If Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman was proof of concept, the sequel Batman Returns was its perfection. Gone are the traces of camp found in the original as Burton fully commits to Gotham as a technical noir playground for vengeful billionaires, society’s misfits and one very bad kitty determined to make her own mark. All accompanied by the incomparable Danny Elfman’s score.
As always, there’s more to the story than fits on the screen and we’ve gathered a sampling of interviews, articles and videos discussing everything from the direction and performances, to set design and soundtrack, to the film’s box office success.
Join the DC History Club & Harley’s Crew as we dive into the making and impact of Batman Returns. Watch, read, poll, quiz and talk until the penguins launch their rockets. What, you haven’t seen Batman Returns, or at least haven’t seen it recently? We have fix for that. Drop in and WAL along.
Our Poll and Quiz zones are under construction. Meanwhile check out the research wiki and join the conversation below.
The final shot of the film was accomplished in reshoots using a body double and did not appear in the shooting script. What was this shot?
Batman dropping from building, cape spread out
Gordon turning off the Batsignal
Catwoman watching the Batsignal
The Batmobile racing at the camera
0voters
Penguin’s father was played by what actor who also appeared in television’s Gotham?
Stuart Lancaster
Paul Reubens
Vincent Schiavelli
Michael Murphy
0voters
Where did the primary filming of Batman Returns occur?
Pinewood Studios, London
WB Studios, Burbank, CA
Chicago and Toronto
Gotham City
0voters
Batman Returns was nominated for Oscars in two categories. What were they?
Visual effects & makeup
Lighting & sound editing
Score and original screenplay
Best director, best actor
0voters
According to both Catwoman and Batman, what can be more deadly than eating mistletoe?
A kiss
Revenge
Love
Spoiled fish
0voters
The Penguin claims to have played Gotham like what instrument?
Harp from hell
Violin of violence
Piano of penguin destruction
A rock guitar from a frozen wasteland
0voters
Elfman’s first film score. Composer Danny Elfman formed the band Oingo Boingo with his brother. A fan of the band, Tim Burton, asked Danny to score the soundstrack to what 1985 movie?
Frankenweenie
Hansel and Gretel
Pee-wee’s Big Adventure
Vincent
0voters
Alfred suggests that Batman change the channel to a program with some dignity and class. What is that program?
Love Boat
Love Connection
Life Styles of the Rich and Famous
Jerry Springer
0voters
What happened to Ricky Freiberg?
Joined the circus
He’s dead now
Works for Penguin’s campaign
Started a cult
0voters
If you flush it, what does Penguin do with it?
Fries it
Feels it
Flaunts it
Flips it
0voters
Bonus question. Screenwriter Daniel Waters named the Christopher Walken character Max Shreck in a nod to a silent film actor who starred in what film?
The Ten Commandments
Metropolis
Nosferatu
Dr Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
0voters
Bonus, bonus question. 1. What role does Doug Jones, who would go on to star in The Shape of Water, Star Trek Discovery, Hell Boy, and more, play in the movie?
@TurokSonOfStone1950’s Research Wiki Corner. Check out the research gathered by Turok. The best in links dealing with Batman Returns. But, Turok want’s your info, too. Got some good research for the cause? You can post it to the wiki yourself by clicking on the pencil to the right. Or, you can add it in a reply below.
Tim Burton, Michael Keaton, Michelle Pfeiffer and Danny DeVito look back on the movie that helped make franchise films the norm: “We started to get comments from McDonald’s like, ‘…
Bo Welch’s designs for Batman Returns are less well-known than Anton Furst’s Batman '89 designs, but there’s a lot to admire in this nightmarish urban hellscape.
They missed one. The lovely and talented Aimee Garcia, also known as Ella on Lucifer, has written Dungeons and Dragons comics and was working on a GLOW comic among other projects.
My other favorite movie of Michael Keaton is Mr. Mom, he’s so funny in the movie taking care of kids and the house while his wife work.
My other favorite Tim Burton film is Dumbo, you can definitely see a Batman Returns reunion in this Disney film! Both Keaton and Danny Devito are in this movie as well.
Speaking of Danny Devito, my other favorite film of his is Hoffa. He made the movie right after Batman Returns, he directed the film as well. Jack Nicholson played Hoffa. The movie is really good, as long as you don’t pay much attention to the language.
Let’s do this! 
This has to be up there, but he’s a really talented actor!
not the response you want
Both Keaton and Danny Devito are in this movie as well.
I got 9!
