman is a 2022 American superhero film based on the DC Comics character Batman. Directed by Matt Reeves from a screenplay he wrote with Peter Craig, it is a reboot of the Batman film franchise. Robert Pattinson stars as Bruce Wayne / Batman alongside Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Peter Sarsgaard, Andy Serkis, and Colin Farrell. The film sees Batman, in his second year fighting crime in Gotham City, uncover corruption with ties to his own family while pursuing the Riddler (Dano), a mysterious serial killer targeting the city's elite. Reeves and Dylan Clark produced the film for DC Films and Warner Bros. Pictures.
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A new Batman film was announced in October 2014 for the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) franchise to star Ben Affleck as the character. He signed on to also direct, produce, and co-write The Batman by 2016, but had reservations about the project and stepped down in January 2017. Reeves took over the following month and reworked the story, removing the DCEU connections to focus on a younger version of the character earlier in his vigilante career compared to Affleck's portrayal. He worked with Craig and Mattson Tomlin on the script, and sought to explore Batman's detective aspects more than previous films, drawing inspiration from the films of Alfred Hitchcock and the New Hollywood era, and comics such as "Year One" (1987), The Long Halloween (1996–97), and Ego (2000). Affleck left as the star in January 2019, Pattinson was cast in May, and additional actors joined later that year. Filming took place from January 2020 to March 2021, and was halted for several months by the COVID-19 pandemic. The production occurred throughout the United Kingdom, including on location in England and Scotland, as well as at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden. Cinematographer Greig Fraser shot the film with Industrial Light & Magic's StageCraft virtual production technology, while Michael Giacchino composed the musical score. The film has over 1,500 visual effects shots and is one of the longest superhero films ever made.
The Batman was theatrically released in the United States on March 4, 2022, three days after premiering at the Lincoln Center in New York City. It was delayed twice from an initial June 2021 release date due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film received mostly positive reviews, with praise for Reeves's approach, the performances of Pattinson and Kravitz, and the cinematography and score, although the tone, runtime, and third act received some criticism. It was a commercial success, grossing over $772 million worldwide against a $185–200 million budget, making it the seventh-highest-grossing film of 2022 and Warner Bros.'s highest-grossing pandemic release. Its financial performance set several pandemic-era box office records, particularly for IMAX screenings. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards and received numerous other accolades. The Batman is intended to start a trilogy and the "Batman Epic Crime Saga" franchise, with a sequel, The Batman: Part II, scheduled for release on October 1, 2027, while a spin-off television series starring Farrell, The Penguin, debuted on HBO in 2024.
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Plot
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On Halloween, Gotham City mayor Don Mitchell Jr. is murdered by a masked serial killer, the Riddler. Reclusive billionaire Bruce Wayne, who has operated for two years as the vigilante Batman, investigates the murder alongside Lieutenant Jim Gordon, much to the disdain of the Gotham City Police Department (GCPD). The Riddler has left a message for Batman at the crime scene. The following night, the Riddler kills the police commissioner, Pete Savage, and leaves another message for Batman. Batman and Gordon discover that the Riddler left a thumb drive in Mitchell's car containing images of Mitchell's affair with a woman, Annika Kosolov, at the Iceberg Lounge—a nightclub operated by the Penguin, crime boss Carmine Falcone's lieutenant. While the Penguin pleads ignorance, Batman notices that Annika's roommate Selina Kyle works at the club as a waitress. When Annika disappears, Batman sends Selina to the Iceberg Lounge for answers and discovers that Savage, Mitchell, and the district attorney Gil Colson are on Falcone's payroll.
The Riddler abducts Colson, straps a timed collar bomb to his neck, and sends him to interrupt Mitchell's funeral. When Batman arrives, the Riddler calls him via Colson's phone and threatens to detonate the bomb if Colson cannot answer three riddles. Colson refuses to answer the third—the name of the informant who gave the GCPD information that led to a historic drug bust ending mob boss Salvatore Maroni's operation—and is killed. Batman and Gordon deduce that the informant may be the Penguin and track him to a drug deal. They discover that Maroni's operation was transferred to Falcone, with many corrupt officers involved. Selina inadvertently exposes them when she arrives to steal money and discovers Annika's corpse in the trunk of a car. Batman captures the Penguin after a car chase, but he and Gordon learn that the Penguin is not the informant.
Batman and Gordon follow the Riddler's trail to the ruins of an orphanage initially funded by Bruce's deceased parents Thomas and Martha Wayne, where they learn that the Riddler holds a grudge against the Wayne family for failing the orphanage. Bruce's butler and caretaker Alfred Pennyworth is hospitalized after opening a letter bomb addressed to Bruce. The Riddler leaks evidence that Thomas, who was running for mayor before he was murdered, hired Falcone to kill Maroni's journalist, who was writing a story about Martha's family history of mental illness. Bruce confronts Alfred, who maintains that Thomas only asked Falcone to threaten the journalist into silence; upon learning that Falcone had murdered the journalist instead, Thomas planned to turn himself and Falcone over to the police. Alfred believes that Falcone had Thomas and Martha killed to silence them.
Selina reveals to Batman that Falcone is her father. After learning that Falcone killed Annika for discovering that he was the informant, Selina tries to kill him, but Batman and Gordon arrive in time to stop her. Gordon arrests Falcone, but the Riddler kills Falcone with a sniper rifle moments later. The Riddler is caught, unmasked as forensic accountant Edward Nashton, and incarcerated in Arkham State Hospital, where he tells Batman he took inspiration from him when targeting the corrupt. Batman learns that Nashton has planted car bombs and cultivated an online following that plans to assassinate Mayor-elect Bella Reál. The bombs destroy the seawall around Gotham and flood the city. Nashton's followers attempt to kill Reál at her victory celebration in an arena, but Batman and Selina stop them. Batman saves the crowds in the flooding arena from electrocution and leads them to safety. In the aftermath, Nashton befriends another inmate,[a] while Selina deems Gotham beyond saving and leaves. Batman continues to aid the city's recovery efforts and vows to inspire hope in Gotham rather than exacting vengeance.
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Cast
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- Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne / Batman:
A reclusive billionaire who obsessively protects Gotham City as a masked vigilante to cope with his traumatic past.[7] Batman is around 30 years old and is not yet an experienced crime fighter,[8][9] because director Matt Reeves wanted to explore the character before he becomes "fully formed".[10] Reeves and Pattinson described Batman as an insomniac who cannot delineate between the Batman persona and his "recluse rockstar" public identity as Bruce,[11][12] with Reeves comparing his obsession with being Batman to a drug addiction.[7] Pattinson said the film questions the nature of heroism,[13] as Batman is more flawed than traditional superheroes[14] and unable to control himself,[11] seeking to work out his rage and "inflict his kind of justice".[15] Reeves considered The Batman a story about Batman learning that he must not exact vengeance, but inspire hope.[16] Oscar Novak portrays a young Bruce,[17] while Rick English was Pattinson's stunt double.[18] - Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle / Catwoman:
A nightclub waitress, drug dealer, and cat burglar who meets Batman while searching for her missing roommate;[13][19][20] her moral ambiguity challenges Batman's black-and-white view of good and evil.[7] Kravitz said the character is becoming a femme fatale and "figuring out who she is, beyond just someone trying to survive".[21] She described her as a mysterious character with unclear motivations,[13] who represents femininity in contrast to Batman's masculinity.[22] She said the pair are "partner[s] in crime",[23] drawn together by their desire to fight for vulnerable people.[24] Reeves saw Selina as Batman's awakening to his own sheltered upbringing and preconceived assumptions.[25] Kravitz focused more on Selina than her Catwoman persona because she did not want to distract from the character's emotional journey,[13] and interpreted Selina as bisexual, which the character is depicted as in the comics.[26] - Paul Dano as Edward Nashton / The Riddler:
A forensic accountant who is inspired by Batman to become a serial killer who targets elite Gotham citizens and live streams his crimes.[27][28][29] An orphan raised in abject poverty, he resents Gotham's rich and powerful for ignoring the less fortunate, and seeks to "unmask the truth" about Gotham, taunting Batman and law enforcement with riddles.[30][31][32] Reeves said Batman inspiring the Riddler reflects the idea from the comics that he creates his own enemies and that the Riddler's attack on Gotham gives the character a "political agenda" as a terrorist-like figure.[27][33] He found Batman and the Riddler being "two sides of the same coin" unsettling, as they have similar goals.[25] He likened the Riddler to the Zodiac Killer, who he felt was the "real-life" Riddler for his practice of communicating with ciphers and riddles,[13] while Dano said his performance balanced the real-life basis with the Batman franchise's theatricality.[34] Joseph Walker portrays a young Nashton.[35] Due to citogenesis, the character is also depicted as using the alias "Patrick Parker".[36] - Jeffrey Wright as Jim Gordon:
An ally of Batman in the Gotham City Police Department (GCPD).[37][38] He is the only GCPD officer whom Batman trusts, and they work together to solve the Riddler case.[39] Wright described Gordon as relative to Batman, Gotham City, the GCPD, and to justice and corruption.[40] Similar to Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005–2012), Gordon begins as a GCPD lieutenant in The Batman, allowing his progression to commissioner to be depicted in subsequent films.[28] Wright felt that starting Gordon as the lieutenant enabled him to play a larger role than previous film iterations.[39] Reeves felt that Batman and Gordon's partnership is emphasized more in The Batman than it was in previous Batman films, and compared them to Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) and Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) from All the President's Men (1974).[25] - John Turturro as Carmine Falcone:
A Gotham crime boss and Selina's father.[41][42] The Riddler's primary target,[43] Falcone has much of Gotham under his control; Turturro described him as a "dangerous guy",[44] while Reeves said he appeared to be a "genteel mobster" but has a "dark history behind him" and compared him to Noah Cross (John Huston) from Chinatown (1974).[25] The Batman suggests that Falcone played a role in Batman's origin story by ordering the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne. Falcone wears vintage sunglasses throughout the film, as Turturro felt the character needed a "mask".[44] - Peter Sarsgaard as Gil Colson: Gotham's district attorney,[8] whom Sarsgaard described as untruthful and "distasteful".[45]
- Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth:
Batman's butler and mentor,[46] though they have a strained relationship and rarely speak.[47] Pattinson described Alfred as Batman's only confidant, even though Alfred "thinks he's gone insane".[48] Alfred has a military background, which is reflected in him being "used to rules and regulations, structure and precision" as well as his attire and demeanor. To illustrate Alfred's physical appearance as a military veteran, Reeves came up with the idea of him having a cane, while Serkis suggested his facial scars.[49] Serkis said Alfred was part of the British Secret Service before joining the Wayne Enterprises security team; his background led to him becoming more of a teacher or mentor rather than the father figure that Bruce needed.[50] Reeves noted that Alfred was forced into becoming Bruce's parental figure despite being inexperienced and young, and feels guilty that his flawed parenting of Bruce might have led to his obsessive journey as Batman.[25] - Colin Farrell as Oz / The Penguin:
Falcone's chief lieutenant who operates the Iceberg Lounge, the nightclub where Selina works.[20] He is not yet the crime kingpin he is depicted as in the comics,[19] and dislikes being referred to as the Penguin.[32][51] Reeves explained that the Penguin is a "mid-level mobster guy and he's got a bit of showmanship to him, but you can see that he wants more and that he's been underestimated".[52] Reeves compared the Penguin to Fredo Corleone (John Cazale) from The Godfather (1972), due to "the insignificance that he lives within, in a family that is full of very strong, very bright, very capable, very violent men".[53] The Penguin's surname, Cobb, was shortened from the original comic book name, Cobblepot, during the production of the spin-off series The Penguin (2024); during the film, he is only referred to as "Oz" or "the Penguin".[54]
Supporting cast members include: Jayme Lawson as Bella Reál,[8] a mayoral candidate for Gotham City who Reeves said represents hope;[25][55][56] Gil Perez-Abraham as Martinez, a GCPD officer;[57][58] Peter McDonald as William Kenzie, a corrupt GCPD officer;[59] Alex Ferns as Pete Savage, the GCPD commissioner;[60] Con O'Neill as Mackenzie Bock, the GCPD chief;[61][62] and Rupert Penry-Jones as Don Mitchell Jr., Gotham's mayor.[7][63] Barry Keoghan makes a cameo appearance as the Joker, who is credited as "Unseen Arkham Prisoner".[6] Other cast members are: twins Charlie and Max Carver as Iceberg Lounge bouncers, who are credited as "The Twins";[64] Hana Hrzic as Annika Kosolov, Selina's roommate;[42] Jay Lycurgo as a young gang member;[65][66] Akie Kotabe as a train passenger;[67] Sandra Dickinson as Dory, Bruce's caretaker and housekeeper;[68] and Luke Roberts and Stella Stocker as Bruce's parents, Thomas and Martha Wayne, respectively.[17]
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Production
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Ben Affleck was initially set to star in and develop The Batman before exiting due to several factors. Matt Reeves took over as writer and director, and focused on a younger version of Batman.
After Ben Affleck was cast as Bruce Wayne / Batman for the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) franchise in 2013,[69] he began developing a standalone Batman film for him to star in, which Warner Bros. announced in October 2014.[70][71][72] Affleck was also attached to direct and co-write the script with Geoff Johns by July 2015,[71][72][73] and they finished the first draft in March 2016.[74] In October, Affleck revealed the film was titled The Batman.[75] A planned sequel to the DCEU team-up film Justice League (2017) was later delayed to accommodate The Batman,[76] but the reception to the earlier DCEU film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), co-starring Affleck, prompted Warner Bros. to re-evaluate its approach to the DCEU, which led to Affleck's The Batman being "sidelined".[9] Affleck began to have reservations about directing the film,[77] and announced his departure as director in January 2017, but he still planned to star and produce.[78] He cited script issues and felt he would not enjoy directing it.[79][77] Chris Terrio turned in a rewrite of the script at that time.[80]
Matt Reeves, a longtime Batman fan, was hired to replace Affleck as director in February 2017.[81][13] Reeves reworked the film to focus on Batman earlier in his vigilante career,[82][83] emphasized the character's detective side further than prior Batman films,[63] and separated it from the DCEU.[84] Reeves wanted The Batman to be a noir film from Batman's perspective,[85] and he wrote a new script with Mattson Tomlin and Peter Craig,[86][87][88] drawing particular inspiration from the comic books Batman: The Long Halloween (1996–97), Dark Victory (1999–2000),[7][89] "Year One" (1987), Ego (2000), and "Zero Year" (2013–14),[90][91] as well as the character's earlier comic book runs.[7][92] Reeves was also inspired by films from the New Hollywood era, including The French Connection (1971), Klute (1971), Chinatown (1974), All the President's Men (1976), and Taxi Driver (1976), as well as director Alfred Hitchcock's films.[19][93][63]
In January 2019, Affleck confirmed that he was no longer starring,[94] due to various personal issues.[77] Robert Pattinson was subsequently cast as Batman in May,[95] followed by additional castings later that year, particularly for members of Batman's rogues gallery.[41] Reeves was a meticulous director during production of The Batman,[63] spending more time on fewer angles, a process he developed while directing the television series Felicity (1998–2002).[96] James Chinlund was set as the production designer,[97] while Greig Fraser served as cinematographer, reteaming with Reeves after working on his film Let Me In (2010).[98] The production used the StageCraft virtual production technology that Fraser helped develop for Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) on the Disney+ Star Wars series The Mandalorian (2019–2023),[99] particularly for consistent golden hour lighting inspired by the lighting from In the Mood for Love (2000).[100]
Principal photography began in January 2020 in London,[101] under the working title Vengeance,[102] and wrapped in March 2021.[103] Production was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, beginning two months after filming started,[104] and resumed in September after facing several setbacks.[105] Location shooting also took place in Scotland,[106] Liverpool,[107] and Chicago,[108][109] along with soundstage work at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden.[110] Dan Lemmon served as the visual effects supervisor, after previously collaborating with Reeves on his Planet of the Apes films.[111] Over 1,500 visual effects shots were created between Wētā FX, ILM, Scanline VFX, and Crafty Apes.[112][113] William Hoy and Tyler Nelson co-edited The Batman,[114] which is the longest Batman film and the third-longest superhero film after Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) and Avengers: Endgame (2019).[115] The film was produced by Warner Bros. Pictures,[116] DC Films,[117] Reeves's 6th & Idaho, and Dylan Clark Productions,[116][2] on a budget of $185–200 million,[3][4] with Pattinson earning a salary of $3 million.[118]
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Music
Reeves announced that his frequent collaborator Michael Giacchino would compose the score in October 2019,[119] when he had already written the main theme.[120] Giacchino completed the score in October 2021,[121] and his main theme was released as a single on January 21, 2022.[122] The full soundtrack album was released on February 25.[123] "Something in the Way" by Nirvana appears twice in the film.[124] The song coincidentally has a similar bassline to Giacchino's score.[125] "Ave Maria" by Franz Schubert is also featured and was performed by the Tiffin Boys' Choir and Dano.[126]
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Marketing
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Reeves released "moody, red-saturated" test footage of Pattinson in his Batman costume on February 13, 2020. The footage included early music written by Giacchino,[127][128] and generated discussion about the film's approach to Batman.[129] Chris Evangelista of /Film thought Pattinson's Batman looked much different from previous film depictions,[130] while Richard Newby of The Hollywood Reporter identified the costume's various references to past incarnations. Newby also noted that the bat emblem on the costume's chest resembled a pistol, and wondered if it was the pistol used to kill Batman's parents in his origin story.[129] The footage's use of the color red also led to discussions of how The Batman would differ tonally from previous adaptations.[128][129] On March 4, Reeves released an image of the film's Batmobile. Dino-Ray Ramos of Deadline Hollywood opined that it seemed "sexier and more streamlined than Batmobiles from the past", giving off "James Bond–meets–Fast and Furious energy" that seemed appropriate for Pattinson's version of the character.[131]
Reeves debuted a teaser trailer during the virtual DC FanDome event on August 22,[132] featuring a remix of the Nirvana song "Something in the Way" (1991) combined with Giacchino's score.[133] The trailer received 34 million views within 24 hours,[134] and according to CNET's Bonnie Burton and Jennifer Bisset, it "set the internet on fire". They noted its somber, grim tone.[135] Katrina Nattress of Spin and John Saavedra at Den of Geek respectively described its depiction of Gotham City as "dystopic" and "nightmarish".[133][136] Adam Chitwood of Collider praised what he saw as a "genuinely refreshing" approach to depicting the world of Batman,[137] and Saavedra wrote that it made The Batman look more like a detective story than a superhero film.[136] Alex Abad-Santos of Vox felt the film had more in common with the R-rated Batman spin-off Joker (2019) than other contemporary DC films. Abad-Santos also noted that some critics disliked the trailer's dark tone, as previous Batman films were similarly dark and "some aren't in the mood to watch all that darkness over again", but felt The Batman could show that "carte-blanche reactionary violence, retribution rewarded with material wealth, and a soulless existence driven by bloody, bone-snapping ambition isn't actually something regular people want to emulate".[138]
Reeves and Pattinson discussed the film at the Warner Bros. CinemaCon panel on August 24, 2021, where a sizzle reel of new footage was shown.[139] Reeves, Pattinson, and Kravitz debuted a second trailer as the finale of DC FanDome on October 16.[12] Daniel Chin at The Ringer said the trailer had been a highly anticipated part of the virtual event, and felt it did not disappoint. He and other commentators highlighted the trailer's dark, violent, and brutal approach to the character, which Chin felt was consistent with the teaser trailer.[140][141][142][143] Adam B. Vary of Variety specifically compared the tone to Christoper Nolan's "gritty" The Dark Knight films, believing The Batman would be darker and more violent than even those films.[141] Several commentators highlighted the trailer's footage of Farrell and his physical transformation for the role of the Penguin.[140][141][143] A Japanese trailer released on December 12 quickly led to discussion and speculation that the Joker would appear after fans spotted a figure resembling the character on a newspaper prop in the footage.[144]
Warner Bros. launched a viral marketing campaign in December 2021 with the website rataalada.com; Rata alada is Spanish for "winged rat". The website allows users to engage in simulated conversations with the Riddler, and solving his riddles unlocks promotional artwork.[145] The final reward for the website was the deleted scene where Batman meets with Keoghan's Joker in Arkham.[146] A third trailer, titled "The Bat and the Cat", was released on December 27 and focuses on the relationship between Batman and Catwoman.[147] /Film's Jeremy Mathai already felt the film's marketing had been great and was impressed that this was "yet another incredible trailer".[148] Asha Barbaschow and Rob Bricken of Gizmodo opined that Pattinson looked like a better Batman than his predecessors, Bale and Affleck. They were intrigued by the trailer's implication that the Riddler would position himself as an "agent of justice" and were excited at the prospect of Reeves altering Batman's origin story.[149] A prequel novel, Before the Batman: An Original Movie Novel, was written by David Lewman and released on February 1, 2022. It explores the origins of Batman and the Riddler.[150][151] More footage from the film was released later that month as part of a teaser for Warner Bros.' 2022 slate of DC films, which at that time included Black Adam, The Flash, and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.[152] In March 2022, Reeves announced The Riddler: Year One, a prequel comic book published bimonthly through DC's adult-oriented Black Label imprint from October 2022 to August 2023. The six-issue limited series was written by Dano and illustrated by Stevan Subic,[153] with covers by Bill Sienkiewicz.[154]
WarnerMedia spent $135 million promoting the film,[155] including over $28 million on television advertisements and licensed a significant amount of merchandise;[156][157] it described the promotion as the largest Batman merchandise collection in a decade.[158] Marketing partners included Mattel's Hot Wheels,[159] Lego,[160] McFarlane Toys,[161] Funko,[162] the Supercars Championship with the Ford Mustang GT,[163] Puma,[164][165] and Oreo,[156] while Google independently updated Google Search to display a Bat-Signal Easter egg for Batman-related search queries in February 2022.[166] In March, DC Comics published The Batman Box Set, a trade paperback collection featuring a slipcase with art by Jim Lee and the "Year One", The Long Halloween, and Ego comics.[90] Additionally, most of DC's March 2022 Batman-related comics feature variant covers based on the film.[167]
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Release
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Theatrical
Special screenings for The Batman were held in Paris on February 21, 2022, and in London on February 23, 2022.[168][169] The film's world premiere was held at the Lincoln Center in New York City on March 1, 2022, alongside 350 advance IMAX screenings across the United States,[170][171][172] ahead of its wide release by Warner Bros. Pictures on March 4.[173] It was originally set for release on June 25, 2021,[94] before it was pushed back to October 1, 2021,[174] and then to March 2022, both times after Warner Bros. adjusted its release schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[173] The Batman was the first superhero film to be released in China since Wonder Woman 1984 (2020), after multiple superhero films were denied releases in 2021.[175] Warner Bros. canceled the Russian release in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.[176]
Home media
The Batman was released for digital download, as well as to stream on HBO Max, on April 18, 2022,[177][178] a day earlier than announced.[179] It was the first Warner Bros.–distributed film in over a year that did not stream on HBO Max simultaneously with its theatrical release.[180] The film's linear television premiere was on HBO on April 23,[179] followed by physical release on Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and DVD by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on May 24.[177] According to Samba TV, 720,000 American households streamed the film during its first day of release on HBO Max.[181] It also had the most successful premiere for any film on HBO Max in Latin America.[182] Samba TV reported that by the end of its first week, the film had been watched by 4.1 million American households. This was higher than the viewership for nearly all day-and-date films released on HBO Max and the second best for a film on the platform during the first week of release, behind Mortal Kombat (2021), which had a viewership of 4.3 million households.[183]
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Reception
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Box office
The Batman grossed $369.3 million in the United States and Canada, and $402.9 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $772.3 million.[5] It is the seventh-highest-grossing film of 2022,[184] as well as the highest-grossing serial killer film.[185] The film's IMAX performance helped raise its overall first-quarter revenues ($60 million) by 55% and its global box office ($173.2 million) by 57% from the same period in 2021.[186][187] Deadline Hollywood calculated the film's net profit as $177 million, accounting for production budgets, marketing, talent participations, and other costs; box office grosses and home media revenues placed it seventh on their list of 2022's "Most Valuable Blockbusters".[155]
In the U.S. and Canada, The Batman was projected to gross $115–170 million from 4,417 theaters in its opening weekend, and around $330–475 million for its total domestic box office.[188][189][190] Tickets for the advance IMAX screenings sold out within a day of going on sale on February 8, 2022.[171] The film made $57 million on its first day in the U.S. and Canada, which included $17.6 million from Thursday night previews and $4 million from Tuesday and Wednesday advanced screenings.[191][192] It grossed $134 million in its opening weekend, becoming the second film released during the COVID-19 pandemic to gross over $100 million in the U.S. and Canada in its opening weekend, after Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021).[180] It also became Warner Bros.' highest-grossing pandemic era film domestically in just three days, surpassing Dune (2021). More than 65% of the audience in the opening weekend was male, while more than 60% were 18–34 years old.[180] The film grossed $66.5 million in its second weekend, dropping 50% and staying atop the box office.[193][194] The third weekend saw it gross $36.7 million, a fall of 45%,[195] while also making it the second film in the pandemic era to make more than $300 million in the U.S. and Canada.[196] In the fourth weekend it was displaced to the second spot by The Lost City, earning $20.5 million for a drop of 44%.[197][198]
In South Korea, The Batman opened to $1.7 million, the biggest opening in the country in 2022.[188] Through March 2, it had earned $5.3 million across eight countries. In France, it earned $2.1 million, the highest opening of 2022. Through March 4, it had earned an estimated $54 million in 74 countries outside the U.S. and Canada. In the United Kingdom, it opened to $6.4 million, the second-highest opening in the country during the pandemic. It had the second-highest pandemic opening in Spain as well, earning $1.2 million.[199] It grossed around $124.2 million by the end of the week in 74 countries outside the U.S. and Canada, and ranked first in 73 of them during the weekend. It earned $22.3 million globally in IMAX theaters, the second-highest opening weekend for the chain since December 2019.[200] This was also the highest opening for a movie outside the U.S. and Canada in 2022, the highest for Warner in the pandemic era, as well as the third biggest overall during the pandemic.[201] In addition, it had the second-highest opening weekend of the pandemic era in sixteen countries including the United Kingdom ($18.1 million), Mexico ($12.1 million), Australia ($9.3 million), Brazil ($8.8 million), France ($8.4 million), Germany ($5.1 million), South Korea ($4.4 million), Italy ($4.1 million), Spain ($3.7 million), and India ($3.4 million).[180][199] It also earned the biggest opening weekend for Warner Bros. in 62 countries during the pandemic and its biggest-ever opening weekend in seven countries.[202]
The film earned $66.6 million from 76 markets outside the U.S. and Canada in its sophomore weekend for a drop of 42%, including a $3.2 million opening in Japan.[203] The film reached the $500 million-milestone on March 17, becoming the eighth pandemic-era film to do so, while also becoming Warner Bros.' highest-grossing film during the pandemic.[202][204] In its third weekend, it made $49.1 million in countries other than the U.S. and Canada, a drop of 46%.[205] In China, it opened to a $11.8 million weekend according to Artisan Gateway while 30–43% of the theaters were closed, the best opening in the country for an American film in 2022, acquiring the top position at the box office.[206] It grossed $25.3 million during the fourth weekend for a fall of 49%,[207] including $3.1 million in China, where it was displaced by Moonfall.[207][208] It crossed the $750 million-milestone on April 17, becoming the fifth pandemic era film to do so, with the largest running-total countries being the United Kingdom ($53.2 million), Mexico ($30.7 million), Australia ($27 million), France ($25.9 million), Brazil ($22.6 million), China ($22.5 million), Germany ($18.9 million), Spain ($11.8 million), Italy ($11.2 million), and Japan ($10 million).[201][209]
Critical response
Critics hailed The Batman as one of the best Batman films and a revival of the franchise, praising Reeves's grounded direction and focus on the titular character, the noir detective narrative, the performances of Pattinson and Kravitz, the cinematography, and the score. However, the dark and serious tone, as well as the long runtime, received a more mixed response, while the third act and perceived copaganda were met with some criticism.[210][211] On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 85% of 527 critics gave the film a positive review and an average rating of 7.7/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "A grim, gritty, and gripping super-noir, The Batman ranks among the Dark Knight's bleakest—and most thrillingly ambitious—live-action outings."[212] Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 72 out of 100 based on 68 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[213] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave it an average of "A−" on an A-to-F scale, while those polled at PostTrak gave it an 87% positive score and 4½ out of five stars, with 71% saying they would definitely recommend it.[191]
IGN contributor Alex Stedman rated it 10 out of 10, praising its accuracy to the comics, the performances of Pattinson and Kravitz, and the film's production values. He particularly noted the chemistry between Pattinson and Kravitz, calling Kravitz's performance the best in the film.[214] Adam Nayman of The Ringer praised the film's technical aspects and visual style, comparing it favorably to works by Alfred Hitchcock. However, he criticized the final act and found the climax underwhelming, feeling it echoed Joker (2019) too closely. Despite these critiques, Nayman appreciated how the film handled Batman's psychology.[215] Jason Mottram of The National called it "one of the darkest and most compelling comic-book movies of the modern era", praising the performances, action, and story, particularly Reeves's portrayal of the Penguin and Batman as the "World's Greatest Detective".[216]
Digital Spy reviewer Ian Sandwell highlighted the film's "film-noir vibes" and strong production values, praising its focus on Batman as a detective, which he felt justified the runtime.[217] Clarisse Loughrey from The Independent rated it four out of five, praising the visual aesthetic for blending realism with Gothic elements, though she felt the runtime was excessive.[218] David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter praised the film's "intelligent, emotionally nuanced storytelling", its exploration of institutional corruption, and its unique Gothic identity, though he wished for more levity.[116] Peter Debruge at Variety admired the film's noir elements and its interrogation of the superhero concept, finding it relevant to contemporary issues.[87] Alex Abad-Santos of Vox appreciated the film's detective-oriented story and exploration of Batman's character.[219]
However, some critics were less enthusiastic. Richard Brody of The New Yorker liked the first two hours but felt the characters were underdeveloped, reducing the impact of the climax.[220] Ann Hornaday from The Washington Post rated it one-and-a-half out of four, criticizing its dark visuals, runtime, and reliance on dialogue, although she appreciated Pattinson's performance.[221] Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle also gave a negative review, finding the political commentary and tone unvaried, and criticizing the film's length.[222] Similarly, A. O. Scott of The New York Times praised the performances and score but found the dark visuals and exposition overwhelming.[223] Kim Newman of Sight and Sound criticized the film's length and felt the secondary characters were underdeveloped, though he praised the detective aspects and visual elements.[224]
Accolades
At the 95th Academy Awards, The Batman received nominations for Best Sound, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and Best Visual Effects.[225] The film's other nominations include four British Academy Film Awards and three Critics' Choice Movie Awards.[226][227]
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Thematic analysis
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Perspective
Class conflict and inequality
Class conflict is a central concept featured in The Batman,[228] with Marco Vito Oddo of Collider asserting that the main theme is social inequality.[229] Three of the primary characters—Batman, the Riddler, and Catwoman—are orphans from different economic backgrounds. Whereas Batman grew up in privilege, the Riddler only knew torment, while Catwoman experienced hardship.[229] The Riddler's frustration with his upbringing leads to him lashing out against the wealthy, reflecting that criminality is born from desperation.[230] JM Mutore of The A.V. Club and Susana Polo of Polygon said the Riddler falls into "the trap of villains who are right", opining that he is correct to expose the corruption that has harmed the unfortunate.[231][232] Chrishaun Baker of Inverse added that the film never frames the Riddler's frustration as wrong,[230] though Brandon Zachary of Comic Book Resources argued that the Riddler is "inherently wrong" to think that change can be achieved through violence even if his motivations are understandable.[228]
Zachary wrote that Batman, Catwoman, and the Riddler's upbringings give each character a different worldview: Batman's is narrow and binary, the Riddler adopts a "bitter and cruel" method to fight corruption that harms innocents, and Catwoman acknowledges the corrupting power of wealth but only becomes violent when her friends are harmed.[228] The film draws parallels between the three characters, reflecting a popular notion that Batman is similar to his adversaries.[233] Adam Nayman of The Ringer felt the film highlighted the themes of duality between Batman and his foes, and opined that Batman and the Riddler feel like "secret siblings" rather than "two different case studies in forlorn orphan psychology".[215] Catwoman and the Riddler make Batman realize that poverty and inequality are the roots of Gotham's troubles, and inspire him to become an agent of hope and use his wealth to prevent social inequality.[229] Baker wrote that the film ends with Batman realizing he "has to fight for the will of the people, amongst the people, against the very same institutions that make hollow promises to protect them".[229][230]
Depiction of Batman
Baker said that previous Batman films tend to reflect right-wing themes, with Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan's adaptations respectively featuring libertarian and "vaguely authoritarian" depictions of Batman. The Batman departs by questioning Batman's ethics and focusing on his material wealth.[230] The film highlights that Batman's wealth does not alleviate his suffering and explores the idea that he should be more philanthropic;[229] initially, Batman does not realize he is taking his wealth for granted and could be using it to help Gotham.[230] Mutore felt The Batman was more direct in addressing the issue than previous Batman films, but "circumvents this argument" by portraying Thomas Wayne's attempt at philanthropy as only leading to corruption,[231] while Baker felt the film directly addresses the issue by having progressive mayoral candidate Bella Reál confront Bruce about his wealth.[230] Conversely, Nayman argued the film does not focus on his class as much as previous films did because he is depicted as a recluse.[215]
The Batman also explores grief, trauma, and the "horror" of living with post-traumatic stress disorder through Batman. Batman's initial antagonism towards Alfred and apathy towards Catwoman's situation stem from the death of his parents and his inability to communicate with people due to his fear of suffering more emotional pain. His obsession with solving the Riddler case is a method of coping with the trauma of losing his parents, while his obsession with being Batman is the result of channeling his rage into what Marcus Shorter of Bloody Disgusting called a "dogmatic dedication to his chosen crimefighting craft". The film concludes with Batman recognizing that he must process his trauma to help improve Gotham.[234] Batman's relationship with law enforcement differs from that in previous Batman films. Burton's films depict the police as an incompetent force that Batman supersedes, while Nolan's films depict them as people who are willing to bend the law to assist him. The Batman portrays Batman as having a hostile relationship with the Gotham police, who view him as a criminal. Baker said that "[e]very time Batman interacts with the police, there's a palpable sense of discomfort; to them, Batman represents a level of oversight that they're not used to having to contend with".[230] Baker called this "timely" given the contemporary American sociopolitical context including increased awareness of police brutality.[230]
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Future
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Perspective
By May 2019, The Batman was intended to start a new Batman-focused film trilogy and shared universe,[20][235][236] referred to as the "Batman Epic Crime Saga".[237] By October 2022, Reeves was meeting with writers and directors for several film and television series spin-offs of The Batman that were in early development alongside the trilogy and centered on members of Batman's rogues gallery, such as Scarecrow, Clayface, and Professor Pyg.[238] Reeves was later set to produce DC Studios projects for both his "Crime Saga" and that studio's new franchise, the DC Universe (DCU),[239] including the DCU film Clayface (2026).[240] DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran briefly considered integrating Pattinson's Batman into the DCU, but Reeves chose to keep his plans separate from that franchise.[241][242] The Batman and its sequels, as well as the spin-off series The Penguin (2024), are a part of DC Studios's standalone "DC Elseworlds" label.[243][244]
Sequel
The sequel, The Batman: Part II, is scheduled to be released on October 1, 2027, with Reeves returning as the director and co-writer with Tomlin.[245][246] Pattinson, Kravitz, Wright, Serkis, and Farrell reprise their respective roles as Batman, Catwoman, Gordon, Pennyworth, and the Penguin.[247][248] Part II follows Batman investigating another case that further explores the corruption and division within Gotham City following its flooding in The Batman and its aftermath in The Penguin.[249][250][247] A sequel was announced in April 2022,[251] but production was delayed multiple times due to the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes and Reeves's commitment to perfecting the script,[245][252][253] which was completed by the end of June 2025.[246] Filming is scheduled to begin at the start of January 2026 at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in England.[247][254]
Television series
By September 2021, HBO Max was developing a spin-off series focused on the Penguin, with Lauren LeFranc hired as showrunner.[236] In March 2022, HBO Max ordered The Penguin as a limited series,[255] with LeFranc writing all eight episodes,[256][257] and Craig Zobel directing the first three.[258] Farrell stars as the Penguin,[259] and executive produces the series alongside Reeves, Clark, LeFranc, Zobel, Bill Carraro, and Daniel Pipski.[258] The series premiered on HBO on September 19, 2024.[260]
In July 2020, HBO Max gave a series commitment to a police procedural television series centered on the Gotham City Police Department (GCPD), with Terence Winter set to write and serve as showrunner. Reeves, Winter, Clark, Pipski, and Adam Kassan were executive producers of the series.[261][262] In August, Reeves said the series would be a prequel to The Batman, taking place during the first year of Batman's career and focusing on the corruption in Gotham and the GCPD. He said the series would be told from the perspective of one particular crooked cop, with the story being a "battle for his soul",[263] taking inspiration from the film Prince of the City (1981).[264] In November, Winter left the project due to creative differences,[265] and Joe Barton was hired to replace him in January 2021.[266] HBO still had creative issues with the project, especially with its protagonist being a corrupt cop,[264] and encouraged Reeves to focus on existing comics characters instead.[267] Wright revealed there had been discussions about him appearing in the series but he did not entertain the idea before the film's release.[268]
In March 2022, Reeves said the GCPD series was on indefinite hold, although he hoped to revisit the premise in the future. Reeves revealed that initial work on that series had led to work on a new idea based on the Arkham State Hospital. He said the series would build upon Arkham's introduction in the film and explore the origins of different characters related to it. He envisioned a horror tone, with Arkham being depicted as a haunted house.[264] Antonio Campos was hired to develop the Arkham series as its writer, director, showrunner, and an executive producer in October,[269] when DC Studios bought the series' pitch for the DCU.[239] The GCPD series was still in development by then,[269] but both series were no longer moving forward by July 2024,[270][271] though some elements of the GCPD series were integrated into The Penguin.[237]
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Notes
References
Further reading
External links
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