IMDb > Batman (1989)
Batman
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips
Photos (see all 68 | slideshow) Videos (see all 9)
Batman (1989) -- The Dark Knight of Gotham City begins his war on crime with his first major enemy being the clownishly homicidal Joker.
Batman (1989) -- Here's a clip from the movie Batman.
Batman (1989) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)
IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
7.6/10   102,946 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 41% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Tim Burton
Writers (WGA):
Bob Kane (Batman characters)
Sam Hamm (story)
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Batman on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
23 June 1989 (USA) more
Genre:
Action | Crime | Thriller more
Plot:
The Dark Knight of Gotham City begins his war on crime with his first major enemy being the clownishly homicidal Joker. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 7 wins & 16 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(392 articles)
More 'Spider-Man 4' Rumors, A 'Weird' Superman, And Chuck Norris: It's The Back-Issue Bin!
 (From MTV Splash Page. 20 November 2009, 8:42 PM, PST)
Michael Keaton: 'There's a price to pay for making your own choices'
 (From The Guardian - Film News. 19 November 2009, 1:40 PM, PST)
User Comments:
Dark and Doomy more (639 total)
US TV Schedule:
Sun. Nov. 292:30 AMAMC   

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Michael Keaton ... Batman / Bruce Wayne

Jack Nicholson ... Joker / Jack Napier

Kim Basinger ... Vicki Vale
Robert Wuhl ... Alexander Knox
Pat Hingle ... Commissioner James Gordon

Billy Dee Williams ... Harvey Dent
Michael Gough ... Alfred Pennyworth

Jack Palance ... Carl Grissom
Jerry Hall ... Alicia

Tracey Walter ... Bob the Goon
Lee Wallace ... The Mayor

William Hootkins ... Lt. Eckhardt

Richard Strange ... Goon
Carl Chase ... Goon
Mac McDonald ... Goon (as Mac Macdonald)
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
126 min
Country:
USA | UK
Language:
English | French
Colour:
Colour (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)
Certification:
Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Mexico:A | Malaysia:U | South Africa:PG (DVD rating) | Spain:13 | Netherlands:12 | Netherlands:6 (re-rating) | South Korea:15 | USA:TV-14 | Brazil:Livre | West Germany:12 (f) | Germany:12 | UK:15 (video rating) (1990) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Chile:14 | Finland:K-14 | France:U | Israel:PG | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:12 (original rating) | USA:PG-13 | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:12 | Iceland:10 (original rating)
Filming Locations:
Acton Lane Power Station, Acton Lane, Acton, London, England, UK more
Company:
Warner Bros. Pictures more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The theatrical trailer for Batman includes not only sequences presented without music, but there are also some alternate takes used in the trailer that were not used in the movie. Specifically: (1) The Joker shoots his television after saying "I have given a name to my pain." Nicholson loads his gun while speaking this line - in the film, he reveals the gun after speaking the line, and the explosion is also a different take. A wide shot was used in the finished film, but in the trailer, a close-up is used for Nicholson's line. (2) Michael Keaton's line "My life is really...complex" is shown here as a close-up which is a different take than the one used in the film. Additionally, in the movie, the take used is from a different camera position. (3) Robert Wuhl is seen asking the question, "Lieutenant, is there a six foot bat in Gotham City?" In the movie, a different take was used, with different things occurring in the background. Regarding this trailer, on the special edition DVD, Warner Bros. has removed the final screen card which originally indicated the film's release date in North America: June 23 (1989). more
Goofs:
Continuity: Pink handprints on a canvas in the museum. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Passenger: Excuse me.
Tourist Dad: I'm sorry, this is my cab.
Passenger: Sorry.
Tourist Dad: Listen, I was here first!
[as the cab drives away]
Tourist Dad: Oh, God! Oh, taxi? Taxi!
more
Movie Connections:
Spoofed in The Simpsons (1991) (VG) more
Soundtrack:
Vicki Waiting more

FAQ

Why does Batman's insignia on his chest look different?
Why did the Joker not return in other Batman movies?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
more

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
69 out of 100 people found the following comment useful.
Dark and Doomy, 21 November 2000
8/10
Author: Shawn Watson (gator_macready@yahoo.com) from The Underverse

Tim Burton has a good eye. The Batman series from the 1960s is how people tended to think of Batman pre-1989 but this engraved the words 'dark, sinister and Gothic' in the minds of audiences. The original material is respected and the characters are deep instead of campy.

Michael Keaton is the best Bruce Wayne. When he plays both Bruce Wayne and Batman you have to watch what he doesn't say and doesn't do. He's a rich, socio-phobic megalomaniac who has more money than sense. This is very different from Adam West's turtleneck playboy.

Jack Nicolson is a great Joker too. The make-up for his character is funny when you first see it but when you think about it more it's REALLY freaky. Nicolson's Joker is an evil lunatic. Nothing like Caesar Romero's campy, hop-skipping-and-jumping villain.

The design of Gotham City is very original and unique and is very much in the style of the Comic book. The smoke-blackened, cramped and claustrophobic 1920s buildings look and create a very oppressive atmosphere. This is definitely GOTHam City. Not LA like the TV series. They didn't even make any attempt. In fact the Batcave in the TV series was like the set of a mad scientists lab from a 1950s movie. But the REAL Batcave in this movie is a monstrous cavern filled with stalagmites and it actually HAS bats in it. And there's no fireman's pole leading into it.

This movie and its sequel rock big time. See it when you can. Preferably in widescreen and on a big TV.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (639 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Batman (1989)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
theory about TDK/Bat 89 rainbowbrite93
What is there such a divide between the Nolan fans and the Burton fans? v_goggo
Soundtrack - opinions! tee_dot_jay
Why villian and not a hero bojan-bobinac
Memorabilia from the film. Who remembers the board game? matwsussx
The Bag'O'Laughs cackle roximunro
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Dark Knight Batman Begins Batman Returns Batman: Mask of the Phantasm Batman Forever
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Action section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.