Batman is a 1989 superhero film based on the fictional DC Comics character Batman. Tim Burton directed the film, which stars Michael Keaton as Batman, as well as Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger and Robert Wuhl. The film is the first installment of Warner Brothers' Batman film series, and tells the story of Bruce Wayne romancing with Vicki Vale (played by Basinger). He also deals with the rise of a powerful villain known as "The Joker" (Nicholson).
Plot
With a 200 year anniversary parade approaching, Gotham City is in the grip of crime boss Carl Grissom. Despite the best efforts of newly-elected district attorney Harvey Dent (who later becomes the esteemed crook, Two Face) and police commissioner James Gordon, the police department remains corrupted. Reporter Alexander Knox and photo-journalist Vicki Vale begin investigating the truth behind the rumors of a shadowy vigilante figure dressed as a bat, who has been terrifying criminals throughout the city.
Vale and Knox attend a benefit at the mansion of billionaire Bruce Wayne, who is taken by Vicki's charms. That same night, Grissom's second in command, Jack Napier, attempts to raid a chemical factory. When the police arrive, Napier realizes he's been set-up by his boss, angered by his affair with Grissom's mistress. In the midst of the shoot-out, Batman arrives and Napier falls into a vat of toxic waste. He survives, but is left insane, his skin bleached white and his hair dyed green. He visits a plastic surgeon in an attempt to reconstruct his face, but the surgeon accidentally transforms his mouth into a permanent smile. He becomes "The Joker".
After killing Grissom, The Joker takes over his empire and holds the city at his mercy by chemically altering everyday hygiene products so that those using a certain combination of products die. Batman, who is revealed (to the audience) to be Bruce Wayne's alter ego, attempts to track down The Joker, who has become romantically interested in Vicki. The Joker, it turns out, killed Bruce's parents as a young criminal.
The Joker holds a parade through Gotham, luring its citizens on to its streets by dispensing money, intending to kill them with a lethal gas. Batman foils his plan, but The Joker kidnaps Vicki and takes her to the top of Gotham Cathedral. After a fight with Batman, The Joker falls to his death from the belfry. When police officers surround the Joker's body, they hear a sound of laughing. It turns out to be a laughing sound machine in his pocket. At the film's end, Commissioner Gordon unveils the Bat-Signal along with a note from Batman, promising to defend Gotham whenever crime strikes again.
Reception
Batman opened on June 23, 1989, grossing $40.49 million in 2,194 theaters during its opening weekend. The film would eventually gross $251.2 million in North America and $160,160,000 in foreign countries, coming at a total of $411.35 million. Batman was the first film to earn $100 million in its first ten days of release. Batman is the highest grossing film based on a DC comic book series, and 42nd highest ever in North American ranks. Although Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade made the most money worldwide in 1989, Batman was able to beat The Last Crusade in North America, and made a further $150 million in home video sales.
Based on 46 reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, 72% of reviewers enjoyed the film, with the consensus of "an eerie, haunting spectacle, Batman succeeds as entertainment, but as an addition to the character's legacy, it rings disappointingly hollow". The film was more balanced with seven critics in Rotten Tomatoes's "Top Critics" poll, receiving a 57% approval rating. By comparison Metacritic collected an average score of 66, based on 17 reviews. Batman was criticized in some quarters for being "too dark". Many critics also felt Burton was more interested in The Joker rather than Batman in terms of characterization and screentime. Comic book fans reacted negatively over The Joker murdering Thomas and Martha Wayne. In the comic books, Joe Chill is responsible. The songs written by Prince were criticized for being "too out of place". While Burton has stated he had no problem with the Prince songs, he was less enthusiastic with their use in the film.
