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{{Short description|1992 superhero film by Tim Burton}}
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{{Infobox film
| name           = Batman Returns
| image          = Batman returns poster2.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster by [[John Alvin]]
| director       = [[Tim Burton]]
| producer       = {{Plain list|
* [[Denise Di Novi]]
* Tim Burton
}}
| screenplay     = [[Daniel Waters (screenwriter)|Daniel Waters]]
| story          = {{Plain list|
* Daniel Waters
* [[Sam Hamm]]
}}
| based_on       = {{Plain list|
* {{Based on|[[Batman]] characters created by [[Bob Kane]] and [[Bill Finger]]}}
* {{Based on|and published by [[DC Comics]]}}{{efn-lr|Although [[Bob Kane]] received sole credit for Batman and his associated characters in ''Batman Returns'', it was established in 2015 that writer [[Bill Finger]] was jointly involved in the creation of Batman as well as The Penguin and Catwoman, among others. He received equal credit to Kane in future adaptations of the Batman comic books.<ref name="BillFingerCBR"/><ref name="BillFingerForbes"/><ref name="BillFingerWired"/><ref name="BillFingerEW"/>}}
}}
| starring       = {{Plain list|
* [[Michael Keaton]]
* [[Danny DeVito]]
* [[Michelle Pfeiffer]]
* [[Christopher Walken]]
* [[Michael Gough]]
* [[Pat Hingle]]
* [[Michael Murphy (actor)|Michael Murphy]]
}}
| music          = [[Danny Elfman]]
| cinematography = [[Stefan Czapsky]]
| editing        = [[Chris Lebenzon]]
| studio         = {{ubl|[[Warner Bros. Pictures|Warner Bros.]]|[[PolyGram Filmed Entertainment|PolyGram Pictures]]}}
| distributor    = Warner Bros.
| released       = {{Film date|1992|06|16|Hollywood, California|1992|06|19|United States}}
| runtime        = 126 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $50–80{{nbsp}}million
| gross          = $266.8{{nbsp}}million
}}
'''''Batman Returns''''' is a 1992 American [[superhero film]] directed by [[Tim Burton]] and written by [[Daniel Waters (screenwriter)|Daniel Waters]]. Based on the [[DC Comics]] character [[Batman]], it is the sequel to ''[[Batman (1989 film)|Batman]]'' (1989) and the second installment in the [[Batman (1989 film series)|Batman film series]] (1989–1997). The cast includes [[Michael Keaton]], [[Danny DeVito]], [[Michelle Pfeiffer]], [[Christopher Walken]], [[Michael Gough]], [[Pat Hingle]], and [[Michael Murphy (actor)|Michael Murphy]]. Set during Christmas in [[Gotham City]], the film follows [[Bruce Wayne (1989 film series character)|Batman]] (Keaton) as he confronts corrupt businessman Max Shreck (Walken) and deformed crime boss [[Oswald Cobblepot (Batman Returns)|Oswald Cobblepot / the Penguin]] (DeVito), whose bid for power threatens the city. Their schemes are further complicated by Shreck's former secretary [[Selina Kyle (1989 film series character)|Selina Kyle]] (Pfeiffer), who seeks revenge against him as Catwoman.

Burton was initially uninterested in directing a sequel to ''Batman'', feeling creatively constrained by [[Warner Bros.]]' expectations. He agreed to return only after being granted greater creative control, which included replacing original writer [[Sam Hamm]] with Daniel Waters and reuniting with many of his previous collaborators. Waters's script emphasized characterization over plot, and [[Wesley Strick]] was later hired for an uncredited rewrite that added, among other elements, a master plan for the Penguin. Filming took place from September 1991 to February 1992 on a budget of $50–80 million, primarily on sets and soundstages at [[Warner Bros. Studios Burbank|Warner Bros. Studios]] and the [[Universal Studios Lot]] in California. The film's special effects relied mainly on practical techniques and makeup, supplemented with animatronics, limited [[computer-generated imagery]] (CGI), and dozens of live penguins.

The film's marketing campaign was extensive, featuring brand tie-ins and merchandise intended to replicate the financial success of ''Batman''. Released on June 19, 1992, ''Batman Returns'' broke several box-office records and grossed $266.8 million worldwide, becoming the [[1992 in film|sixth-highest-grossing film of 1992]], but fell short of ''Batman'' in overall success and longevity. The darker tone, along with violent and sexual content, was cited as alienating family audiences and prompted backlash against marketing partners for promoting the film to children. Critical reception was polarized, though most reviewers praised the principal cast.

Following the mixed reception of ''Batman Returns'', Burton was replaced as director for its sequel, [[Batman Forever]] (1995), which was developed with a more family-friendly tone. Keaton also declined to return. In the years since its release, ''Batman Returns'' has been reappraised as one of the strongest ''Batman'' films and a pivotal early example of auteur-driven superhero cinema that helped shape the genre's darker, more ambitious direction. The film is also recognized as an alternative Christmas classic due to its winter setting, festive imagery, and themes of loneliness and isolation. Its story was revisited in the comic series ''[[Batman '89 (comic book)|Batman '89]]'' (2021), and Keaton later reprised his version of Batman in ''[[The Flash (film)|The Flash]]'' (2023).

== Plot ==
<!--Per [[WP: FILMPLOT]], aspects of the narrative are told out of chronological order to make it easier to read and plot summaries for feature films are 400 to 700 words. -->
In [[Gotham City]], two wealthy [[socialite]]s, horrified by the birth of their malformed and feral son [[Penguin (character)|Oswald]], abandon him in the sewers, where he is taken in by a colony of penguins. Thirty-three years later, during the Christmas season, wealthy industrialist Max Shreck is abducted by the Red Triangle Gang—former circus performers implicated in child disappearances across the country—and taken to their hideout in the abandoned Arctic exhibit at Gotham Zoo. Their leader, Oswald, now known as the Penguin, blackmails Max with evidence of his corruption and murders, coercing him into helping Oswald re-enter Gotham's high society. Max stages the kidnapping of the mayor's infant child, allowing Oswald to "rescue" it and become a public hero. In return, Oswald requests access to the city's birth records, claiming he seeks to uncover his true identity by investigating Gotham's first-born sons.

Max attempts to kill his timid secretary, [[Selina Kyle (Batman Returns)|Selina Kyle]], by pushing her out of a window after she discovers his plan to build a power plant that would secretly drain  and store Gotham's electricity. Selina survives, returns home, crafts a costume, and adopts the persona of [[Catwoman]]. To Max's surprise, she reappears at work with newfound confidence and assertiveness, immediately attracting the attention of visiting billionaire [[Batman (1989 film series character)|Bruce Wayne]]. As the vigilante [[Batman]], Bruce begins investigating Oswald, suspecting his ties to the Red Triangle Gang. Seeking to remove opposition to his power plant, Max convinces Oswald to run for mayor and discredit the incumbent by unleashing the gang on Gotham. Batman's efforts to quell the violence bring him into conflict with Catwoman, while in their civilian lives Selina and Bruce begin a romance. Meanwhile, Catwoman allies with Oswald to smear Batman's reputation.

During Gotham's Christmas-tree lighting, Oswald and Catwoman kidnap Gotham's beauty queen, the Ice Princess, and lure Batman to a rooftop above the ceremony. Oswald pushes the Ice Princess to her death with a swarm of bats, framing Batman. When Catwoman objects to the murder and rebuffs Oswald's sexual advances, he attacks her, sending her crashing through a glasshouse. Batman escapes in the [[Batmobile]], unaware that the Red Triangle gang has sabotaged it, allowing Oswald to take it on a remote-controlled rampage. Before regaining control, Batman records Oswald's insulting tirade against Gotham's citizens and later plays it during Oswald's mayoral rally, destroying his public image and forcing him to retreat to Gotham Zoo. There, Oswald renounces his humanity, fully embracing his identity as the Penguin, and sets his plan in motion to abduct and kill Gotham's first-born sons as revenge for his own abandonment.

Selina attempts to kill Max at his charity ball, but Bruce intervenes, and the two inadvertently discover each other's secret identities. Penguin crashes the event intending to kidnap Max's son, Chip, but Max offers himself instead. Batman disrupts the Red Triangle gang and halts the kidnappings, prompting the Penguin to unleash his missile-equipped penguin army to destroy Gotham. Batman's ally, [[Alfred Pennyworth]], overrides the control signal, redirecting the penguins back to Gotham Zoo. As the missiles obliterate the zoo, Batman unleashes a swarm of bats, causing the Penguin to fall into the toxic waters of the Arctic exhibit. Catwoman confronts Max, rejecting Batman's plea to abandon her revenge and leave with him. Max shoots Batman, incapacitating him, and then shoots Catwoman multiple times, but she survives, claiming she has [[Cat#Superstitions and rituals|two of her nine lives]] left. Catwoman electrocutes Max with a live cable, causing a power surge that appears to kill them both; however, Batman finds only Max's remains. The Penguin emerges one last time but succumbs to his injuries, with his penguins carrying his body into the water.

Sometime later, while traveling home, Bruce spots Selina's silhouette but finds only a cat, which he takes with him. The [[Bat-Signal]] shines above the city as Catwoman gazes up at it.

==Cast==
{{redirect|Max Shreck|the actor|Max Schreck}}
{{multiple image
| total_width = 400
| direction = horizontal
| align = right
| footer = [[Michael Keaton]] (in 2002), [[Danny DeVito]] (in 2006), and [[Michelle Pfeiffer]] (in 2007)
| image1 = Michael Keaton Cannes Cropped.jpg
| alt1 = A formally-dressed Michael Keaton
| image2 = Rhea Perlman Danny DeVito 2006 (Cropped, Solo).png
| alt2 = A smiling Danny DeVito
| image3 = Michelle Pfeiffer 2007.jpg
| alt3 = A smiling Michelle Pfeiffer
}}
* [[Michael Keaton]] as [[Batman (1989 film series character)|Bruce Wayne / Batman]]: A billionaire businessman who operates as Gotham's vigilante protector<ref name="Escapist2020"/><ref name="Vulture2017"/>
* [[Danny DeVito]] as [[Penguin (character)|Oswald Cobblepot / Penguin]]: A malformed crime boss<ref name="Vulture2017"/>
* [[Michelle Pfeiffer]] as [[Selina Kyle (1989 film series character)|Selina Kyle / Catwoman]]: A meek assistant turned vengeful villainess<ref name="Vulture2017"/><ref name="ReviewEW"/>
* [[Christopher Walken]] as Max Shreck: A ruthless industrialist<ref name="Vulture2017"/><ref name="THRReturnsat25"/><ref name="TheRinger2022"/>
* [[Michael Gough]] as [[Alfred Pennyworth]]: Wayne's butler and surrogate father<ref name="DOGAlfred"/>
* [[Pat Hingle]] as [[Jim Gordon (character)|James Gordon]]: The Gotham City police commissioner and Batman's ally<ref name="CBRGordon"/>
* [[Michael Murphy (actor)|Michael Murphy]] as the Mayor:  The city's incumbent mayor<ref name="Escapist2020"/><ref name="ReviewEbert"/>

The cast of ''Batman Returns'' includes [[Andrew Bryniarski]] as Max's son Charles "Chip" Schreck and [[Cristi Conaway]] as the Ice Princess, Gotham's beauty queen-elect.<ref name="CastChip"/><ref name="CastIcePrincess"/><ref name="CastBFI"/> [[Paul Reubens]] and [[Diane Salinger]] appear as Tucker and Esther Cobblepot, Oswald's wealthy, elite parents.<ref name="WiredTheCobblepots"/> [[Sean Whalen]] appears as a paperboy;<ref name="CastBFI"/> [[Jan Hooks]] and [[Steve Witting]] play Jen and Josh, Oswald's mayoral [[image consulting|image consultants]].<ref name="CastNyTimes"/><ref name="CastVanityFair"/><ref name="CastJosh"/>

The Red Triangle gang includes the monkey-toting Organ Grinder ([[Vincent Schiavelli]]), the Poodle Lady ([[Anna Katarina]]), the Tattooed Strongman ([[Rick Zumwalt]]), the Sword Swallower (John Strong), the Knifethrower Dame (Erika Andersch), the Acrobatic Thug (Gregory Scott Cummins), the Terrifying Clown ([[Branscombe Richmond]]), the Fat Clown (Travis Mckenna), and the Thin Clown ([[Doug Jones (actor)|Doug Jones]]).<ref name="CastBFI"/><ref name="CastIGN"/><ref name="CastCollider"/>

==Production==

===Development===
[[File:Tim Burton Frankenweenie 2012 3.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|left|alt=A smiling Tim Burton, dressed in black|Director [[Tim Burton]] (in 2012)]]
Following the success of ''[[Batman (1989 film)|Batman]]'' (1989), which became the fifth-highest-grossing film of its time, a sequel was considered inevitable. [[Warner Bros. Pictures]] began discussing a follow-up by late 1989, with plans to start filming the next May.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="AFICatalog"/>{{sfn|Jones|1989|p=62}}<ref name="NYTimesBOAnalJune22"/><ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/>}} The studio wanted [[Robin Williams]] and [[Danny DeVito]] to portray the [[Riddler]] and Penguin, respectively,{{sfn|Jones|1989|p=62}} and invested $2{{nbsp}}million in acquiring the Gotham City sets at [[Pinewood Studios]] in England, intending to reuse them for at least two sequels. The sets were placed under 24-hour surveillance, as maintaining them was more cost-effective than rebuilding.{{sfn|Jones|1989|p=62}} Despite Warner Bros.' pressure to secure a script and begin production, director [[Tim Burton]] was hesitant to return.{{sfn|Jones|1989|p=62}}<ref name="TheRinger2022"/><ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/> He described the idea of a sequel as "dumbfounded", particularly before the first film's box-office performance could be assessed.{{sfn|Jones|1989|p=62}}<ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/><ref name="TCM"/> Burton was skeptical of sequels in general, believing they were only worthwhile if they offered something new and different.{{sfn|Jones|1989|p=62}}<ref name="TCM"/>

''Batman'' writer [[Sam Hamm]]'s initial story treatment expanded on district attorney [[Harvey Dent]]—played by [[Billy Dee Williams]] in ''Batman''—and charted his transformation into the supervillain [[Two-Face]]. Warner Bros., however, pushed for the Penguin as the primary antagonist, whom Hamm believed the studio regarded as Batman's most recognizable foe after the [[Joker (character)|Joker]]. Catwoman was also added because Burton and Hamm were interested in the character.<ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/> Hamm's drafts followed directly from ''Batman'', continuing Bruce Wayne's relationship with Vicki Vale ([[Kim Basinger]]) and leading to their engagement.<ref name="TheRinger2022"/><ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/> His Penguin was depicted as an avian-themed criminal who weaponized birds, while Catwoman was portrayed as more overtly sexual, clad in "bondage" attire, and casually murdering groups of men.<ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/>

The story paired Penguin and Catwoman in a plot to frame Batman for the murders of Gotham's wealthiest citizens while pursuing a hidden treasure, which ultimately drew them to Wayne Manor and uncovered the Wayne family's secret past. Hamm also introduced the Christmastime setting and included [[Robin (character)|Robin]], Batman's sidekick, though his idea of [[assault rifle]]-wielding [[Santa Claus|Santa]]s was discarded. In Hamm's drafts, Batman avoided killing and concentrated on protecting Gotham's homeless.<ref name="TheRinger2022"/><ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/> Ultimately, his two scripts failed to reignite Burton's interest,<ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/><ref name="TCM"/> and the director instead focused on ''[[Edward Scissorhands]]'' (1990) and co-writing ''[[The Nightmare Before Christmas]]'' (1993).<ref name="TheRinger2022"/>

Burton was confirmed to direct the sequel in January 1991, with filming planned to begin later that year for a 1992 release.<ref name="LAtimesJan1991"/> His decision was influenced by the 1989 departure of ''Batman'' producers [[Peter Guber]] and [[Jon Peters]] to [[Columbia Pictures]], as Burton had been frustrated by the level of creative control they exercised over the first film.{{sfn|Reinhart|2013|p=124}} He agreed to return only after securing greater creative authority, later admitting that ''Batman'' was his least favorite of his films, describing it as "occasionally boring".<ref name="TheRinger2022"/><ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/>{{sfn|White|1992|p=8}} According to long-time collaborator [[Denise Di Novi]], "Only about 50% of ''Batman'' was [Burton]", and Warner Bros. wanted ''Batman Returns'' to be "more of a Tim Burton movie{{nbsp}}... [a] weirder movie but also more hip and fun".{{sfn|White|1992|p=8}}

Burton brought in several long-time collaborators to replace key members of the original ''Batman'' crew, including cinematographer [[Stefan Czapsky]], production designer [[Bo Welch]], creature-effects supervisor [[Stan Winston]], makeup artist [[Ve Neill]], and art directors Tom Duffield and Rick Henrichs.{{sfn|White|1992|p=10}} He hired [[Daniel Waters (screenwriter)|Daniel Waters]] to replace Hamm, preferring a writer with no emotional attachment to ''Batman''. Burton admired Waters's script for the dark comedy ''[[Heathers]]'' (1988), which reflected the darker tone and creative direction he envisioned for the sequel.<ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/><ref name="TCM"/>{{sfn|White|1992|p=8}} Burton reportedly clashed with Peters, demoting him to executive producer and largely excluding him from the set.<ref name="TheRinger2022"/> Warner Bros. served as the production company and distributor, with additional support from executive producer Guber and Peters's [[Polygram Pictures]].<ref name="BFIBatmanReturns"/><ref name="LATimesPolygram"/>

===Writing===
[[File:Dan Waters.jpg|thumb|alt=Daniel Waters, seated at a table and speaking into a microphone|Writer [[Daniel Waters (screenwriter)|Daniel Waters]] (in 2008) was hired by Tim Burton to revise [[Sam Hamm]]'s initial draft.]]
Waters began work on his first draft in mid-1990.{{sfn|Shapiro|1992|p=32}} Burton's only guidance was that the script should avoid connections to the previous ''Batman'', aside from a brief reference to Vale as Wayne's former partner, and that Catwoman should be developed with more depth than the typical sexy vixen archetype.<ref name="AFICatalog"/><ref name="VultureWaters"/><ref name="NYTimesWelch"/> Waters, who disliked the 1989 film, ignored its narrative threads and comic-book history, focusing instead on artistic expression.<ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/><ref name="VultureWaters"/><ref name="NYTimesWelch"/> Unlike Hamm, Waters did not object to Batman killing, arguing that the character should reflect darker contemporary sensibilities and that relying on authorities to handle captured villains felt outdated.<ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/> Even so, he limited Batman's lethal actions to moments that served the story. He also expressed dissatisfaction with unscripted additions, such as the scene where Batman blows up a Red Triangle gang member.<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/>

Keaton had Waters remove jabs at the 1989 film's merchandising, including an opening on a merchandise store, saying, "[This] is very clever. Cut it".<ref name="WatersIndiewire"/> Waters's dialogue for Batman, which he described as "bitter and cynical"—including lines suggesting Gotham City was unworthy of protection—was pared back because Keaton felt Batman should speak as little as possible in costume, and Burton preferred to portray the character as motivated by trauma rather than nihilism.<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/><ref name="VultureWaters"/>{{sfn|Shapiro|1992|p=62}}

As a result, the script focused on the villains. Burton said he initially struggled to understand the appeal of the Penguin's comic-book counterpart; Batman, Catwoman, and the Joker had clear psychological profiles, but the Penguin was "just this guy with a cigarette and a top hat".<ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/> The initial draft portrayed him as a stereotypical DeVito character—an abrasive gangster—but Waters and Burton agreed to make him more "animalistic".{{sfn|Shapiro|1992|p=32}} They decided to present the Penguin as a tragic figure, abandoned as an infant by his parents, mirroring Batman's childhood trauma of losing his own parents.<ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/> Political and social satire was incorporated, influenced by two episodes of the 1960s television series ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'' ("Hizzoner the Penguin" and "Dizhonner the Penguin"), in which the Penguin runs for mayor.<ref name="TheRinger2022"/><ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/> Waters reimagined Hamm's Catwoman, shifting her from a "fetishy sexual fantasy" ''[[femme fatale]]'' to a working-class, disenchanted secretary, writing her as an allegory of contemporary feminism.<ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/><ref name="TCM"/>

Waters created Max Shreck—an original character named after actor [[Max Schreck]]—to replace Harvey Dent/Two-Face.<ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/><ref name="TCM"/> Shreck was written satirically, an evil industrialist who orchestrates the Penguin's mayoral campaign, to show that true villains do not always wear costumes. In one draft, he was depicted as the Penguin's favored brother.<ref name="TheRinger2022"/><ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/> With four central characters to develop, Waters and Burton removed Robin, a garage mechanic who aids Batman after the Penguin crashes the Batmobile, describing the character as "worthless".<ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/>{{sfn|White|1992|p=10}} The Red Triangle gang, initially conceived as a troupe of performance artists, was changed to circus clowns at Burton's request.<ref name="ColliderRedTriangle"/>

Waters said his 160-page first draft was too outlandish and would have cost $400{{nbsp}}million to produce, prompting him to adopt a more restrained approach.{{sfn|Shapiro|1992|p=32}} His fifth and final draft focused on characterization and interactions rather than plot.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="AFICatalog"/><ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/><ref name="VultureWaters"/>{{sfn|Shapiro|1992|p=30}}}} Burton and Waters eventually fell out over disagreements about the script, particularly Waters's refusal to make requested changes.

Burton hired [[Wesley Strick]] to streamline Waters's lengthy script, condense dialogue, and lighten the tone.{{sfn|Shapiro|1992|p=62}} Warner Bros. executives required Strick to include a master plan for the Penguin, leading to the addition of a plot involving the kidnapping of Gotham's first-born sons and the threat of missile attacks.<ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/><ref name="VultureWaters"/>{{sfn|White|1992|p=9}} Strick delivered his draft in August 1991.{{sfn|Reinhart|2013|p=124}} Waters described the changes as relatively minor but expressed confusion over the Penguin's master plan.<ref name="AFICatalog"/><ref name="VultureWaters"/>{{sfn|Shapiro|1992|p=62}} He made a final revision to Strick's shooting script, and although Strick was on set for months and involved in agreed-upon rewrites, Waters was the sole credited screenwriter.<ref name="AFICatalog"/><ref name="VultureWaters"/><ref name="Diabolique"/>

===Casting===
[[File:Christopher Walken Feb 2008 (2).jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|left|alt=A photograph of a smiling Christopher Walken|[[Christopher Walken]] (pictured in 2008)]]
[[Michael Keaton]] reprised his role as Bruce Wayne / Batman for $10{{space}}million, double his salary for ''Batman''.<ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/><ref name="TCM"/><ref name="EWOct1993"/> Burton initially wanted [[Marlon Brando]] to play the Penguin, but Warner Bros. preferred [[Dustin Hoffman]]. [[Christopher Lloyd]] and [[Robert De Niro]] were also considered, with Danny DeVito emerging as the frontrunner after Waters reimagined the character as a deformed human-bird hybrid.<ref name="AFICatalog"/><ref name="TCM"/><ref name="MTVBrando"/> DeVito was initially hesitant to accept the role until persuaded by his close friend [[Jack Nicholson]], who had portrayed the [[Joker (Jack Napier)|Joker]] in ''Batman''.<ref name="TCM"/><ref name="MTVBrando"/> To communicate his vision, Burton showed DeVito a painting he had created of a small character sitting on a red-and-white striped ball, captioned: "my name is Jimmy, but my friends call me the hideous penguin boy".<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/><ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/>{{sfn|White|1992|p=9}}

Casting Selina Kyle / Catwoman proved challenging.<ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/>{{sfn|White|1992|p=9}} [[Annette Bening]] was initially cast in the role but had to withdraw due to pregnancy. Other actresses considered included [[Ellen Barkin]], [[Cher]], [[Bridget Fonda]], [[Jennifer Jason Leigh]], [[Madonna]], [[Julie Newmar]], [[Lena Olin]], [[Susan Sarandon]], [[Raquel Welch]], and Kim Basinger. The most notable contender was [[Sean Young]], who had been cast as Vale in ''Batman'' before an injury prevented her from performing.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/><ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/><ref name="TCM"/><ref name="EWAug91991"/>}} Young reportedly visited the Warner Bros. lot in a homemade Catwoman costume for an impromptu audition with Burton, who allegedly hid under his desk, while Keaton and producer [[Mark Canton]] briefly met with her. She also showcased her costume on ''[[Entertainment Tonight]]'' and pitched it on ''[[The Joan Rivers Show]]''. Warner Bros. ultimately decided that Young did not align with their vision for Catwoman.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="AFICatalog"/><ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/><ref name="EWOddwoman"/><ref name="LATimeseanYoung"/>}}

The role went to [[Michelle Pfeiffer]], who was regarded as a proven actress and someone who worked well with Burton, although some publications suggested the role would challenge her acting range.<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/><ref name="TCM"/><ref name="EWAug91991"/> Pfeiffer had also been considered for the role of Vale in ''Batman'', but Keaton  vetoed her casting due to their previous romantic relationship, believing her presence could interfere with attempts to reconcile with his wife.<ref name="THRWuhl"/> She received a $3{{nbsp}}million salary—$2{{nbsp}}million more than Bening—plus a share of the film's gross profits.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/><ref name="TCM"/><ref name="EWAug91991"/>{{sfn|Resner|1992}}}} Pfeiffer trained for several months in kickboxing with her stunt double, [[Kathy Long]], mastering the whip and becoming skilled enough to perform many of her own stunts with it.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/><ref name="AFICatalog"/><ref name="EWKickboxing"/><ref name="LATimesKathyLong"/>}}

Shreck's appearance was modeled on [[Vincent Price]] in an unspecified older film, while Walken based his performance on moguls such as [[Sol Hurok]] and [[Samuel Goldwyn]].<ref name="Escapist2020"/><ref name="THRReturnsat25"/> Walken said, "I tend to play mostly villains and twisted people. Unsavory guys. I think it's my face, the way I look".<ref name="NYTimesWalken"/> [[Burgess Meredith]], who portrayed the Penguin in the 1960s TV series, was originally scheduled to cameo as Penguin's father, Tucker Cobblepot, but became ill during filming. He was replaced by Paul Reubens, while Diane Salinger played Tucker's wife, Esther. Both had previously appeared in Burton's feature-film debut, ''[[Pee-wee's Big Adventure]]'' (1985).<ref name="TheRinger2022"/><ref name="TCM"/><ref name="LATimesFilmingDate"/>

Although Robin was removed from the final screenplay, the character's development had progressed far enough that [[Marlon Wayans]] had already been cast (Burton had specifically wanted an African-American Robin), and costumes, sets, and action figures were created. In a 1998 interview, Wayans said that he continued to receive residual checks under the two-film contract he had signed.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/>{{sfn|White|1992|p=10}}<ref name="EWOct1993"/><ref name="CastWayans"/>}} Early reports suggested that Nicholson had been asked to return as the Joker, but he allegedly declined to film in England due to foreign salary taxes. Nicholson, however, denied being asked, believing that Warner Bros. would not want to replicate the generous compensation he had received for ''Batman''.<ref name="LATimesNicholson"/><ref name="LATimesNicholson2"/><ref name="LATimesNicholsonQnA"/>

===Filming===
[[Principal photography]] began on September 3, 1991.<ref name="NYTimesWalken"/><ref name="LATimesFilmingDate"/><ref name="LATimestartDate"/> Burton wanted to film in the United States with American actors, believing that ''Batman'', which had been shot in the United Kingdom, had "suffered from a British subtext".{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="AFICatalog"/><ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/>{{sfn|White|1992|p=10}}<ref name="LATimesPremiere"/>}} Changes in the economics of filming in the UK also made it more cost-effective to remain in the U.S.{{sfn|White|1992|p=10}} This decision required abandoning the Pinewood Studios sets in favor of Burton's new designs. ''Batman Returns'' was filmed almost entirely on up to eight soundstages at [[Warner Bros. Studios Burbank|Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank]], California, including Stage 16, which housed the expansive Gotham Plaza set.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="AFICatalog"/><ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/>{{sfn|White|1992|p=10}}<ref name="LATimesPremiere"/>}} Stage 12 at the [[Universal Studios Lot]] was used for the Penguin's Arctic-exhibit lair.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="AFICatalog"/><ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/>{{sfn|White|1992|p=10}}<ref name="LATimesPremiere"/>}} Warner Bros. maintained a high level of security to avoid details leaking for ''Batman Returns'' Cast and crew wore ID badges branded with the film's [[working title]], ''Dictel'', a word coined by Welch and Burton meaning "dictatorial", as they were unhappy with the studio's "ridiculous [[gestapo]]" measures.<ref name="EWSetsAppeal"/>

Some sets were kept very cold for the live [[Emperor penguin|Emperor]], [[African penguin|black-footed]], and [[King penguin|King]] penguins.<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/><ref name="AFICatalog"/><ref name="TCM"/> The birds were transported in a refrigerated airplane for filming and housed in a chilled waiting area with a swimming pool stocked daily with half a ton of ice and fresh fish.<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/><ref name="TCM"/> DeVito stated that, although he generally enjoyed being on set, he disliked the cold conditions and was the only cast member somewhat comfortable due to the heavy padding in his costume.<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/> The penguin army was created using live penguins supplemented by puppets, forty Emperor-penguin suits worn by little people, and [[computer-generated imagery]] (CGI).<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/><ref name="AFICatalog"/> [[People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals]] (PETA) protested the use of real penguins, citing concerns over moving the birds from their natural environment. While the organization later acknowledged that the penguins were not mistreated, it criticized the lack of fresh drinking water, noting they were confined to a small chlorinated pool.<ref name="AFICatalog"/><ref name="Peta"/> PETA also objected to the penguins being fitted with prop weapons and gadgets, which Warner Bros. stated were lightweight plastic.<ref name="PetaCSM"/> Burton himself expressed a reluctance to use live animals, emphasizing his care and concern for their treatment.{{sfn|Salisbury|Burton|2006|p=111}}

Walken described the filming process as highly collaborative, recalling that his suggestion to add a blueprint for Shreck's power plant led to a model being constructed within hours.<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/> The scene in which Catwoman places a live bird in her mouth was performed live, with no CGI, and Pfeiffer later remarked that she would not perform the stunt again, given the potential risks of injury or disease.<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/> For a sewer scene, handlers positioned above and below guided an organ-grinder monkey carrying a note for the Penguin. When the monkey saw DeVito in full costume and makeup, it lunged at him. DeVito recalled, "The monkey looked at me, froze, and then leapt right at my balls{{spaces}}... Thank god it was a padded costume".<ref name="DeVitoMonkey"/> A scene depicting the explosion of Shreck's superstore resulted in minor injuries to four stuntmen.<ref name="AFICatalog"/> Principal photography concluded on February 20, 1992, after 170 days.<ref name="AFICatalog"/>

===Design and effects===
{{main|Special effects of Batman Returns|l1=Special effects of ''Batman Returns''}}
''Batman Returns''{{'}} production design and visual style were reimagined by Bo Welch, replacing the late [[Anton Furst]] and bringing a darker, expressionist aesthetic after collaborating with Burton on ''[[Beetlejuice]]'' (1988) and ''Edward Scissorhands''.<ref name="Escapist2020"/><ref name="TCM"/><ref name="NYTimesWelch"/> Welch designed key props such as the [[Batboat|Batskiboat]] and Penguin's umbrellas, introduced a "Batmissile" mode for the Batmobile, and oversaw large-scale sets including Gotham Plaza and Penguin's lair.<ref name="NYTimesWelch"/>{{sfn|White|1992|pp=10–11}}

Influenced by [[German Expressionism]]—a 1920s cinematic style characterized by harsh shadows, distorted architecture, and psychological intensity—Welch also drew from [[Neo-fascism|neo-fascist]] architecture (including [[Nazi Germany]]-era styles), American [[Precisionism|Precisionist]] painting, and street-level imagery of homelessness amid affluence. He employed miniatures and exaggerated verticality to evoke a decaying, alienating Gotham.<ref name="AFICatalog"/><ref name="NYTimesWelch"/>{{sfn|White|1992|p=11}} Welch, a trained architect, structured the city on a grid of strong vertical lines, emphasizing huge skyscrapers that transform streets into dark canyons to evoke a sense of victimization and oppression.<ref name="NYTimesWelch"/><ref name="LAtimesLook"/> He researched the look by studying fascist architecture from the Third Reich and [[world's fair]]s, styles he felt were "evocative of oppressive bureaucracies and dictatorships", to design the monolithic Gotham Plaza.<ref name="LAtimesLook"/><ref name="EWGerman"/> Welch further drew upon Precisionism, a movement known for using hard outlines, solid shadows, and slick, impersonal surfaces to lend industrial subjects an epic character, citing the work of [[Charles Sheeler]] and [[Georgia O'Keeffe]] as specific influences.<ref name="LAtimesLook"/> He also incorporated Burton's early sketch of Catwoman, with a "very S&M kind of look", by integrating steel and chain elements into the set, creating the impression of a city collapsing in on itself.<ref name="NYTimesWelch"/><ref name="AFICatalog"/>

Costume designers [[Bob Ringwood]] and Mary Vogt updated the Batsuit with a mechanical look and created a fragile latex Catwoman suit requiring numerous backups.<ref name="AFICatalog"/>{{sfn|Fennell|1992|p=40}}<ref name="AnotherMagCatwoman"/> DeVito's Penguin relied on extensive prosthetics by [[Stan Winston Studio]], including black saliva for grotesque effect, and the team built thirty animatronic penguins supplemented with actors and digital effects.<ref name="StanWinstonPenguin"/><ref name="StanWinstonPenguinArmy"/><ref name="AFICatalog"/>

Post-production was intense, with some effects shots conceived just weeks before the June 19, 1992 release.{{sfn|Cotta Vaz|1992|p=25}} The visual effects workload ultimately encompassed around 115 shots, employing matte paintings, miniatures, CGI, makeup, puppets, and pyrotechnics, handled by six major effects houses including Stan Winston Studio, [[Boss Film Studios]], and [[Matte World Digital]].{{sfn|Cotta Vaz|1992|p=25}}<ref name="BFIBatmanReturns"/>

===Post-production===
[[Chris Lebenzon]] edited the 126-minute theatrical cut of ''Batman Returns''.<ref name="ReviewEW"/><ref name="CastNyTimes"/><ref name="BBFC"/> The post-production period was rushed, forcing Burton to present a cut to studio executives only four weeks after filming wrapped—far shorter than his typical editing timelines.{{sfn|Cotta Vaz|1992|p=69}}

The final scene of Catwoman looking up at the Bat-Signal was filmed during post-production, just two weeks before release. Warner Bros. mandated the scene—showing that Catwoman survived—after [[test audience]]s responded positively to Pfeiffer's performance. Pfeiffer was unavailable, so a stand-in was used.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/><ref name="EndingTheWrap"/><ref name="EndingAVClub"/><ref name="ENdingPolygon"/>}} Although the character draws on feline mythology—such as cats having nine lives—Waters and Burton never intended the supernatural elements to be taken literally and Catwoman was planned to definitively die alongside Shreck.<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/><ref name="CBRCatwomanNineLives"/> A scene showing Penguin's gang destroying a store filled with Batman merchandise was also removed.<ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/>

Warner Bros. provided a final budget of $55{{nbsp}}million for ''Batman Returns'', though other sources have cited estimates of $50{{nbsp}}million, $65{{nbsp}}million, $75{{nbsp}}million, or $80{{nbsp}}million.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="AFICatalog"/><!--90 million--><!-- 65 million --><ref name="NYTimesBOAnalJune22"/><!-- 50 million --><ref name="NYTimesWelch"/><ref name="NYTimesApril131992"/><!-- 50 million --><ref name="Macleans"/><!-- 65 million --><ref name="ReviewLATimesTuran"/><!-- 55 million and 75 million --><ref name="BOMNAOriginalRelease"/><!-- 80 million -->}}{{efn-lr|The 1992 budget of $50–$80{{nbsp}}million is equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|50000000|1992}}}}–${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|90000000|1992}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}.}}

===Music===
{{main|Batman Returns (soundtrack)|l1=''Batman Returns'' (soundtrack)}}
[[File:DANNY ELFMAN 2022.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=A photo of Danny Elfman in 2022|Composer [[Danny Elfman]] in 2022]] 
[[Danny Elfman]] was initially reluctant to score ''Batman Returns'' because he was unhappy that his ''Batman'' score was supplemented with pop music by [[Prince (musician)|Prince]].<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/> Elfman built on many of his ''Batman'' themes, and said that he enjoyed working on the Penguin's themes the most because of the character's sympathetic aspects, such as his abandonment and death.<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/><ref name="RollingStoneElfman"/> Recorded with a studio orchestra on the Sony Scoring Stage in Los Angeles, Elfman's score includes vocals, harps, bells, xylophones, flutes, pianos, and chimes.<ref name="IGNElfman"/><ref name="Filmtracks"/> Burton and Elfman fell out during production due to the stress of finishing ''Batman Returns'' on time, but reconciled shortly afterward.<ref name="SMHerald"/>

The song "[[Face to Face (Siouxsie and the Banshees song)|Face to Face]]", played during the costume-ball scene, was co-written and performed by the British rock band [[Siouxsie and the Banshees]].<ref name="Filmtracks"/>

==Release==
===Context===
{{See also|1992 in film}}
By the summer theatrical season of 1992 (starting the last week of May), the film industry faced low ticket sales, rising production costs, and several box-office failures from the previous year.<ref name="NYTimesMay241992"/> Eighty-nine films were scheduled for release, including ''[[A League of Their Own]]'', ''[[Alien 3]]'', ''[[Encino Man]]'', ''[[Far and Away]]'', ''[[Patriot Games (film)|Patriot Games]]'', and ''[[Sister Act]]''.<ref name="NYTimesBOAnalJune22"/><ref name="NYTimesApril131992"/><ref name="NYTimesMay241992"/> Studios had to carefully plan releases to avoid competition from anticipated blockbusters, such as ''[[Lethal Weapon 3]]'', ''Batman Returns'', and the [[1992 Summer Olympics]].<ref name="NYTimesApril131992"/> ''Batman Returns'' was predicted to be the summer's biggest hit, causing other studios to worry about scheduling films even a few weeks from its premiere.<ref name="NYTimesApril131992"/><ref name="LATimesGorilla"/> [[Paramount Pictures]] reportedly increased ''Patriot Games''{{'}} budget by $14{{nbsp}}million to make it more competitive with ''Batman Returns'' and ''Lethal Weapon 3''.<ref name="NYTimesApril131992"/><ref name="NYTimesMay241992"/>

===Marketing===
Franchising had not been a major focus for ''Batman'' prior to its release, but after merchandise generated roughly $500{{nbsp}}million of the film's $1.5{{nbsp}}billion total earnings, it became a priority for ''Batman Returns''.<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/><ref name="TheRinger2022"/><ref name="LATimesMarketing120"/> A 12-minute promotional reel debuted at [[WorldCon]] in September 1991, alongside a black-and-white poster of a silhouetted Batman, which was deemed "mundane" and uninspiring by industry professionals.<ref name="AFICatalog"/>{{sfn|White|1992|p=11}} Warner Bros. delayed major promotion until February 1992 to avoid over-saturation and alienating audiences.{{sfn|White|1992|p=11}}<ref name="LATimesMarketing120"/><ref name="NYTimesMarketing"/> A trailer rolled out in 5,000 theaters that month, accompanied by a new poster showing a snow-swept Batman logo.<ref name="AFICatalog"/>{{sfn|White|1992|p=11}} The campaign focused on the three central characters—Batman, Penguin, and Catwoman—which Warner Bros. believed would offset the absence of the popular Nicholson.<ref name="NYTimesMay241992"/><ref name="NYTimesMarketing"/> Over two-thirds of the 300 public posters were stolen, prompting Warner Bros. to offer 200 limited-edition posters for $250, signed by Keaton, who donated his earnings to charity.<ref name="AFICatalog"/><ref name="NYTimesMarketing"/><ref name="LATIMesPoster2"/>

Marketing expenditures were expected to exceed $100{{nbsp}}million, including $20{{nbsp}}million by Warner Bros. for commercials and trailers and $60{{nbsp}}million by merchandising partners. These partners—including [[McDonald's]], [[Ralston Purina]], [[Kmart]], [[Target Corporation]], [[Venture Stores]], and [[Sears]]—planned roughly 300 in-store Batman shops.<ref name="AFICatalog"/><ref name="LATimesMarketing120"/><ref name="NYTimesMarketing"/> McDonald's converted 9,000 outlets into Gotham City restaurants, featuring Batman-themed packaging and a cup lid that doubled as a flying disc.<ref name="LATimesMarketing120"/> [[CBS]] aired the television special ''The Bat, The Cat, The Penguin{{nbsp}}... Batman Returns'', while [[Choice Hotels]] sponsored the hour-long ''The Making of Batman Returns''.<ref name="AFICatalog"/><ref name="LATimesMarketing120"/> TV ads depicted Batman and Catwoman fighting over a can of [[Diet Coke]], with the Penguin (and his penguins) promoting Choice Hotels, and additional advertisements ran on billboards and in print—sometimes across three consecutive newspaper pages—targeting older audiences.<ref name="NYTimesMarketing"/>

===Box office===
[[File:Grauman's Chinese Theatre, by Carol Highsmith fixed & straightened.jpg|upright|thumb|alt=A photograph of the front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre|''Batman Returns'' premiered at the [[Grauman's Chinese Theatre]] (pictured in 2005) in Hollywood.]]
''Batman Returns'' premiered on June 16, 1992, at [[Grauman's Chinese Theatre]] in Hollywood. Two blocks of [[Hollywood Boulevard]] were closed for more than 3,000 fans, 33 TV film crews, and 100 photographers. A party followed on the Stage 16 Gotham Plaza set, attended by the cast and crew, as well as [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]], [[Faye Dunaway]], [[James Caan]], [[Mickey Rooney]], [[Harvey Keitel]], [[Christian Slater]], and [[James Woods]], among others.<ref name="LATimesPremiere"/>

The film had a limited preview release in the U.S. and Canada on Thursday, June 18, grossing $2{{nbsp}}million.<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/><ref name="NYTimesBOAnalJune22"/><ref name="BOMNAOriginalRelease"/> It expanded widely the following day, playing on an above-average 3,000 screens across 2,644 theaters.<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/><ref name="NYTimesBOAnalJune22"/><ref name="BOMNAWeekend1"/> ''Batman Returns'' grossed $45.7{{nbsp}}million in its opening weekend, breaking the record set by ''Batman'' ($42.7{{nbsp}}million), and debuted as the number-one film, topping ''Sister Act'' ($7.8{{nbsp}}million in its fourth weekend) and ''Patriot Games'' ($7.7{{nbsp}}million in its third).<ref name="NYTimesBOAnalJune22"/><ref name="BOMNAWeekend1"/><ref name="JurassicPark"/> ''Batman Returns'' was the first feature film released in [[Dolby Stereo Digital]], in select theaters, marking a milestone in cinema audio technology that later became synonymous with surround sound in theaters.<ref name="VarietyDolby"/><ref name="DigitalBits"/>

Early analysis suggested ''Batman Returns'' could become one of the highest-grossing films of all time. Warner Bros. executive [[Robert Friedman (producer)|Robert Friedman]] noted, "We opened it the first real weekend when kids are out of school. The audience is everybody, but the engine that drives the charge are kids under 20".<ref name="NYTimesBOAnalJune22"/> ''Patriot Games'' producer [[Mace Neufeld]] observed that other films benefited from overflow audiences who avoided long lines or sold-out screenings of ''Batman Returns''.<ref name="NYTimesBOAnalJune22"/>

''Batman Returns'' grossed $25.4{{nbsp}}million in its second weekend—a 44.3 percent drop—yet remained the number-one film ahead of the debuting ''[[Unlawful Entry (film)|Unlawful Entry]]'' ($10.1 million) and ''Sister Act'' ($7.2 million).<ref name="BOMNAWeekend2"/><ref name="WAPOBO"/> By its third weekend, it became the second-fastest film to reach $100{{nbsp}}million (11 days), behind ''Batman'' (10 days).<ref name="NYTimesTwoattheWheel"/> It held the top spot with $13.8 million (a 45.6 percent drop), narrowly edging out the debuts of ''A League of Their Own'' ($13.7 million) and ''[[Boomerang (1992 film)|Boomerang]]'' ($13.6 million).<ref name="WAPOBO"/><ref name="BOMNAWeekend3"/> ''[[The Washington Post]]'' described its steep week-to-week declines as concerning, and industry analysts suggested that ''Batman Returns'' would struggle to match the theatrical longevity of ''Batman''.<ref name="WAPOBO"/><ref name="AFICatalog"/> The film exited the top ten highest-grossing films by its seventh week and concluded its 18-week run in late October with a total U.S. and Canada gross of $162.8{{nbsp}}million.<ref name="BOMNAWeekend4"/><ref name="BOMNAAllWeekends"/> This made it the third-highest-grossing film of 1992, behind ''[[Home Alone 2: Lost in New York]]'' ($173.6{{nbsp}}million) and ''[[Aladdin (1992 Disney film)|Aladdin]]'' ($217.3{{nbsp}}million).<ref name="BOM1992NABO"/>

Outside the U.S. and Canada, ''Batman Returns'' grossed $104{{nbsp}}million,<ref name="BOM1992Worldwide"/> setting U.K. records for the highest-grossing opening weekend (£2.5{{nbsp}}million) and single-day gross (£1.1{{nbsp}}million).<ref name="WAPOBO"/>{{sfn|McBride|1992|p=20}}{{sfn|Groves|1993|p=18}}

Worldwide, ''Batman Returns'' grossed $266.8{{nbsp}}million,{{efn-lr|The 1992 theatrical box office gross of $266.8{{nbsp}}million is equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|266800000|1992}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}.}} making it the sixth-highest-grossing film of 1992, ahead of ''[[A Few Good Men]]'' ($243.2{{nbsp}}million) and behind ''Lethal Weapon 3'' ($321.7{{nbsp}}million).<ref name="BOM1992Worldwide"/>

==Reception==
===Critical response===
[[File:Michelle Pfeiffer 01.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.75|alt=Black-and-white photo of a smiling Michelle Pfeiffer|[[Michelle Pfeiffer]] in 1985. Although critics were polarized by many aspects of ''Batman Returns'', Pfeiffer's performance received near-unanimous praise.]]
''Batman Returns'' drew a polarized response from critics and audiences, with its darker tone and mature content proving divisive.<ref name="Escapist2020"/><ref name="AFICatalog"/><ref name="TributeCA"/> [[CinemaScore]] polling reported an average grade from audiences of B on an A+-to-F scale.<ref name="CinemaScore"/>

Some reviewers, including [[Janet Maslin]] and [[Desson Howe]], compared the sequel favorably to ''Batman'', citing faster pacing, increased humor, and greater character depth, which avoided the original's "dourness" and "tedium".{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="ReviewWAPOHowe"/><ref name="ReviewNYTMaslin"/><ref name="ReviewVarietyMcCarthy"/><ref name="ReviewEWBurr"/>}} Maslin and [[Dave Kehr]] emphasized that Burton's creative control made ''Batman Returns'' a more personal and "fearlessly" distinctive work.<ref name="ReviewNYTMaslin"/><ref name="ReviewTribuneKehr"/> Critics such as [[Kenneth Turan]] commended the film's visuals but argued that the emphasis on spectacle sometimes made it feel cheerless and claustrophobic, occasionally at the expense of the plot.<ref name="ReviewEW"/><ref name="ReviewLATimesTuran"/><ref name="ReviewEWBurr"/> [[Owen Gleiberman]] suggested that Burton's imaginative flourishes were undermined by a lack of grounding in normality.<ref name="ReviewEW"/>

The narrative received mixed reactions. Howe and Turan praised the film for adding emotional depth to its characters, particularly Catwoman and the Penguin, though Turan noted a lag in pacing midway.<ref name="ReviewWAPOHowe"/><ref name="ReviewLATimesTuran"/> In contrast, [[Todd McCarthy]] found the story cluttered, with too many plotlines diminishing momentum.<ref name="ReviewVarietyMcCarthy"/> Gleiberman similarly argued that the numerous storylines created a sense of disjointedness.<ref name="ReviewEW"/> Critics generally agreed that the first two acts were more compelling than the finale, which they believed struggled to resolve multiple character arcs satisfactorily.<ref name="ReviewWAPOHowe"/><ref name="ReviewLATimesTuran"/><ref name="ReviewVarietyMcCarthy"/> Others, including [[Jonathan Rosenbaum]], believed the film lacked suspense and clever writing, overwhelmed by characters and near-constant banter.<ref name="ReviewEbert"/><ref name="ReviewReaderRosenbaum"/><ref name="ReviewWaPoKempley"/> Maslin observed that Burton prioritized visuals over plot.<ref name="ReviewNYTMaslin"/> [[Gene Siskel]] argued that the sympathetic villains diminished narrative satisfaction, leaving viewers wishing Batman might not prevail.<ref name="ReviewSiskel"/>

Critics noted that the film devoted more attention to its villains than to Batman himself.<ref name="ReviewEbert"/><ref name="ReviewLATimesTuran"/><ref name="NYTimesCarynJames"/> Gleiberman remarked that the villain sequences often overshadowed Keaton's performance.<ref name="ReviewEW"/> McCarthy described Batman as a symbolic figure rather than a psychologically complex character, while Ebert viewed being Batman as a curse rather than a heroic fantasy.<ref name="ReviewEbert"/><ref name="ReviewVarietyMcCarthy"/><ref name="NYTimesCarynJames"/> Conversely, [[Peter Travers]] praised Keaton's "manic depressive hero" as a fully realized character.<ref name="ReviewRSTravers"/> 

DeVito was acclaimed by Gleiberman, McCarthy, and Maslin for his energetic and distinctive portrayal, effectively conveying pathos and complexity despite heavy prosthetics.<ref name="ReviewEW"/><ref name="ReviewNYTMaslin"/><ref name="ReviewVarietyMcCarthy"/> Howe highlighted Burton's focus on the character as indicative of directorial sympathy,<ref name="ReviewWAPOHowe"/> while Maslin and [[Caryn James]] praised DeVito's charm, making the Penguin a compelling and memorable presence.<ref name="ReviewNYTMaslin"/><ref name="NYTimesCarynJames"/> McCarthy and Travers described him as fascinating and humorously warped.<ref name="ReviewVarietyMcCarthy"/><ref name="ReviewRSTravers"/> Turan and Rosenbaum, however, felt he did not evoke the same fear or energy as Nicholson's Joker.<ref name="ReviewEbert"/><ref name="ReviewLATimesTuran"/><ref name="ReviewReaderRosenbaum"/>

Turan, Kehr, and Maslin praised Pfeiffer for her passionate, intelligent, and fiercely independent performance, providing energy and levity amid the film's dark tone.<ref name="ReviewLATimesTuran"/><ref name="ReviewNYTMaslin"/><ref name="ReviewTribuneKehr"/> Rosenbaum felt she did not match Nicholson's villainy,<ref name="ReviewReaderRosenbaum"/> though Turan called the Batman–Catwoman scenes the most interesting.<ref name="ReviewLATimesTuran"/> Travers noted that when the characters remove their masks, they appear "lost and touchingly human," and Ty Burr described the ballroom scene as more emotionally resonant than anything in ''Batman''.<ref name="ReviewRSTravers"/><ref name="ReviewEWBurr"/> Ebert observed that their sexual tension seemed muted for a younger audience.<ref name="ReviewEbert"/><ref name="ReviewLATimesTuran"/> 

Walken's performance was praised for its combination of charm, wit, and understated authority. Maslin emphasized Walken's debonair and engaging performance as one of the film's highlights, while McCarthy noted his understated, composed delivery. Travers also remarked on his clever and amusing take on the character, describing him as a "fiendishly funny" presence.<ref name="ReviewNYTMaslin"/><ref name="ReviewVarietyMcCarthy"/><ref name="ReviewRSTravers"/>

Bo Welch's production design received acclaim for creating a sleeker, brighter, and more authoritarian Gotham than Furst's "brooding" style.<ref name="ReviewLATimesTuran"/><ref name="ReviewTribuneKehr"/><ref name="ReviewEmpire"/> McCarthy lauded Welch's realization of Burton's vision, though Siskel dismissed it as "toy shop window decorating" compared to Furst.<ref name="ReviewVarietyMcCarthy"/><ref name="ReviewSiskel"/> Costume and makeup design were praised, with Maslin noting their lingering visual impact.<ref name="ReviewWAPOHowe"/><ref name="ReviewNYTMaslin"/><ref name="VarietyNosferatu"/> Stefan Czapsky's cinematography was well received, lending a "lively" quality to the subterranean sets.<ref name="ReviewNYTMaslin"/>

===Accolades===
At the [[46th British Academy Film Awards]], ''Batman Returns'' was nominated for [[BAFTA Award for Best Makeup and Hair|Best Makeup]] (Ve Neill and Stan Winston) and [[BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects|Best Special Visual Effects]] (Michael Fink, Craig Barron, John Bruno, and Dennis Skotak).<ref name="AwardsBafta"/> For the [[65th Academy Awards]], ''Batman Returns'' received two nomations: [[Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling|Best Makeup]] (Neill, Ronnie Specter, and Winston) and [[Academy Award for Best Visual Effects|Best Visual Effects]] (Fink, Barron, Bruno, and Skotak).<ref name="AwardsAcademy"/> Neill and Winston received the [[Saturn Award for Best Make-up|Best Make-up]] award at the [[19th Saturn Awards]]. The film received four other Saturn Award nominations for [[Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film|Best Fantasy Film]], [[Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]] (DeVito), [[Saturn Award for Best Director|Best Director]] (Burton), and [[Saturn Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]] (Bob Ringwood, Mary Vogt, and [[Vin Burnham]]).<ref name="AwardSaturn"/> DeVito was nominated for Worst Supporting Actor at the [[13th Golden Raspberry Awards]], and Pfeiffer for Most Desirable Female at the [[1993 MTV Movie Awards]].<ref name="AwardRazzie"/><ref name="AwardMTV"/> ''Batman Returns'' was nominated for a [[Hugo Award]] for Best Dramatic Presentation.<ref name="AwardHugo"/>

=={{anchor|Post-release}}After release==
===Performance analysis and aftermath===
The U.S. and Canadian box office underperformed in 1992, with admissions down by up to five percent and about 290{{nbsp}}million tickets sold (compared to over 300{{nbsp}}million in each of the preceding four years). Industry professionals attributed the decline to a combination of uninspired films, rising ticket prices, competition from the Olympics, and an [[Early 1990s recession|economic recession]]. Even financially successful films experienced steep week-to-week drops, particularly among younger audiences, who were vital to box office success.<ref name="NYTimesummerRetro"/>

Despite these challenges, ''Batman Returns'' and ''Lethal Weapon 3'' gave Warner Bros. the most profitable first half-year in its history, with the studio expecting [[Film distribution|returns over $200{{nbsp}}million]].<ref name="NYTimesTwoattheWheel"/> However, ''Batman Returns'' fell $114.8 million short of ''Batman''{{'}}s $411.6 million gross, and was considered a disappointment as a sequel to the fifth-highest-grossing film of its time.<ref name="EWOct1993"/><ref name="NYTimesDisappointment"/><ref name="BOMBatman1989"/> By July 1992, anonymous Warner Bros. executives reportedly said about the film, "It's too dark. It's not a lot of fun".<ref name="Escapist2020"/>

Although it carried a [[Motion Picture Association film rating system#Addition of the PG-13 rating|PG-13 rating]]—warning that it may contain content unsuitable for children—Warner Bros. received thousands of complaint letters from parents who objected to the film's violent and sexualized content.<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/><ref name="EWOct1993"/><ref name="NYTimesummerRetro"/> Waters recalled one screening where "It's like kids crying, people acting like they've been punched in the stomach and like they've been mugged".<ref name="Escapist2020"/> He anticipated some backlash but admitted that certain elements may have gone too far.<ref name="DOGBatman3"/> Burton later said that he preferred ''Batman Returns'' to ''Batman'' and did not view it as darker.{{sfn|Salisbury|Burton|2006|p=113}} Sam Hamm defended Burton and Waters, stating that, aside from merchandising, the film had never been intended as child-friendly.<ref name="DOGBatman3"/>

McDonald's was also criticized for its child-centered promotion and toy tie-ins.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="Escapist2020"/><ref name="TheRinger2022"/><ref name="TCM"/><ref name="PolygonRetro"/>}} The company subsequently changed its practices, requiring extended previews of films before agreeing to promotional partnerships.{{sfn|Proctor|2023|p=218}} Warner Bros.' hopes that the film might mirror ''Batman''{{'}}s lucrative merchandising campaign were similarly undercut, as demand for licensed products proved far weaker than in 1989. A [[JCPenney]] representative reported that only about one-third of stock had sold, with the remainder discounted, while another store described sales as barely a tenth of ''Batman''{{'}}s.{{sfn|Proctor|2023|p=218}}

In light of the backlash and merchandising decline, Warner Bros. chose to continue the series without Burton, whom they considered "too dark and odd for them", and hired [[Joel Schumacher]] to direct the next installment.<ref name="EWOct1993"/> A rival studio executive remarked, "If you bring back Burton and Keaton, you're stuck with their vision. You can't expect ''Honey, I Shrunk the Batman''", referencing the family-friendly ''[[Honey, I Shrunk the Kids]]'' (1989).<ref name="PolygonRetro"/> Around the same time, executive producers [[Benjamin Melniker]] and [[Michael Uslan]] sued Warner Bros., alleging that the studio had denied them their share of profits from ''Batman'' and ''Batman Returns'' through [[Hollywood accounting]] practices—artificially inflating a film's production costs to make it appear unprofitable and limit payouts. A court ruled in Warner Bros.' favor, citing insufficient evidence.<ref name="WAPOLawsuit"/><ref name="DOGLawsuit"/>

=== Home media ===
''Batman Returns'' was released on [[VHS]] and [[LaserDisc]] on October 21, 1992.<ref name="AFICatalog"/><ref name="NYTimesHomeVideoOct15"/><ref name="NYTimesHomeVideoDec13"/> The VHS carried a lower-than-average price to encourage sales and rentals. Although the film was expected to sell millions of copies and perform strongly as a rental, commentators suggested its darker tone would limit appeal among children, the demographic most responsible for driving home-video sales.<ref name="NYTimesHomeVideoOct15"/> Danny Elfman's score was issued on [[compact disc]] in 1992, with an expanded edition released in 2010.<ref name="Filmtracks"/>

The film was first released on [[DVD-Video|DVD]] in 1997, without additional features.<ref name="HomeMediaIGNAnthologyBR"/><ref name="HomeMediaTribute"/> In October 2005, Warner Bros. issued an anthology DVD [[box set]] containing all four films in the Burton–Schumacher Batman series. The ''Batman Returns'' disc included a commentary by Burton, the making-of featurette ''The Bat, The Cat, and The Penguin'', the fourth part of the documentary ''Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight'', featurettes on costumes, make-up, and special effects, and the music video for ''Face to Face''.<ref name="HomeMediaIGNAnthologyDVD"/>

The anthology set was reissued on [[Blu-ray]] in 2009, alongside a standalone Blu-ray edition of ''Batman Returns''.<ref name="HomeMediaIGNAnthologyBR"/><ref name="HomeMediaDOG"/> A [[4K Ultra HD Blu-ray]] edition, restored from the original 35mm negative, was released in 2019 with previously available special features.<ref name="Ebert4k"/><ref name="HomeMediaUltraHD"/> A 4K collector's edition followed in 2022, packaged in a [[SteelBook]] case with original cover art, character cards, a double-sided poster, and the earlier supplements.<ref name="HomeMediaWBCollectors"/>

===Other media===
{{see also|Batman Returns (video games)|Batman '89 (comic book)|Batman: The Ride|l1=''Batman Returns'' (video games)|l2=''Batman '89'' (comic book)}}
[[File:Vertical Velocity (Six Flags Great America).jpg|thumb|alt=A distant shot of Batman: The Ride at Six Flags Great America|[[Batman: The Ride]] at Six Flags Great America was opened in 1992 with ''Batman Returns''.]]
About 120 products were marketed with ''Batman Returns'', including action figures and toys by [[Kenner Products]], Catwoman-themed clothing, toothbrushes, roller skates, T-shirts, underwear, sunglasses, towels, beanbags, mugs, weightlifting gloves, throw pillows, cookie cutters, commemorative coins, playing cards, costume jewelry, cereal, a radio-controlled Batmobile, and even tortilla chips shaped like the Batman logo.<ref name="AFICatalog"/><ref name="LATimesMarketing120"/><ref name="NYTimesMarketing"/> Although a similar number of products had been marketed for ''Batman'' (1989), Warner Bros. used fewer licensees this time to allow greater oversight. To combat counterfeiting, holographic labels developed by American Bank Note Holographics were attached to licensed merchandise.<ref name="LATimesMarketing120"/><ref name="NYTimesMarketing"/> The concurrent release of ''[[Batman: The Animated Series]]'' later in 1992 was expected to extend merchandising success beyond the film's theatrical run.<ref name="LATimesMarketing120"/>

Other tie-ins included a novelization by [[Craig Shaw Gardner]], published in July 1992,<ref name="Biblio"/><ref name="AmazonNovel"/> and the roller coaster [[Batman: The Ride]] at [[Six Flags Great America]], built at a cost of $8&nbsp;million and later replicated at additional Six Flags parks alongside a Batman stunt show.<ref name="AFICatalog"/><ref name="LATimesMarketing120"/> Several video-game adaptations titled ''[[Batman Returns (video games)|Batman Returns]]'' were released across nearly all available platforms;<ref name="IGNVideoGameLynx"/><ref name="GRadarVideoGame"/><ref name="VentureBeatVideoGame"/> the [[Batman Returns (SNES video game)|Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] version was the most successful.<ref name="IGNVideoGame"/>

The film's legacy continued in later media. To celebrate the Penguin's 80th anniversary, DeVito wrote the 2021 comic story "Bird Cat Love", in which Penguin and Catwoman fall in love and end the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="CatBirdLovePolygon"/><ref name="CatBirdLoveGuardian"/> In 2022, DC Comics launched ''[[Batman '89 (comic book)|Batman '89]]'', a series written by Sam Hamm with art by Joe Quinones, which continues the Burton continuity, following up on ''Batman Returns'' by depicting Harvey Dent's transformation into Two-Face and introducing Robin.<ref name="DOGBatman89"/> The Red Triangle Gang made their first appearance outside the film in ''Robin'' #15 (2022).<ref name="RedTriangleComics"/><ref name="RedTriangleComics2"/> That same year, a holiday tie-in book was released, ''Batman Returns: One Dark Christmas Eve: The Illustrated Holiday Classic'', by Ivan Cohen.<ref name="ChristmasBook"/> In 2023, [[LEGO]] released a near 4,000-piece [[Batcave]] set inspired by ''Batman Returns''.<ref name="THRLego"/>

==Thematic analysis==
===Duality and fragmented identity===
Critic David Crow identifies duality as a central motif in ''Batman Returns'', noting that Catwoman, Penguin, and Shreck each reflect warped aspects of Batman.{{sfn|Born|2017|p=90}}<ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/><ref name="ReviewWaPoKempley"/> English and American studies professor Carol Siegel contends that the film is a neo-gothic fairy tale exploring bodily transformation and fragmented identity, often through the lens of rage against oppressive social structures.{{sfn|Siegel|2013|pp=218, 228}}

Siegel argues that the film is unique within the Batman mythos because it is "more concerned with Bruce Wayne than his alter ego", resulting in an "almost complete abandonment of the action-adventure aspect of the comic tradition".{{sfn|Siegel|2013|p=127}} The divided selves of Bruce and Selina are central to the narrative, and themes of fractured identity are especially evident in Catwoman's transformation.{{sfn|Siegel|2013|p=127}}{{sfn|Born|2017|p=85}} According to author Simon Born, the dual identities constrain both characters, and their fleeting recognition at the masquerade ball is undermined by what he terms their "advanced schizophrenia".{{sfn|Born|2017|p=86}} Like Bruce, Selina is driven by trauma and inner conflict; unlike Batman, who seeks justice, she seeks vengeance.<ref name="Vulture2017"/><ref name="ReviewTribuneKehr"/> Although Catwoman acknowledges Batman's assertion that they are "the same, split right down the center", their differences prevent reconciliation.<ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/>

Critics Darren Mooney and Betsy Sharkey argue that Penguin mirrors Batman's origin, as both lost their parents at an early age. Shreck even notes that, if not for his abandonment, Oswald Cobblepot and Bruce Wayne might have shared social circles. While Batman accepts his solitude, the Penguin craves acceptance, love, and respect, despite his destructive impulses.<ref name="Escapist2020"/><ref name="NYTimesWelch"/> Mooney suggests Batman's conflicts with Penguin are personal rather than moral: Batman, quietly proud of being a "freak", resents the Penguin for mirroring his own abnormality.<ref name="Escapist2020"/> Shreck, meanwhile, embodies Bruce's public persona taken to extremes—an industrialist whose greed and populism are masked by cheap gestures toward the public.<ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/>

Born describes ''Batman Returns'' as a highly stylized neo-gothic work in which identity, social critique, and psychological trauma are externalized through an opulent design.{{sfn|Born|2017|p=90}} He refers to Gotham as an "insurrection of signs", where established symbols are inverted and notions of good and evil destabilized.{{sfn|Born|2017|pp=82, 86}} Born further argues that Batman has lost his personal identity to his alter ego: "Bruce Wayne is the mask of Batman". Batman uses this monstrous persona to shield himself from the world. Born notes that the hero's violence is depicted with a "casualness and malice" that is intended to unsettle the audience.{{sfn|Born|2017|p=85}} This portrayal implies that Batman is not far removed from the "relentless methods" of the fascistic powers he once opposed in earlier comics.{{sfn|Born|2017|pp=85–86}}

===The carnivalesque and social critique===
Writer Catherine Mettler describes ''Batman Returns'' as a cinematic application of [[Mikhail Bakhtin]]'s theory of the [[carnivalesque]], which posits that carnival can invert existing power hierarchies and enable popular renewal. Burton's work is characterized by elements that are "exuberantly colorful, gay, hallucinogenic, childlike, and chaotic", which he applies to films such as ''Pee-wee's Big Adventure'' (1985) and ''[[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (film)|Charlie and the Chocolate Factory]]'' (2005).{{sfn|Mettler|2012|p=109}}

The Penguin is a key embodiment of the carnivalesque, particularly through the concept of the grotesque body.{{sfn|Mettler|2012|p=123}} Mettler highlights his deformed physicality and excessive appetites as representations of the "unbounded" and "materially linked" body of the common people.{{sfn|Mettler|2012|p=123}} His sewer lair is described as a circus, further emphasizing the visual chaos of his character.{{sfn|Mettler|2012|p=121}} Living among the city's waste, the Penguin's existence underscores the stark divide between the elite and the masses he represents.{{sfn|Mettler|2012|pp=122–123}} As the "least obvious carnivalesque character," Catwoman embodies the theme on a personal level.{{sfn|Mettler|2012|p=127}} Her transformation aligns with Bakhtin's notion of a carnival spirit that liberates a person from "conventions and established truths" and offers entry into "a completely new order of things".{{sfn|Mettler|2012|p=127}}

Selina, a victim of a "sexist macho society", is pushed out a window by her boss.{{sfn|Born|2017|p=84}} Born argues that Selina empowers herself by adapting the 'symbol of her oppression—the cat—' and reframing it as a 'furious panther' in opposition to the chauvinistic business world.{{sfn|Born|2017|p=85}} Her rebellion reflects post-feminist theories linking sexuality, power, and identity.{{sfn|Born|2017|p=85}} However, Born argues that her struggle against masculine authority ultimately fails, as her autonomy is continually challenged by male characters, reflecting Hollywood's patriarchal system.{{sfn|Born|2017|p=85}}

===Sexuality and repression===
''Batman Returns'' is noted for its exploration of sexuality, particularly the relationship between Batman and Catwoman, with critics often citing its [[S&M]] undertones and the use of leather fetish suits.{{sfn|Siegel|2013|p=197}} Siegel described the film as an "S&M art film" marketed as a children's summer blockbuster.{{sfn|Siegel|2013|pp=197, 218}} She argues that the film's exploration of fetishism, perversity, and eroticism is central to its neo-gothic themes.{{sfn|Siegel|2013|pp=218, 228}} 
 
According to Siegel, a central theme in Burton's work, including ''Batman Returns'', is the "shared exhilaration and anxiety concerning bodily transformation".{{sfn|Siegel|2013|p=10}} This is most evident in Catwoman, whose transformation is marked by prominent stitches on her homemade patent-leather suit.{{sfn|Siegel|2013|pp=10, 229}} These stitches are both literal and symbolic, testifying to her reanimation after her death and revival by alley cats.{{sfn|Siegel|2013|p=10}} Siegel posits that the act of sewing her own suit functions as an ironic mimicry of the oppressive feminine social roles that had previously terrorized her.{{sfn|Siegel|2013|p=229}}

Siegel suggests that their consensual S&M-coded relationship is mitigated by their heroic actions, which allow them to channel "both their rage and their perverse desires into their ongoing fight against destructive evil".{{sfn|Siegel|2013|p=207}} She contends this portrayal suggests that S&M can be regarded as "nearly wholesome so long as it is manifested with control and proper purpose".{{sfn|Siegel|2013|p=207}} Other critics interpret Batman and Catwoman's attraction less as sexual perversity and more as a "romance between two schizophrenics," rooted in shared anger and emotional wounds.{{sfn|Siegel|2013|p=207}}

Critic Tom Breihan described Catwoman's vinyl catsuit as "pure [[BDSM]]", complete with the whip she wields as a weapon.<ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/><ref name="AVClub2022"/> In the climax, she rejects Batman's offer of a happy ending and abandoning her revenge against Shreck; accepting Batman's will would mean allowing another man to control her.<ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/> Selina's arc from timid secretary to dominant Catwoman represents liberation from social conventions and established truths.{{sfn|Mettler|2012|p=127}} For Siegel, her stitched-together "Frankensteinean" catsuit is an artistic embodiment of her rage against patriarchal and repressive roles that once defined her.{{sfn|Siegel|2013|pp=228–229}} Her story is one of personal empowerment against male hegemony, culminating in her showdown with Shreck.{{sfn|Mettler|2012|pp=129–130}} Catwoman's overt embrace of sexuality contrasts with Batman's repression, presenting sexuality as dangerous, destabilizing, and incompatible with their vigilante roles.{{sfn|Newman|1993|pp=306–307}} Her sexuality functions both as empowerment and as a threat to patriarchal structures embodied by Shreck, Batman, and Penguin.{{sfn|Newman|1993|pp=306–307}}

Alongside Catwoman's sexualized persona, ''Batman Returns'' continues a tradition in Batman media in which the hero's power stems from sublimating sexuality into violence.{{sfn|Newman|1993|pp=306–307}} Criminal justice scholar [[Graeme Newman]] said that, historically, Batman has been portrayed as asexual, reinforcing his obsessive focus on crime-fighting and echoing a moral stance that renounces "the medieval evil itself: sex".{{sfn|Newman|1993|p=305}} His "tremendous force" of sexuality is redirected into "unrestrained lust: violence", presenting a distinctly male response to desire.{{sfn|Newman|1993|p=307}}

In ''Batman'', his sexual encounter with Vicki Vale leaves him restless and disturbed, suggesting intimacy conflicts with his crime-fighting obsession.{{sfn|Newman|1993|p=306}} The avoidance of homosexual themes—such as omitting Robin from the film or killing him in comics—was partly driven by fears that such portrayals would "contradict and divert attention away from the single-minded pursuit of justice".{{sfn|Newman|1993|p=306}} The dynamic between Batman and Catwoman underscores this tension; both recognize that if they were to be together, they would no longer need to pursue their respective justice obsessions.{{sfn|Newman|1993|p=307}} Mettler notes that while Catwoman achieves independence from social constraints and male control, she never achieves sexual liberation, observing that despite their attraction, she and Batman never consummate their relationship.{{sfn|Mettler|2012|p=129}} Film analyst [[Arthur Taussig]] argues that Catwoman's final decision in ''Batman Returns'' to reject the heroic Batman and choose "total freedom, total independence from all men" is a "revolutionary statement" and a "political breakthrough for popular cinema," as it subverts the traditional Hollywood formula of female characters finding fulfillment only through a male partner.<ref name="ThemesTaussig"/>

===Power, politics, and ideology===
These tensions between sexuality and repression feed directly into the film's broader exploration of power and ideology, most clearly embodied in the Penguin's mayoral campaign, which Shreck masterminds.<ref name="ReviewEWBurr"/><ref name="ReviewTribuneKehr"/>

Selina gains agency by donning the Catwoman costume and embracing her anger and sexuality.<ref name="ReviewEWBurr"/><ref name="ReviewTribuneKehr"/> By contrast, according to Newman, Batman sublimates sexuality into violence, aligning him with a conservative ideology: order requires the denial of personal desire, and strength must be expressed through "good violence" in service of justice.{{sfn|Newman|1993|p=310}}

The film's political themes are interwoven with the machinations of Shreck, a figure who wields wealth to secure influence, declaring, "There's no such thing as too much power; if my life has a meaning that's the meaning".<ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/> Born argues that Shreck is arguably the film's only purely evil character; he is more frightening than the "freaks and monsters" because he operates "behind a façade of normalcy" while manipulating, corrupting, and killing others. Born contends that Burton's work suggests the true source of fear is not "the Other" (the outsider) but the "ordinary".{{sfn|Born|2017|p=88}} He further explains that Burton portrays the film's "freaks and monsters" as victimized individuals: the Penguin, abandoned by wealthy parents, lashes out at the consumer society that rejected him; Catwoman emerges from a chauvinistic world; and even Batman is a "traumatized individual".{{sfn|Born|2017|pp=82–85}} Born concludes that the film ultimately destabilizes the binaries of good and evil, framing them as subjective narrative constructs.{{sfn|Born|2017|p=87}}

Shreck convinces Penguin to run for mayor to advance his own interests, while Penguin seeks the legitimacy and respect that recognition would bring, echoing Catwoman's struggle.<ref name="NYTimesCarynJames"/>{{sfn|Newman|1993|pp=307,310}} Critic Caryn James observed that ''Batman Returns'' delivers "sharp political jabs", suggesting that money and image matter more than substance.<ref name="NYTimesCarynJames"/> Whereas the Joker in ''Batman'' won support by throwing money into the crowd, Shreck and Penguin rely on spectacle, pandering, and corporate showmanship. Penguin notes that both he and Shreck are monsters, but only Shreck is "well-respected". James remarked that Penguin does not seek to become lovable, only accepted.<ref name="TheRinger2022"/><ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/><ref name="NYTimesCarynJames"/> When voters turn on him, he retaliates with a plan to kill infants, symbols of the opportunities he never had. Critic John Crow argued that Burton shows greatest sympathy for Penguin, devoting more screen time to his development.<ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/>

The narrative aligns with Newman's interpretation of the film as delivering a "deeply conservative message".{{sfn|Newman|1993|p=310}} The ineffectual liberal mayor is outmaneuvered by Shreck, the "evil capitalist", while Gotham's "fickle masses" nearly elect Penguin.{{sfn|Newman|1993|p=310}} In this reading, "the moral weakness of liberalism is eclipsed by the moral strength of evil", leaving Batman's "good violence" as the only force capable of restoring order.{{sfn|Newman|1993|p=310}} The interplay of sexuality and politics completes this logic: Catwoman's sexuality threatens male control, Batman's repression channels desire into violence, and Gotham's citizens, manipulated by spectacle, require a morally certain, if brutal, hero to save them from themselves.{{sfn|Newman|1993|pp=306–307,310}}

These artistic and political strands are closely tied to Burton's personal rebellious impulses. He admitted a desire to vent anger "on such a grand scale," claiming he was "pretty much against society from the beginning".{{sfn|Siegel|2013|p=228}} This resistance to class hierarchy and patriarchy recurs throughout his work.{{sfn|Siegel|2013|p=228}}

===Christmas, capitalism, and cultural critique===
Crow and Mooney saw ''Batman Returns'' as a critique of Batman's real-world cultural popularity and merchandising, particularly following the success of the previous film. Notably, a scene of a store filled with Batman merchandise being destroyed was removed from the final cut.<ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/> The film is "saturated with Christmas energy", but rejects conventional holiday norms to function as an anti-[[Christmas film]] that critiques commercialism and the absence of true goodwill. Shreck cynically exploits Christmas tropes, falsely portraying himself as selfless and benevolent, while the perversions of Penguin's Red Triangle gang represent a more overt rejection of the holiday.<ref name="Escapist2020"/><ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/>

Born describes Christmas as a central motif in the film, but it is portrayed as a symbol of "commercial mass deception" and the "tyranny of department stores".{{sfn|Born|2017|pp=82, 86}} Both Penguin and Catwoman use the festive season to challenge Gotham's established power structures with carnivalesque traits.{{sfn|Mettler|2012|pp=121, 127}} Gotham City is dominated by Shreck.{{sfn|Born|2017|p=82}} Shreck embodies ruthless capitalism concealed behind the "friendly face of a cartoon animal", a subtle critique by Burton of his own experiences with corporate entities like [[The Walt Disney Company]].{{sfn|Born|2017|p=82}} ''Batman Returns'' has been described as a neo-gothic fairy tale that is "more Burton than Batman".{{sfn|Proctor|2023|p=208}} Its content was deemed unsuitable for young children, prompting backlash from parents and critics.{{sfn|Proctor|2023|p=218}} An editorial in ''[[The New York Times]]'' warned that the film was "violent, sexually suggestive", featuring scenes where "kids are abandoned, kidnapped, and threatened with death".{{sfn|Proctor|2023|p=218}}

The film includes racy dialogue, such as "just the pussy I've been looking for" and "I'd like to fill her void", which angered many parents. This controversy extended to merchandising, with McDonald's receiving numerous complaints about licensed toys and promotional items tied to the film. The resulting outcry over the film's tone and violence highlighted a clash between its dark themes and its marketing to a younger audience.{{sfn|Proctor|2023|p=218}}

The film emphasizes loneliness and isolation during Christmastime: Bruce is first shown sitting alone in his vast mansion, inert until the Bat-Signal shines in the sky. While he forms a connection with Kyle, their differences remain insurmountable, and he ends the film as he began it; alone.<ref name="Escapist2020"/> Critic Todd McCarthy noted that isolation is a recurring theme in much of Burton's work, emphasized in the film's three main characters.<ref name="ReviewVarietyMcCarthy"/>

Some contemporary critics argue that while the film is not explicitly antisemitic, it utilizes visual and thematic elements associated with historical Jewish stereotypes.<ref name="NYTimesAnti"/> They suggest the Penguin embodies traits such as a "hooked nose, pale face and lust for herring" and is "unathletic and seemingly unthreatening but who, in fact, wants to murder every firstborn child of the gentile community".<ref name="NYTimesAnti"/> The character teams with Shreck (a name the critics describe as 'Jewish-sounding') to disrupt Christmas and Christian traditions.<ref name="NYTimesAnti"/> According to [[LAist]], the Penguin's exaggerated caricature, assault on holiday customs, and overt biblical symbolism create a "perfect storm" of imagery evoking antisemitic tropes.<ref name="ThemesLAist"/> These critics contend that Burton, in drawing inspiration from the German Expressionist aesthetic, unintentionally referenced a problematic lineage, as some art critics view the ''[[Nosferatu]]'' (1922) character [[Count Orlok]] (portrayed by actor Max Shreck) as an example of a bizarre and monstrous characterization of Jews as the predatory, parasitic "other".<ref name="NYTimesAnti"/><ref name="ThemesLAist"/>{{sfn|Born|2017|p=82}}

Conversely, Melvin Salberg and Abraham H. Foxman of the [[Anti-Defamation League]] argued that reading the film as antisemitic is a misinterpretation that overlooks the filmmakers' intent and distracts from real-world antisemitism.<ref name="NYTimesLetter"/> Furthermore, Taussig noted the biblical resonance of the Penguin's infancy, with a baby carriage floating in a river recalling the story of [[Moses]].<ref name="ThemesTaussig"/> Visual effects supervisor Robert Skotak explained that the sequence was conceived as a visual descent into the underworld, portraying a sinister baptism, symbolically paralleling the biblical narrative.{{sfn|Cotta Vaz|1992|p=29}}

==Legacy==
===Retrospective reception===
Despite a mixed initial reception from critics and audiences, ''Batman Returns'' has undergone a critical reappraisal in the years since its release and is now considered a classic of the superhero genre. Several publications, such as ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' and ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'', now rank it among the best Batman and superhero films, with some calling it "the greatest Batman movie ever made".{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/><ref name="VarietyBestSequels"/><ref name="BestSuperheroRS"/><ref name="BestSuperheroParade"/>}} The film is seen as "underrated" and a "series peaking early," with subsequent films failing to live up to its vision.<ref name="TheRinger2022"/><ref name="BestSuperheroParade"/>

Burton's artistic choices, which were criticized at the time, are now seen as prescient and ahead of their time.<ref name="TheRinger2022"/> The "darker" and more "bleak" aspects of the film have been re-evaluated in the wake of later, more serious superhero films. Burton noted the irony of the film being deemed 'too dark,' given that later films—including [[The Dark Knight trilogy|''The Dark Knight'' trilogy]] (2005–2012) and ''[[The Batman (film)|The Batman]]'' (2022)—went even darker.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="VarietyDolby"/><ref name="EmpireNipples"/><ref name="SlashReappraise"/><ref name="BestSuperheroEmpire"/>}} Burton said that while ''Batman Returns'' was seen by some as bleak, for him it was a mixture of gothic, playful, kinky, and experimental tones.<ref name="EmpireNipples"/> ''The Hollywood Reporter'' notes that the film was "truer to Tim Burton's dark vision than its predecessor".<ref name="BestBatmanTHR3"/><ref name="SlashReappraise"/> According to ''[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]]'', the very "fatalistic and noir elements" that Roger Ebert criticized in 1992 are now "the going currency of event movies".<ref name="TheRinger2022"/> Critic Brian Tallerico said that the elements which originally upset critics and audiences are what makes it still "revelatory... It's one of the best and strangest movies of its kind ever made".<ref name="Ebert4k"/>

Writer Daniel Waters recalled being told that ''Batman Returns'' was a "great movie for people who don't like Batman".<ref name="VultureWaters"/><ref name="ColliderRetro"/> While the film received criticism for its depiction of Batman killing, Waters defended the choice, arguing that in a film like ''[[The Dark Knight]]'' (2008), it was not practical for Batman to let the [[Joker (The Dark Knight)|Joker]] live, knowing he could escape and cause more harm.<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/><ref name="DOGBatmanRetro"/> He believed that the reception to ''Batman Returns'' was improving with time, especially after the release of ''The Batman''.<ref name="VultureWaters"/>

Review aggregator [[Rotten Tomatoes]] has an {{RT data|score}} approval rating from reviews by {{RT data|count}} critics, with an average score of {{RT data|average}}. According to the website's critical consensus, "Director Tim Burton's dark, brooding atmosphere, Michael Keaton's work as the tormented hero, and the flawless casting of Danny DeVito as The Penguin and Christopher Walken as, well, Christopher Walken make the sequel better than the first".<ref name="RottenTomatoesScore"/> The film has a score of 68 out of 100 on [[Metacritic]] (based on 23 critics), indicating "generally favorable" reviews.<ref name="MetacriticScore"/>

===Cultural influence===
The film is widely regarded as an exemplar of the superhero genre's potential for artistic expression. ''Variety'' credits the film with helping to legitimize the genre by pairing Keaton's Batman with Burton's distinct and vivid world-building.<ref name="VarietyBestSequels"/> The Burton ''Batman'' films are also credited with establishing the darker, more serious tone that would later define the modern superhero genre of the early 21st century.<ref name="VarietyDolby"/> Publications like ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'' and ''[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]'' describe the film as a deeply personal and "unmistakably Burton" work, infused with the same gothic and satirical sensibilities as his earlier films like ''Beetlejuice'' and ''Edward Scissorhands''.<ref name="ENdingPolygon"/><ref name="EmpireNipples"/> This approach made the film a "bold, auteur-driven detour" in Batman's cinematic history, contrasting sharply with the camp of the 1960s and the later, more grounded style of ''The Dark Knight'' trilogy.<ref name="EmpireNipples"/> Author Jeff Bond called ''Batman Returns'' the "first auteur superhero movie" because it allowed Burton to make a film that was his "weird experiment" rather than a strict adaptation.<ref name="DigitalBits"/><ref name="EmpireNipples"/> This willingness to ignore traditional comic book elements and sequel hooks in favor of his unique vision helped pave the way for other creative directors, such as [[Christopher Nolan]], [[Peter Jackson]], and [[Sam Raimi]], to helm major franchises.<ref name="TheRinger2022"/><ref name="ENdingPolygon"/> Director of ''The Batman'' [[Matt Reeves]] and that film's star [[Robert Pattinson]] both called ''Batman Returns'' their favorite ''Batman'' film.<ref name="PattinsonLooper"/><ref name="ReevesIGN"/> Additionally, director [[Robert Eggers]] said that it visually inspired his film ''[[Nosferatu (2024 film)|Nosferatu]]'' (2024).<ref name="Eggers"/>

Pfeiffer's portrayal of Catwoman is widely regarded as a definitive big-screen interpretation of the character, praised not only for her iconic costume but for a performance that brought a unique blend of sexuality, danger, outrageousness, and pathos to the role.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="TheRinger2022"/><ref name="LATimes2012Burton"/><ref name="CatwomanBestLATimes"/><ref name="DeadlineBestBatman"/><ref name="BestBatmanBestDC"/>}} Burton called it one of his favorite performances he has ever worked on.<ref name="LATimes2012Burton"/> While initially hailed as the film's "bright spot" amid a mixed critical reception, the performance is now considered one of the greatest in the superhero genre, credited with taking a comic book character and turning her into a complex, contradictory figure that served as a commentary on the portrayal of women in genre fiction.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="LATimes2012Burton"/><ref name="THR50Best"/><ref name="Telegraph30Best"/><ref name="BestSuperheroTheRinger"/>}} The role is seen as a "career-making" one that helped audiences forget previous portrayals and cemented Pfeiffer's as the "definitive big-screen Catwoman".<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/><ref name="VarietyBestSequels"/><ref name="BestBatmanTHR3"/> ''Variety'' argued that Pfeiffer deserved an Academy Award nomination for her performance, and set a benchmark for future portrayals.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="VarietyBestof50"/><ref name="VarietyOscarSnubs"/><ref name="CatwomanBestCatwomanVariety"/><ref name="BestVillainsCatPengVulture"/><ref name="NYTimesCatAcad"/>}} 
 
Burton recalled that by the time of ''Batman Returns'', studios had begun to talk in terms of "franchises" and marketing, concepts that were still relatively new during production of the 1989 film. ''The Hollywood Reporter'' notes that while ''Batman'' launched the modern superhero movie, ''Batman Returns'' marked a more complex stage in that evolution. With its darker tone, bold characterizations, and extensive marketing tie-ins, the film helped pave the way for the genre's later dominance, even if Burton's approach made that progression a more uneven one.<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/> The film's tone and clash with corporate partners like McDonald's, which objected to darker content, prompted Warner Bros. to pivot to the more lighthearted and "campy" style of the Joel Schumacher films.<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/><ref name="TheRinger2022"/> While this was an attempt to create films with more broad, family-friendly appeal, ''The Ringer'' wrote that the Schumacher films are now seen as "borderline unwatchable", while ''Batman Returns'' is seen as a superior and more enduring cinematic work.<ref name="TheRinger2022"/><ref name="BestBatmanVulture3"/> In January 2017, one of the iconic Batsuits worn by Keaton in the film sold at auction for $41,250.<ref name="THRSuit"/>

Although a summer blockbuster upon its release, ''Batman Returns'' has become a holiday film staple due to its winter setting and Christmas iconography. Several publications have listed it among the best alternative Christmas films, noting its themes of loneliness and isolation.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="Escapist2020"/><ref name="EWGrody"/><ref name="XmasTelegraph"/><ref name="XmasVariety"/>}} It is also identified as the centerpiece of Burton's unofficial Christmas trilogy, bookended by ''Edward Scissorhands'' and ''The Nightmare Before Christmas''.<ref name="Escapist2020"/><ref name="TheRinger2022"/>

==Sequels==
{{main|Batman Forever|Batman & Robin (film)|Catwoman (film)|The Flash (film)|l1=''Batman Forever''|l2=''Batman & Robin'' (film)|l3=''Catwoman'' (film)|l4=''The Flash'' (film)}}
Following the reception of ''Batman Returns'', Warner Bros. sought to continue the series without Burton.<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/><ref name="EWOct1993"/><ref name="DOGBatman3"/> Although Burton considered making a third film, the studio encouraged him to pursue other projects and he realized they did not want him to return. He was replaced with Joel Schumacher, who was seen as better suited to delivering a more family- and merchandise-friendly sequel.<ref name="THRReturnsat25"/><ref name="EWOct1993"/><ref name="DOGBatman3"/> Keaton initially supported the change but eventually left the role, later saying the proposed third film "just wasn't any good, man".<ref name="EWOct1993"/><ref name="PolygonRetro"/><ref name="GuardianKeatonInt"/> Industry reports suggested he also sought a $15&nbsp;million salary and profit share, though his producing partner [[Harry Colomby]] denied money was the issue.<ref name="DOGBatman3"/>

Schumacher's ''[[Batman Forever]]'' (1995) was financially successful but less well received critically than ''Batman Returns''.<ref name="NYTimeschumachObit"/> Its sequel, ''[[Batman & Robin (film)|Batman & Robin]]'' (1997), was a critical and commercial disappointment, often cited as one of the worst [[Blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbuster]] films ever made,<ref name="NYTimeschumachObit"/><ref name="TheWrapSequels"/> and led to the franchise being placed on hiatus until the reboot ''[[Batman Begins]]'' (2005).<ref name="DOGBatman3"/><ref name="TheWrapSequels"/><ref name="PolygonRetro"/>

By the mid-1990s, Burton and Waters were attached to a planned Catwoman film starring Pfeiffer.<ref name="VarietyCatwoman"/><ref name="VarietyCatwoman2"/> Burton and Waters held competing visions for the project: Burton wanted to make an intimate black-and-white drama in homage to ''[[Cat People (1942 film)|Cat People]]'' (1942), while Waters's script followed Catwoman, suffering from amnesia after the events of ''Batman Returns'', in the [[Las Vegas]]-like Oasisburg, where she confronted corrupt male superheroes.<ref name="DogCatwomanFilm"/><ref name="DeadlineCatwomanFilm"/> The project stalled as Burton and Pfeiffer moved on to other work, and Warner Bros. eventually produced ''[[Catwoman (film)|Catwoman]]'' (2004), starring [[Halle Berry]], which was widely panned.<ref name="DogCatwomanFilm"/><ref name="IndieJuly24"/>

Keaton later reprised his Batman in ''[[The Flash (film)|The Flash]]'' (2023),<ref name="TheWrapSequels"/><ref name="GuideFlash"/> and had also filmed scenes for the cancelled ''[[Batgirl (film)|Batgirl]]'' (2022).<ref name="ColliderBatgirl"/><ref name="BatgirlCancelled"/>

==Footnotes==
{{notelist-lr}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="BBFC">{{cite web |title=''Batman Returns'' |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/batman-returns-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmjgxmjc |website=[[British Board of Film Classification]] |access-date=July 19, 2022 |archive-date=September 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903161847/https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/batman-returns-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmjgxmjc |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="AFICatalog">{{cite web |title=''Batman Returns'' (1992) |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/59187 |website=[[American Film Institute]] |access-date=July 10, 2022 |archive-date=March 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320185245/https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/59187 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="AmazonNovel">{{cite web |title=''Batman Returns'' Mass Market Paperback – 1 July 1992 |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Batman-Returns-Craig-Shaw-Gardner/dp/0446363030 |website=[[Amazon (company)|Amazon]]  |access-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-date=October 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015033601/https://www.amazon.co.uk/Batman-Returns-Craig-Shaw-Gardner/dp/0446363030 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="AnotherMagCatwoman">{{cite web |first=Hannah |last=Lack |title=Costume Designer Mary Vogt On Michelle Pfeiffer's Catsuit |url=http://www.anothermag.com/art-photography/2072/costume-designer-mary-vogt-on-michelle-pfeiffer-s-catsuit |website=[[Another Magazine]] |date=July 20, 2012 |access-date=July 5, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325012228/http://www.anothermag.com/art-photography/2072/costume-designer-mary-vogt-on-michelle-pfeiffer-s-catsuit |archive-date=March 25, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="AVClub2022">{{cite web |first=Tom |last=Breihan |title=''Batman Returns'' Is A Relic Of An Age When Disgusting Monsters Only Ran For Office In The Movies |url=https://www.avclub.com/batman-returns-is-a-relic-of-an-age-when-disgusting-mon-1823811610 |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=May 3, 2022 |access-date=June 30, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621085727/https://www.avclub.com/batman-returns-is-a-relic-of-an-age-when-disgusting-mon-1823811610|archive-date=June 21, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="AwardsAcademy">{{cite web |title=The 65th Academy Awards – 1993 |url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1993 |website=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] |date=March 29, 1993 |access-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-date=July 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707004951/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1993 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="AwardsBafta">{{cite web |title=Film In 1993 |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/1993/film |website=[[British Academy of Film and Television Arts]] |access-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-date=June 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611202056/http://awards.bafta.org/award/1993/film |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="AwardSaturn">{{cite web |title=1992 19th Saturn Awards |url=http://theenvelope.latimes.com/extras/lostmind/year/1992/1992sat.htm |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=June 8, 1993 |access-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-date= October 17, 2006 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061017175755/http://theenvelope.latimes.com/extras/lostmind/year/1992/1992sat.htm|url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="AwardMTV">{{cite web |title=A Look Back At 1993 And The Second Annual MTV Movie Awards |url=https://uproxx.com/hitfix/a-look-back-at-1993-and-the-second-annual-mtv-movie-awards/ |website=[[Uproxx]] |date=April 14, 2013|access-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-date=June 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602232649/https://uproxx.com/hitfix/a-look-back-at-1993-and-the-second-annual-mtv-movie-awards/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="AwardRazzie">{{cite web |first=Yardena |last=Arar |title=''The Bodyguard'' Top Contender For 'Other' Film Awards |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/275623/THE-BODYGUARD-TOP-CONTENDER-FOR-OTHER-FILM-AWARDS.html |website=[[Deseret News]] |date=February 16, 1993 |access-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023014855/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/275623/THE-BODYGUARD-TOP-CONTENDER-FOR-OTHER-FILM-AWARDS.html  |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="AwardHugo">{{cite web |title=1993 Hugo Awards |url=https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1993-hugo-awards/ |website=[[Hugo Award]] |access-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-date=May 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220529035627/https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1993-hugo-awards/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name ="BatgirlCancelled">{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Umberto |date=August 2, 2022 |title=''Batgirl'' Won't Fly: Warner Bros. Discovery Has No Plans To Release Nearly Finished $90 Million Film |url=https://www.thewrap.com/batgirl-movie-dead-warner-bros-discovery-has-no-plans-to-release-nearly-finished-90-million-film/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802202744/https://www.thewrap.com/batgirl-movie-dead-warner-bros-discovery-has-no-plans-to-release-nearly-finished-90-million-film/ |archive-date=August 2, 2022 |access-date=August 2, 2022 |website=[[TheWrap]]}}</ref>

<ref name="BestBatmanTHR3">{{cite web |first=Jordan |last=Mintzer |title=Critics' Picks: All 12 ''Batman'' Films Ranked Worst To Best |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/batman-movies-list-all-films-877852/batman-returns/ |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=March 23, 2016 |access-date=July 17, 2022 |archive-date=July 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717145948/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/batman-movies-list-all-films-877852/catwoman/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="BestSuperheroRS">{{cite web |first1=David |last1=Fear |first2=Brian |last2=Hiatt |first3=Alan |last3=Sepinwall |first4=Mosi |last4=Reeves |first5=Joe |last5=Gross |first6=Stephen |last6=Garrett |title=50 Greatest Superhero Movies Of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-lists/greatest-superhero-movies-of-all-time-1367814/batman-returns-1992-1368066/ |website=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=June 29, 2022 |access-date=July 17, 2022 |archive-date=July 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713010428/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-lists/greatest-superhero-movies-of-all-time-1367814/zack-snyders-justice-league-1368106/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="BestSuperheroParade">{{cite web |first=Samuel R. |last=Murrian |title=We Ranked the 55 Best Superhero Movies of All Time, From ''Wonder Woman'' to ''Shang-Chi'' |url=https://parade.com/1135800/samuelmurrian/best-superhero-movies/ |website=[[Parade (magazine)|Parade]] |date=March 7, 2025 |access-date=September 2, 2025 |archive-date=July 18, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250718101557/https://parade.com/1135800/samuelmurrian/best-superhero-movies/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Biblio">{{cite web |title=''Batman Returns'' Mass Market Paperbound – 1992 by Craig Shaw Gardner; DC Comics |website=[[Biblio.com]] |url=https://www.biblio.com/9780446363037 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250808190302/https://www.biblio.com/9780446363037 |archive-date=August 8, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="BillFingerCBR">{{cite web |first=Devin |last=Meenan |title=Batman: Bill Finger's 10 Most Important Contributions To The Character |url=https://www.cbr.com/bill-fingers-most-important-batman-contributions/ |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=January 24, 2022 |access-date=July 19, 2022 |archive-date=July 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712093215/https://www.cbr.com/bill-fingers-most-important-batman-contributions/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="BillFingerForbes">{{cite web |first=Devin |last=Meenan |title=Batman's Co-Creator Bill Finger Finally Receives Recognition |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/robsalkowitz/2015/09/19/batmans-co-creator-bill-finger-finally-receives-recognition/?sh=8604694287e3 |website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |date=January 24, 2022 |access-date=July 19, 2022 |archive-date=July 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220719214036/https://www.forbes.com/sites/robsalkowitz/2015/09/19/batmans-co-creator-bill-finger-finally-receives-recognition/?sh=23d81a6c287e |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="BillFingerWired">{{cite web |first=Charlie Jane |last=Anders |title=Who Really Created Batman? It Depends What Batman Means To You |url=https://www.wired.com/2017/05/batman-and-bill-who-is-batman/ |website=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=May 8, 2017 |access-date=July 19, 2022 |archive-date=July 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712093215/https://www.wired.com/2017/05/batman-and-bill-who-is-batman/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="BillFingerEW">{{cite web |first=Christian |last=Holub |title=Batman Co-Creator Bill Finger Finally Will Receive Writing Credit On ''Gotham'', ''Batman V Superman'' |url=https://ew.com/article/2015/09/18/batman-bill-finger-credit/ |website=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=September 8, 2017 |access-date=July 19, 2022 |archive-date=July 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720183612/https://ew.com/article/2015/09/18/batman-bill-finger-credit/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="BOM1992NABO">{{cite web |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=releasedate&view=opening&yr=1992&p=.htm |title=1992 Yearly Box Office Results |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] | access-date = July 8, 2022 | archive-date = December 9, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151209201035/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=releasedate&view=opening&yr=1992&p=.htm| url-status = live}}</ref>

<ref name="BOM1992Worldwide">{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/1992/ |title=1992 Worldwide Grosses |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] | access-date = July 8, 2022 | archive-date = July 26, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120726204727/http://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=1992&p=.htm | url-status = dead}}</ref>

<ref name="BOMBatman1989">{{cite web |title=Franchise: Batman |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/franchise/fr2286391045/?sort=releaseDate&ref_=bo_fr__resort#table |website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=September 7, 2025 |archive-date=September 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230907205210/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/franchise/fr2286391045/?sort=releaseDate&ref_=bo_fr__resort#table |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="BOMNAAllWeekends">{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3544548865/weekend/?ref_=bo_rl_tab#tabs |title=''Batman Returns'' |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] | access-date = July 8, 2022 | archive-date = March 2, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220302165349/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3544548865/weekend/?ref_=bo_rl_tab | url-status = live}}</ref>

<ref name="BOMNAOriginalRelease">{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3544548865/ |title=''Batman Returns'' |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] | access-date = July 8, 2022 | archive-date = June 17, 2022| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220617153943/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3544548865/ | url-status = live}}</ref>

<ref name="BOMNAWeekend1">{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1992W25/?ref_=bo_rl_table_1 |title=Domestic 1992 Weekend 25 June 19–21, 1992 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] | access-date = July 8, 2022 | archive-date = July 8, 2022| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20220708160648/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1992W25/?ref_=bo_rl_table_1 | url-status = live}}</ref>

<ref name="BOMNAWeekend2">{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1992W26/?ref_=bo_rl_table_2 |title=Domestic 1992 Weekend 26 June 26–28, 1992 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] | access-date = July 8, 2022 | archive-date = July 8, 2022| archive-url = https://archive.today/20220708161805/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1992W26/?ref_=bo_rl_table_2 | url-status = live}}</ref>

<ref name="BOMNAWeekend3">{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1992W27/?ref_=bo_rl_table_3 |title=Domestic 1992 Weekend 27 July 3–5, 1992 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] | access-date = July 8, 2022 | archive-date = July 8, 2022| archive-url = https://archive.today/20220708161933/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1992W27/?ref_=bo_rl_table_3 | url-status = live}}</ref>

<ref name="BOMNAWeekend4">{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1992W28/?ref_=bo_we_nav |title=Domestic 1992 Weekend 28 July 10–12, 1992 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] | access-date = July 8, 2022 | archive-date = February 22, 2022| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220222160707/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/1992W28/?ref_=bo_we_nav | url-status = live}}</ref>

<ref name="BFIBatmanReturns">{{cite web |title=''Batman Returns'' (1992) |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7af94495 |website=[[British Film Institute]]  |access-date=July 19, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701170129/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7af94495 |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="BestBatmanVulture3">{{cite web |first1=Will |last1=Leitch |first2=Tim |last2=Grierson |title=Every ''Batman'' Movie, Ranked |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/best-batman-movies-ranked.html |website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |date=March 4, 2022 |access-date=July 17, 2022 |archive-date=June 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602112717/https://www.vulture.com/article/best-batman-movies-ranked.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="BestBatmanBestDC">{{cite web |last1=DeFore |first1=John |last2=Felperin |first2=Leslie |last3=Mintzer |first3=Jordan |date=October 21, 2022 |title=DC Movies: All Films Ranked Worst to Best |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/dc-movies-all-films-ranked-878039/batman-returns-4/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250814094103/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/dc-movies-all-films-ranked-878039/ |archive-date=August 14, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="BestSuperheroEmpire">{{cite web |first1=Chris |last1=Hewitt |first2=Owen |last2=Williams |first3=Phil |last3=De Semlyen |title=The Greatest Superhero Movies Of All Time |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/greatest-superhero-movies/ |website=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |date=March 10, 2015 |access-date=July 17, 2022 |archive-date=August 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822062802/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/greatest-superhero-movies/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="BestSuperheroTheRinger">{{cite web |title=The 50 Best Superhero Movies Of All Time |url=https://superheroes.theringer.com/ |website=[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]]  |access-date=July 17, 2022 |archive-date=April 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401083548/https://superheroes.theringer.com/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="BestVillainsCatPengVulture">{{cite web |first=Jesse |last=Hassenger |title=''Batman'' Movie Villains, Ranked |url=https://www.vulture.com/2022/03/batman-movie-villains-ranked.html |website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |date=March 8, 2022 |access-date=July 18, 2022 |archive-date=April 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419052842/https://www.vulture.com/2022/03/batman-movie-villains-ranked.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="CatwomanBestCatwomanVariety">{{cite web |first1=Wilson |last1=Chapman |first2=Sasha |last2=Urban |title=Every Live-action Catwoman, Ranked From Worst To Best |url=https://variety.com/lists/catwoman-actors-ranked-batman-zoe-kravitz/michelle-pfeiffer-batman-returns-1992/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=March 14, 2022 |access-date=July 18, 2022 |archive-date=March 17, 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220317012603/https://variety.com/lists/catwoman-actors-ranked-batman-zoe-kravitz/lee-meriwether-batman-the-movie-1966/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="CatwomanBestLATimes">{{cite web |first=Tracy |last=Brown |title=''The Batman'' Villains, Ranked: Who Was The Best Catwoman, Penguin And Riddler? |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-03-04/batman-villains-ranked-catwoman-riddler-penguin |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=March 4, 2022 |access-date=July 18, 2022 |archive-date=April 26, 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220426194351/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-03-04/batman-villains-ranked-catwoman-riddler-penguin|url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="CastNyTimes">{{cite web |first=Janet |last=Maslin |author-link=Janet Maslin |title=Review/Film: ''Batman Returns''; A Sincere Bat, A Sexy Cat And A Bad Bird |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/19/movies/review-film-batman-returns-a-sincere-bat-a-sexy-cat-and-a-bad-bird.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 19, 1992 |access-date=July 1, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629085407/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/19/movies/review-film-batman-returns-a-sincere-bat-a-sexy-cat-and-a-bad-bird.html |archive-date=June 29, 2022 |url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

<ref name="CastVanityFair">{{cite web |first=Katey |last=Rich |title=''Saturday Night Live'' Alum Jan Hooks Dead At 57 |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2014/10/jan-hooks-obituary |website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |date=October 9, 2014 |access-date=July 1, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021052553/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2014/10/jan-hooks-obituary|archive-date=October 21, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="CastBFI">{{cite web |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7af94495 |title=''Batman Returns'' (1992) |website=[[British Film Institute]] |access-date=July 1, 2022 |archive-date=April 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428023645/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7af94495 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="CastJosh">{{cite web |first=Thompson |last=Smith |url=https://www.looper.com/784654/what-the-cast-of-batman-returns-looks-like-today/ |title=What The Cast Of ''Batman Returns'' Looks Like Today |website=[[Looper.com|Looper]] |date=March 10, 2022 | access-date =September 6, 2025| archive-date =April 22, 2025| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20250422135950/https://www.looper.com/784654/what-the-cast-of-batman-returns-looks-like-today/ | url-status = live}}</ref>

<ref name="CastChip">{{cite web |first=Matt |last=Fowler |title=Holy Bat OCD!: ''Batman Returns''{{'}} Chip Shreck |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/03/18/holy-bat-ocd-batman-returns-chip-shreck |website=[[IGN]] |date=March 18, 2009 |access-date=July 1, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520152239/https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/03/18/holy-bat-ocd-batman-returns-chip-shreck |archive-date=May 20, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="CastIcePrincess">{{cite web |first=Mark |last=Harris |title=What Is Cool 1992: Movies |url=https://ew.com/article/1992/06/26/what-cool-1992-movies/ |website=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=June 26, 1992 |access-date=July 1, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701192224/https://ew.com/article/1992/06/26/what-cool-1992-movies/ |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="CastIGN">{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/03/18/holy-bat-ocd-batman-returns-fire-breather |title=Holy Bat OCD!: ''Batman Returns''{{'}} Fire Breather|date=March 18, 2019 |website=[[IGN]]  |access-date=July 1, 2022 |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701165737/https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/03/18/holy-bat-ocd-batman-returns-fire-breather |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="CastCollider">{{cite web |url=https://collider.com/doug-jones-interview-star-trek-discovery-shape-of-water/ |title=Doug Jones Takes Us from ''Batman Returns'' Clown To Sexy Fish-Monster To ''Star Trek'' Captain |date=October 30, 2020 |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |last=Mancuso |first=Vinnie |access-date=December 22, 2020 |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108073537/https://collider.com/doug-jones-interview-star-trek-discovery-shape-of-water/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="CastWayans">{{cite web |first=Nathan |last=Rabin |url=https://www.avclub.com/marlon-wayans-1798207843 |title=Wayans World |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=February 25, 1998 | access-date = July 3, 2022 | archive-date = February 7, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140207094508/http://www.avclub.com/article/marlon-wayans-13500 | url-status = live}}</ref>

<ref name="CatBirdLovePolygon">{{cite web |first=Susana |last=Polo |title=The Penguin And Catwoman Solve Covid, Bang In Danny Devito's ''Batman'' Comic |url=https://www.polygon.com/2021/12/6/22820294/batman-danny-devito-comic-penguin-catwoman |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |date=December 6, 2021 |access-date=July 18, 2022 |archive-date= July 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220718191447/https://www.polygon.com/2021/12/6/22820294/batman-danny-devito-comic-penguin-catwoman|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="CatBirdLoveGuardian">{{cite web |first=Alison |last=Flood |title=Unmasked: The Penguin Saves World From Covid In Danny Devito's ''Batman'' Story |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/dec/01/unmasked-the-penguin-saves-world-from-covid-in-danny-devitos-batman-story |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=December 1, 2021 |access-date=July 18, 2022 |archive-date= June 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627221148/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/dec/01/unmasked-the-penguin-saves-world-from-covid-in-danny-devitos-batman-story |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="CBRGordon">{{cite web |first=Brandon |last=Zachary |title=''Batman '89'' Turns James Gordon into its Most Tragic Figure |url=https://www.cbr.com/batman-89-james-gordon-tragic/ |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=April 12, 2022 |access-date=June 30, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429010220/https://www.cbr.com/batman-89-james-gordon-tragic/ |archive-date=April 29, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="CBRCatwomanNineLives">{{cite web |first=Ridley |last=Wright |title=''Batman Returns'': Does Catwoman Really Have Nine Lives? |url=https://www.cbr.com/batman-returns-catwoman-supernatural-nine-lives-explained/ |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=December 14, 2021 |access-date=July 7, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519225753/https://www.cbr.com/batman-returns-catwoman-supernatural-nine-lives-explained/ |archive-date=May 19, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

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<ref name="ColliderRetro">{{cite web |first=William |last=Fischer |title=All The Ways 'Batman Returns' Was The Greatest Anti-blockbuster |url=https://collider.com/batman-returns-not-blockbuster-reasons-why-explained/ |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |date=December 19, 2021 |access-date=July 17, 2022 |archive-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711221857/https://collider.com/batman-returns-not-blockbuster-reasons-why-explained/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="ColliderRedTriangle">{{cite web |first=William |last=Fischer |title=''Batman Returns'' Shows Tim Burton's Love For Federico Fellini |url=https://collider.com/batman-returns-tim-burton-love-for-federico-fellini/ |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |date=June 24, 2022 |access-date=July 20, 2022 |archive-date=July 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719130207/https://collider.com/batman-returns-tim-burton-love-for-federico-fellini/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="ColliderBatgirl">{{cite web |first=Marcos |last=Melendez |title=''Batgirl'' Set Photos Reveal First Look at Michael Keaton's Batman |url=https://collider.com/batgirl-set-images-batman-michael-keaton/ |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |date=February 13, 2022 |access-date=July 17, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508010148/https://collider.com/batgirl-set-images-batman-michael-keaton/ |archive-date=May 8, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Diabolique">{{cite web |first=Andrew J. |last=Rausch |title=Screenwriter Wesley Strick Discusses Mike Nichols' 1994 Film ''Wolf'' |url=https://diaboliquemagazine.com/screenwriter-wesley-strick-discusses-mike-nichols-1994-film-wolf/ |website=Diabolique Magazine |date=May 19, 2021 |access-date=July 23, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521235216/https://diaboliquemagazine.com/screenwriter-wesley-strick-discusses-mike-nichols-1994-film-wolf/ |archive-date=May 21, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="DOGLawsuit">{{cite web |first=Simon |last=Brew |title=Who Are The Two Producers Credited On Every ''Batman'' Movie? |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/who-are-the-two-producers-credited-on-every-batman-movie/ |website=[[Den of Geek]] |date=February 21, 2018 |access-date=July 19, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403185526/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/who-are-the-two-producers-credited-on-every-batman-movie/ |archive-date=April 3, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="DOGBatmanRetro">{{cite web |first=David |last=Crow |title=How ''Batman II'' Became ''Batman Returns'' |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/how-batman-ii-became-batman-returns/ |website=[[Den of Geek]] |date=December 1, 2019 |access-date=June 28, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617143147/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/how-batman-ii-became-batman-returns/ |archive-date=June 17, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="DOGAlfred">{{cite web |first1=David |last1=Crow |first2=Mike |last2=Cecchini |title=Alfred: The Many Faces Of Batman's Butler |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/comics/alfred-the-many-faces-of-batmans-butler/ |website=[[Den of Geek]] |date=February 1, 2014|access-date=June 30, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727052543/https://www.denofgeek.com/comics/alfred-the-many-faces-of-batmans-butler/ |archive-date=July 27, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="DOGBatman3">{{cite web |first=David |last=Crow |title=Why Tim Burton's Batman 3 Never Happened |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/why-tim-burtons-batman-3-never-happened/ |website=[[Den of Geek]] |date=August 25, 2019 |access-date=June 30, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627221212/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/why-tim-burtons-batman-3-never-happened/ |archive-date=June 27, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="DogCatwomanFilm">{{cite web |first=Simon |last=Brew |title=Whatever Happened To The Tim Burton ''Catwoman'' Movie? |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/whatever-happened-to-the-tim-burton-catwoman-movie/ |website=[[Den of Geek]] |date=August 16, 2015 |access-date=July 17, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630192316/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/whatever-happened-to-the-tim-burton-catwoman-movie/ |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="DOGBatman89">{{cite web |first=Mike |last=Cecchini |title=How ''Batman '89'' Fulfills Dark Knight Fan Dreams |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/comics/how-batman-89-fulfills-dark-knight-fan-dreams/ |website=[[Den of Geek]] |date=May 18, 2022 |access-date=July 17, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707064402/https://www.denofgeek.com/comics/how-batman-89-fulfills-dark-knight-fan-dreams/ |archive-date=July 7, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="DigitalBits">{{cite web |first=Michael |last=Coate |date=June 19, 2017 |title=Revisiting The Bat, The Cat, And The Penguin: Remembering ''Batman Returns'' On Its 25th Anniversary |url=https://thedigitalbits.com/columns/michael-coate/history-legacy-showmanship/item/1611-batman-returns-25th# |website=The Digital Bits |access-date=September 6, 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250906135446/https://thedigitalbits.com/columns/michael-coate/history-legacy-showmanship/item/1611-batman-returns-25th |archive-date=September 6, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="DeadlineBestBatman">{{cite web |date=September 20, 2024 |title=The Best Batman Movies: From ''The Dark Knight'' To ''The Batman'' |url=https://deadline.com/gallery/best-batman-movies/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=September 5, 2025 |last1=Gomez |first1=Dessi |last2=Garner |first2=Glenn |last3=Grobar |first3=Matt |last4=Patten |first4=Dominic |last5=Kroll |first5=Justin|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008220158/https://deadline.com/gallery/best-batman-movies/ |archive-date= October 8, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="DeadlineCatwomanFilm">{{cite web |date=December 29, 2023 |title=''Batman Returns'' Spinoff Featuring Catwoman Had Two Very Different Takes, Screenwriter Reveals |url=https://deadline.com/2023/12/batman-returns-spinoff-featuring-catwoman-had-two-very-different-takes-1235683337/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=September 6, 2025 |last=Haring |first=Bruce|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240113013116/https://deadline.com/2023/12/batman-returns-spinoff-featuring-catwoman-had-two-very-different-takes-1235683337/ |archive-date= January 13, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="EmpireNipples">{{cite web |last=Travis |first=Ben |date=June 7, 2022 |title=Tim Burton On ''Batman Forever''{{'}}s Nipple Suit: 'Go F*** Yourself'|website=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |access-date=December 5, 2024|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/tim-burton-on-batman-forever-nipple-suit-go-f-yourself/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250731023301/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/tim-burton-on-batman-forever-nipple-suit-go-f-yourself/ |archive-date= July 31, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="EWGrody">{{cite web |last1=Franich |first1=Darren |last2=Nashawaty |first2=Chris |date=July 18, 2018 |title=''The Dark Knight'' turns 10: EW Critics Revisit Christopher Nolan's Batman Phenomenon |website=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://ew.com/movies/2018/07/18/the-dark-knight-10th-anniversary-critics-conversation/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250521004656/https://ew.com/movies/2018/07/18/the-dark-knight-10th-anniversary-critics-conversation/ |archive-date=May 21, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Ebert4k">{{cite web |first=Brian |last=Tallerico |title=''Batman'' Films On 4K Offer Interesting Contrast To Modern Superhero Movies |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/streaming/batman-films-on-4k-offer-interesting-contrast-to-modern-superhero-movies |website=[[RogerEbert.com]] |date=June 25, 2019 |access-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-date= March 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317051116/https://www.rogerebert.com/streaming/batman-films-on-4k-offer-interesting-contrast-to-modern-superhero-movies |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Eggers">{{cite web |first=Eric |last=Diaz |title=''Nosferatu''{{'}}s Robert Eggers Reveals How ''Batman Returns'' Inspired The Film |url=https://nerdist.com/article/nosferatu-robert-eggers-batman-returns-gothic-winter-inspiration/ |website=[[Nerdist]] |date=January 29, 2025 |access-date=January 30, 2025 |archive-date=January 30, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130030249/https://nerdist.com/article/nosferatu-robert-eggers-batman-returns-gothic-winter-inspiration/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="EndingTheWrap">{{cite web |first=Jeremy |last=Fuster |title=''Batman Returns'' 25th Anniversary: Look Back At Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman (Photos) |url=https://www.thewrap.com/michelle-pfeiffer-catwoman-batman-returns/ |website=[[TheWrap]] |date=June 15, 2017 |access-date=July 7, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623124738/https://www.thewrap.com/michelle-pfeiffer-catwoman-batman-returns/ |archive-date=June 23, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="EndingAVClub">{{cite web |first=Matt |last=Schimkowitz |title=There's Something About Selina: Why Catwoman Still Tempts Batman After All These Years |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-batman-catwoman-1848603676 |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=March 3, 2022 |access-date=July 7, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626051931/https://www.avclub.com/the-batman-catwoman-1848603676 |archive-date=June 26, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="ENdingPolygon">{{cite web |first=Daniel |last=Dockery |url=https://www.polygon.com/23165989/batman-returns-30th-anniversary-tim-burton |title=''Batman Returns'' Is The Most Anti-franchise Franchise Movie Ever Made |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |date=June 14, 2022 | access-date=July 7, 2022 |archive-date=June 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627184427/https://www.polygon.com/23165989/batman-returns-30th-anniversary-tim-burton |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Escapist2020">{{cite web |first=Darren |last=Mooney |title=Have Yourself A Weird, Horny, Lonely Little Christmas With ''Batman Returns'' |url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/have-yourself-a-weird-horny-lonely-little-christmas-with-batman-returns/ |website=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]] |date=December 25, 2020 |access-date=June 30, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520155041/https://www.escapistmagazine.com/have-yourself-a-weird-horny-lonely-little-christmas-with-batman-returns/|archive-date=May 20, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="EWKickboxing">{{cite web |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,310774,00.html |title=Flashes: Kicking, The Habit |website=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=June 12, 1992 | access-date = July 3, 2022 |first=Pat H. |last=Broeske | archive-date = December 7, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081207033016/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,310774,00.html | url-status = dead}}</ref>

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<ref name="EWAug91991">{{cite web |url=https://ew.com/article/1991/08/09/clawing-catwoman/ |title=Big-Game Hunting |website=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=August 9, 1991 | access-date = August 14, 2008 |first1=Pat H. |last1=Broeske |first2=Anne |last2=Thompson | archive-date = October 13, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081013215612/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,315097,00.html | url-status = live}}</ref>

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<ref name="EWSetsAppeal">{{cite web |first=Steve |last=Daly |url=https://ew.com/article/1992/06/19/designing-set-batman-returns/ |title=Sets Appeal: Designing ''Batman Returns'' |website=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=June 19, 1992 | access-date = July 3, 2022 | archive-date = October 10, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081010170405/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,310819,00.html | url-status = live}}</ref>

<ref name="DeVitoMonkey">{{cite web |url=https://ew.com/article/1992/06/19/designing-set-batman-returns/ |title=Danny Devito Recalls A Monkey Mishap On ''Batman Returns'': 'He Leapt Right At My Balls' |website=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=March 30, 2019| access-date = July 20, 2022 | archive-date = July 1, 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20220701225609/https://ew.com/movies/2019/03/30/danny-devito-batman-returns-monkey-attack/ | url-status = live}}</ref>

<ref name="Filmtracks">{{cite web |first=Christian |last=Clemmensen |title=''Batman Returns'' |url=https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/batman_returns.html |website=[[Filmtracks.com]] |date=September 24, 1996 |access-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-date=April 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415182257/https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/batman_returns.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="GRadarVideoGame">{{cite web |first=Shane |last=Patterson |title=A History Of Batman Games |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/batman-games/ |website=[[GamesRadar+]] |date=October 21, 2013 |access-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-date=November 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131107071452/http://www.gamesradar.com/batman-games/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="GuideFlash">{{cite web|last1=Casey |first1=Henry T. |title=''The Flash'' Movie Teaser And Everything We Know So Far |url=https://www.tomsguide.com/news/the-flash-movie-cast-logo-release-date-trailer-michael-keaton-as-batman-and-latest-news |website=[[Tom's Guide]] |date=January 7, 2022 |access-date=August 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250614142921/https://www.tomsguide.com/news/the-flash-movie |archive-date=June 14, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="GuardianKeatonInt">{{cite web |first=Hadley |last=Freeman |title=Michael Keaton: 'There Was A Lot Of Bad Taste In The 90s And I Contributed To That' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/sep/09/michael-keaton-film-beetlejuice-batman-birdman-hadley-freeman |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=September 9, 2017 |access-date=August 31, 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250813122648/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/sep/09/michael-keaton-film-beetlejuice-batman-birdman-hadley-freeman |archive-date=August 13, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="HomeMediaIGNAnthologyDVD">{{cite web |first=Todd |last=Gilchrist |title=''Batman'' DVD Anthology Due |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/08/01/batman-dvd-anthology-due |website=[[IGN]] |date=August 1, 2005 |access-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-date=July 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710212002/https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/08/01/batman-dvd-anthology-due |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="HomeMediaIGNAnthologyBR">{{cite web |first=Cindy |last=White |title=''Batman'': The Motion Picture Anthology Blu-ray Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/03/06/batman-the-motion-picture-anthology-blu-ray-review |website=[[IGN]] |date=March 6, 2009 |access-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-date= July 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709184002/https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/03/06/batman-the-motion-picture-anthology-blu-ray-review |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="HomeMediaUltraHD">{{cite web |first=M. Enois |last=Duarte |title=''Batman Returns'' – 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray |url=https://ultrahd.highdefdigest.com/71563/batmanreturns4k.html |website=Hi-Def Digest |date=May 30, 2019 |access-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-date=July 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723193341/https://ultrahd.highdefdigest.com/71563/batmanreturns4k.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="HomeMediaDOG">{{cite web |first=Robert |last=McLaughlin |title=''Batman Returns'' Blu-ray Review |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/batman-returns-blu-ray-review/ |website=[[Den of Geek]] |date=February 23, 2009 |access-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-date= July 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220711183347/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/batman-returns-blu-ray-review/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="HomeMediaWBCollectors">{{cite web |title=''Batman Returns'' Ultimate Collector's Edition 4K Ultra Hd Steelbook (4K Ultra HD) (1992) |url=https://shop.warnerbros.co.uk/products/batman-returns-ultimate-collector-s-edition-4k-ultra-hd-1992 |website=[[Warner Bros.]]  |access-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-date=July 11, 2022  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220711183504/https://shop.warnerbros.co.uk/products/batman-returns-ultimate-collector-s-edition-4k-ultra-hd-1992 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="HomeMediaTribute">{{cite web |title=1997 DVD Releases |url=https://www.tribute.ca/movies/dvd/releases/1997/ |website=[[Tribute (magazine)|Tribute]]  |access-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220711183709/https://www.tribute.ca/movies/dvd/releases/1997/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="IGNElfman">{{cite web |first=Spence |last=D. |title=Danny Elfman – ''Batman Returns'' Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/07/24/danny-elfman-batman-returns-original-motion-picture-soundtrack |website=[[IGN]] |date=July 24, 2008 |access-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-date=July 11, 2022  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220711183648/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/07/24/danny-elfman-batman-returns-original-motion-picture-soundtrack |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="IGNVideoGame">{{cite web |first=Darry |last=Huskey |title=A Complete History Of Batman Video Games |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/10/08/a-complete-history-of-batman-video-games |website=[[IGN]] |date=October 8, 2014 |access-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-date=July 11, 2022  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220711183751/https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/10/08/a-complete-history-of-batman-video-games |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="IGNVideoGameLynx">{{cite web |first=Robert A. |last=Jung |title=''Batman Returns'' |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/07/01/batman-returns |website=[[IGN]] |date=July 1, 1999 |access-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220711183939/https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/07/01/batman-returns |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="IndieJuly24">{{Cite web |last=Bergeson |first=Samantha |date=July 19, 2024 |title=Halle Berry: Critics Have 'So Much Power' to Tank Films |url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/halle-berry-critics-power-ruin-box-office-1235027115/ |access-date=September 7, 2025 |website=[[IndieWire]]|archive-date=July 25, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725074605/https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/halle-berry-critics-power-ruin-box-office-1235027115/|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="JurassicPark">{{cite web |title=Weekend Box Office: Universal's Monster Smash |date=June 15, 1993 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-06-15-ca-3201-story.html |access-date=February 17, 2007 |first=David J. |last=Fox |archive-date=May 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517224728/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-06-15-ca-3201-story.html |url-status=live|url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="LAtimesJan1991">{{cite web |first=Claudia |last=Puig |title=Movies |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-01-10-ca-11005-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=January 10, 1991 |access-date=July 2, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702224612/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-01-10-ca-11005-story.html |archive-date=July 2, 2022 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="LATimesNicholson">{{cite web |first=Robert W. |last=Welkos |title=2 Producers Of ''Batman'' Sue Warner : Entertainment: They Challenge The Contention That The Film Lost Money. The Studio Says It Observed The Contract. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-03-27-fi-4633-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=March 27, 1992 |access-date=July 6, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629085401/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-03-27-fi-4633-story.html |archive-date=June 29, 2022 |url-status=live|url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="LATimesNicholson2">{{cite web |first=David |last=Gritten |title=Filmmakers Hope British Vote Will Revive Industry : Movies: Ten Years After The Screenwriter Of ''Chariots Of Fire'' Shouted 'The British Are Coming!' On Oscar Night, The Country's Film Industry Stands At An All-time Low. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-04-09-ca-432-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=April 9, 1992 |access-date=July 6, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629085314/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-04-09-ca-432-story.html |archive-date=June 29, 2022 |url-status=live|url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="LATimesGorilla">{{cite web |first=Robert W. |last=Welkos |title=Movies : Mr. Nice Guy Dives Back Into Action : Harrison Ford Returns To The Genre That Made Him A Star. In ''Patriot Games'', He Inherits The Role Of The CIA Agent From Alec Baldwin, But The Production Is In Trouble With Author Tom Clancy. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-03-22-ca-7388-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=March 22, 1992 |access-date=July 6, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629085359/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-03-22-ca-7388-story.html |archive-date=June 29, 2022 |url-status=live|url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="LATimesKathyLong">{{cite web |first=Davis |last=Miller |title=Movies : The Next Action Hero? : Kathy Long Is A Champion Kickboxer Whose Movie Moves Remind Some Of Norris And Van Damme |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-08-23-ca-7206-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=August 23, 1992 |access-date=July 6, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629085402/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-08-23-ca-7206-story.html |archive-date=June 29, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="LATimesNicholsonQnA">{{cite web |first=Hilary |last=De Vries |title=Cover Story : Still Simmering Under The Shades : Jack Nicholson Remains One Of Hollywood's Hottest Actors And Talkers. So, What, If Anything, Has Changed? You Might Be Surprised |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-12-06-ca-3049-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=December 6, 1992 |access-date=July 6, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629085315/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-12-06-ca-3049-story.html |archive-date=June 29, 2022 |url-status=live|url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="LATimeseanYoung">{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Willman |title=Profile : Sean Young, Seriously : She's Not Just A Wild Spirit, She Insists, But A Sensitive Soul Too; Certainly She's Brave—her Next Step Is To Sing And Dance On Stage |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-05-17-ca-173-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=May 17, 1992 |access-date=July 6, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629085315/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-05-17-ca-173-story.html |archive-date=June 29, 2022 |url-status=live|url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="LATimesFilmingDate">{{cite web |first=Dennis |last=Hunt |title=A Look Inside Hollywood And The Movies. : Casting About : At This Point, It's Less Than A Riddle |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-09-29-ca-4417-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=September 29, 1991 |access-date=July 6, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702224348/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-09-29-ca-4417-story.html |archive-date=July 2, 2022 |url-status=live|url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="LATimestartDate">{{cite web |first=Beth |last=Kleid |title=Movies |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-09-03-ca-1951-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=September 3, 1991 |access-date=July 6, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706212058/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-09-03-ca-1951-story.html |archive-date=July 6, 2022 |url-status=live|url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="LATimesPremiere">{{cite web |first=Bill |last=Higgins |title=Batman Bash! |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-18-vw-872-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=June 18, 1992 |access-date=July 6, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702224407/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-18-vw-872-story.html |archive-date=July 2, 2022 |url-status=live|url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="LATimesMarketing120">{{cite web |first=David J. |last=Fox |title=Ready For A ''Batman'' Blitz? : More Than 120 Product Tie-ins Hit The Market |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-17-ca-572-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=June 17, 1992 |access-date=July 7, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702224407/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-17-ca-572-story.html |archive-date=July 2, 2022 |url-status=live|url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="LATIMesPoster2">{{cite web |first=Andy |last=Marx |title=A Look Inside Hollywood And The Movies. : Into The Belfry : What If We Just Wanted His Ears? |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-14-ca-975-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=June 14, 1992 |access-date=July 7, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702224407/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-14-ca-975-story.html |archive-date=July 2, 2022 |url-status=live|url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="LATimesPolygram">{{cite web |first=Robert W. |last=Welkos |title=2 Producers Of ''Batman'' Sue Warner : Entertainment: They Challenge The Contention That The Film Lost Money. The Studio Says It Observed The Contract. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-03-27-fi-4633-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=March 27, 1992 |access-date=July 19, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629085404/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-03-27-fi-4633-story.html |archive-date=June 29, 2022 |url-status=live|url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="LATimes2012Burton">{{cite web |last=Lyman |first=Brian |date=June 22, 2012 |title=Tim Burton: Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman was 'Purr-fection' |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=http://herocomplex.latimes.com/movies/tim-burton-michelle-pfeiffers-catwoman-was-purr-fection/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409202031/http://herocomplex.latimes.com/movies/tim-burton-michelle-pfeiffers-catwoman-was-purr-fection/|archive-date=April 9, 2017|url-status=live|url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="LAtimesLook">{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-14-ca-978-story.html |title=Cover Story : Gotham Owes Its Look To The Third Reich |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |first=Kristine |last=McKenna |date=June 14, 1992 |access-date=October 5, 2025 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230531061054/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-14-ca-978-story.html|archive-date=May 31, 2023 |url-status=live|url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="Macleans">{{cite web |first=Brian D. |last=Johnson |title=Batman's Return |url=https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1992/6/22/batmans-return |website=[[Maclean's]] |date=June 22, 1992 |access-date=July 5, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725005400/https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1992/6/22/batmans-return|archive-date=July 25, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="MetacriticScore">{{cite web |title=''Batman's Return'' |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/batman-returns |website=[[Metacritic]]  |access-date=July 17, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419065225/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/batman-returns |archive-date=April 19, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="MTVBrando">{{cite web |first=Rick |last=Marshall |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2594967/did-marlon-brando-almost-play-the-penguin-in-batman-returns-not-exactly-says-tim-burton/ |title=Did Marlon Brando Almost Play The Penguin In ''Batman Returns''? Not Exactly, Says Tim Burton. |website=[[MTV]]|access-date=June 21, 2017|archive-date=May 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512083155/https://platform.twitter.com/widgets/widget_iframe.06c6ee58c3810956b7509218508c7b56.html?origin=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mtv.com|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="NYTimesApril131992">{{cite web |first=Bernard |last=Weinraub |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/04/13/movies/the-talk-of-hollywood-2-titans-clash-and-all-of-filmdom-feels-shock-waves.html |title=The Talk Of Hollywood; 2 Titans Clash And All Of Filmdom Feels Shock Waves |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 13, 1992 | access-date=July 4, 2022 |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630225510/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/04/13/movies/the-talk-of-hollywood-2-titans-clash-and-all-of-filmdom-feels-shock-waves.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

<ref name="NYTimesMay241992">{{cite web |first=Suzanna |last=Andrews |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/24/archives/film-trying-to-put-the-sizzle-in-summer.html |title=Film; Trying To Put The Sizzle In Summer |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 24, 1992 | access-date=July 4, 2022 |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630225512/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/24/archives/film-trying-to-put-the-sizzle-in-summer.html|url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

<ref name="NYTimesMarketing">{{cite web |first=Stuart |last=Elliott |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/09/business/the-media-business-advertising-batman-returns-but-brings-far-fewer-t-shirts.html |title=The Media Business: Advertising; ''Batman Returns'', But Brings Far Fewer T-Shirts |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 9, 1992 | access-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-date=June 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629085314/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/09/business/the-media-business-advertising-batman-returns-but-brings-far-fewer-t-shirts.html|url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

<ref name="NYTimesTwoattheWheel">{{cite web |first=Bernard |last=Weinraub |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage-9F0CE7DF133FF936A35754C0A964958260.html |title=Two At The Wheel Of The Batmobile |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 5, 1992 | access-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-date=June 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629085314/https://archive.nytimes.com/query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage-9F0CE7DF133FF936A35754C0A964958260.html|url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

<ref name="NYTimesWalken">{{cite web |first=Bernard |last=Weinraub |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/24/garden/lunch-with-christopher-walken-new-york-actor-takes-stardom-with-grain-salt.html |title=At Lunch With: Christopher Walken; A New York Actor Takes Stardom With A Grain Of Salt |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 24, 1992 | access-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-date=March 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326172020/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/24/garden/lunch-with-christopher-walken-new-york-actor-takes-stardom-with-grain-salt.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

<ref name="NYTimesWelch">{{cite web |first=Betsy |last=Sharkey |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/14/archives/film-batmans-city-gets-a-new-dose-of-urban-blight.html |title=Film; Batman's City Gets A New Dose Of Urban Blight |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 14, 1992 | access-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-date=June 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629085405/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/14/archives/film-batmans-city-gets-a-new-dose-of-urban-blight.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

<ref name="NYTimesCarynJames">{{cite web |first=Caryn |last=James |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/28/movies/film-view-batman-returns-with-a-capeload-of-angst-and-ills.html |title=Film View; ''Batman Returns'' With A Capeload Of Angst And Ills |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 28, 1992 | access-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-date=June 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629085316/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/28/movies/film-view-batman-returns-with-a-capeload-of-angst-and-ills.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

<ref name="NYTimesBOAnalJune22">{{cite web |first=Bernard |last=Weinraub |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/22/movies/batman-is-back-and-the-money-is-pouring-in.html |title=''Batman'' Is Back, And The Money Is Pouring In |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 22, 1992 | access-date=July 8, 2022 |archive-date=January 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116073446/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/22/movies/batman-is-back-and-the-money-is-pouring-in.html|url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

<ref name="NYTimesummerRetro">{{cite web |first=Bernard |last=Weinraub |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/06/movies/film-what-hollywood-learned-at-summer-school.html |title=Film; What Hollywood Learned At Summer School |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 6, 1992 | access-date=September 13, 2025 |archive-date=July 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708222312/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/06/movies/film-what-hollywood-learned-at-summer-school.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

<ref name="NYTimesLetter">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/20/opinion/l-anti-semitism-in-batman-returns-be-serious-119392.html |title=Anti-Semitism in ''Batman Returns''? Be Serious |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 20, 1992 | access-date=August 27, 2025 |archive-date=December 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212091805/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/20/opinion/l-anti-semitism-in-batman-returns-be-serious-119392.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}
</ref>

<ref name="NYTimesHomeVideoOct15">{{cite web |first=Peter M. |last=Nichols |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/15/news/home-video-344792.html |title=Home Video |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 15, 1992 | access-date=July 10, 2022 |archive-date=May 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526054746/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/15/news/home-video-344792.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

<ref name="NYTimesHomeVideoDec13">{{cite web |first=Peter M. |last=Nichols |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/03/movies/home-video-763092.html |title=Home Video |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 3, 1992 | access-date=July 10, 2022 |archive-date=May 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526052255/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/03/movies/home-video-763092.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

<ref name="NYTimeschumachObit">{{cite web |first=Jason |last=Bailey |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/23/movies/joel-schumacher-batman.html |title=Don't Forget That Joel Schumacher Briefly Saved Batman |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 23, 2020 | access-date = July 17, 2022 | archive-date = April 18, 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20220418232405/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/23/movies/joel-schumacher-batman.html | url-status = live |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

<ref name="NYTimesDisappointment">{{cite web |first=Pat H. |last=Broeske |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/18/movies/film-from-the-comics-to-a-screen-near-you.html |title=Don't Forget That Joel Schumacher Briefly Saved Batman |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 18, 1992| access-date = July 19, 2022 | archive-date = February 3, 2019 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20190203090713/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/18/movies/film-from-the-comics-to-a-screen-near-you.html | url-status = live |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

<ref name="NYTimesAnti">{{cite web |first1=Rebecca |last1=Roiphe |first2=Daniel |last2=Cooper |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/02/opinion/batman-and-the-jewish-question.html |title=Batman and the Jewish Question |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 2, 1992| access-date = July 23, 2022 | archive-date = June 29, 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20220629085315/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/02/opinion/batman-and-the-jewish-question.html| url-status = live |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

<ref name="NYTimesCatAcad">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/09/movies/oscar-nominations-winners-awards.html |title=13 Things We're Still Mad About: Oscars Edition |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 9, 2024 | access-date =September 7, 2025 |archive-date=April 4, 2024 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20240404081933/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/09/movies/oscar-nominations-winners-awards.html | url-status = live |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

<ref name="PattinsonLooper">{{cite web |first=Conner |last=Reilly |url=https://www.looper.com/789163/the-batman-movie-that-robert-pattinson-calls-a-masterpiece/ |title=The ''Batman'' Movie That Robert Pattinson Calls A 'Masterpiece' |website=[[Looper.com|Looper]] |date=March 5, 2022 | access-date =October 30, 2022| archive-date =September 28, 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20220928081324/https://www.looper.com/789163/the-batman-movie-that-robert-pattinson-calls-a-masterpiece/| url-status = live}}</ref>

<ref name="Peta">{{cite web |title=Exposé: Inside A Major Animal Supplier To Film And TV Businesses |url=https://www.peta.org.uk/blog/expose-inside-major-animal-supplier-film-tv-businesses/ |website=[[People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals]] |date=January 11, 2017 |access-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220711183949/https://www.peta.org.uk/blog/expose-inside-major-animal-supplier-film-tv-businesses/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="PetaCSM">{{cite web |title=Animal-rights Group Protests Use Of Peguins In ''Batman Returns'' |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1992/0618/18122.html |website=[[The Christian Science Monitor]] |date=June 18, 1992 |access-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220711184036/https://www.csmonitor.com/1992/0618/18122.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="PolygonRetro">{{cite web |first=David |last=Grossman |url=https://www.polygon.com/22866802/michael-keaton-batman-returns-casting-the-flash-batgirl-dc |title=Michael Keaton Explains Why He Walked Away From ''Batman'' |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |date=January 4, 2022 | access-date=July 7, 2022 |archive-date=April 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403222855/https://www.polygon.com/22866802/michael-keaton-batman-returns-casting-the-flash-batgirl-dc|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="RedTriangleComics">{{cite web |first=Grace |last=Del Pizzo |title=Joker's Biggest Contradiction Is Officially Being Called Out By DC |url=https://screenrant.com/joker-not-real-clown-red-triangle-gang-circus/ |website=[[Screen Rant]] |date=June 30, 2022 |access-date=July 1, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630194747/https://screenrant.com/joker-not-real-clown-red-triangle-gang-circus/ |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="RedTriangleComics2">{{cite web |first=Timothy |last=Donohoo |title=What The DC Debut Of ''Batman Returns''{{'}} Scariest Villains Means For Gotham City |url=https://www.cbr.com/red-triangle-circus-gang-first-appearance-robin-dc/|website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=June 28, 2022 |access-date=July 1, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630122817/https://www.cbr.com/red-triangle-circus-gang-first-appearance-robin-dc/ |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="ChristmasBook">{{cite web |title=Batman Returns: One Dark Christmas Eve: The Illustrated Holiday Classic |url=https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Batman-Returns-One-Dark-Christmas-Eve/Ivan-Cohen/Batman/9781647227548 |website=[[Simon & Schuster]] |access-date=November 20, 2022}}</ref>

<ref name="ReevesIGN">{{cite web |first=Jim |last=Vejvoda |url=https://in.ign.com/movie/146665/news/director-matt-reeves-reveals-the-two-batman-movies-he-loves-most |title=Director Matt Reeves Reveals the Two Batman Movies He Loves Most |website=[[IGN]] |date=April 9, 2020 | access-date = October 30, 2022| archive-date = April 8, 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20220408234843/https://in.ign.com/movie/146665/news/director-matt-reeves-reveals-the-two-batman-movies-he-loves-most | url-status = live}}</ref>

<ref name="ReviewEbert">{{cite web |first=Roger |last=Ebert |author-link=Roger Ebert |title=''Batman Returns'' |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/batman-returns-1992 |website=[[RogerEbert.com]] |date=June 19, 1992 |access-date=June 30, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621051901/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/batman-returns-1992 |archive-date=June 21, 2022  |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="ReviewEmpire">{{cite web |first=Philip |last=Thomas |title=''Batman Returns'' Review |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/batman-returns-review/ |website=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |date=January 1, 2000 |access-date=June 30, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609195120/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/batman-returns-review/ |archive-date=June 9, 2022  |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="ReviewEW">{{cite web |first=Owen |last=Glieberman |author-link=Owen Glieberman |title=''Batman Returns'' Review |url=https://ew.com/article/1992/06/26/batman-returns-3/ |website=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=June 26, 1992 |access-date=June 30, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415074917/https://ew.com/article/1992/06/26/batman-returns-3/ |archive-date=April 15, 2022  |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="ReviewLATimesTuran">{{cite web |first=Kenneth |last=Turan |author-link=Kenneth Turan |title=Movie Review : The Roar Of The Cat, Whimper Of The Bat |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-19-ca-418-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=June 19, 1992 |access-date=July 6, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629085316/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-19-ca-418-story.html |archive-date=June 29, 2022 |url-status=live|url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="ReviewEWBurr">{{cite web |last=Burr |first=Ty|author-link=Ty Burr |title=Video Review: ''Batman Returns'' |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,312091,00.html|access-date=April 17, 2012 |website=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=October 23, 1992|archive-date=July 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718230237/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,312091,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="ReviewNYTMaslin">{{cite web |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9E0CEFDF1539F93AA25755C0A964958260 |title=Review/Film: ''Batman Returns''; A Sincere Bat, A Sexy Cat And A Bad Bird |website=[[The New York Times]] |first=Janet |last=Maslin| author-link = Janet Maslin |date=June 19, 1992 | access-date =November 17, 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120219175204/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9E0CEFDF1539F93AA25755C0A964958260 |archive-date=February 19, 2012 |url-status=dead|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

<ref name="ReviewRSTravers">{{cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/5949279/review/5949280/batman_returns |title=''Batman Returns'' |website=[[Rolling Stone]] |first=Peter |last=Travers| author-link = Peter Travers |date=February 7, 2001 | access-date =August 14, 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071104160020/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/5949279/review/5949280/batman_returns |archive-date = November 4, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="ReviewWAPOHowe">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/batmanreturnspg13howe_a07fbb.htm |title=''Batman Returns'' |website=[[The Washington Post]] |first=Desson |last=Howe |author-link=Desson Howe |date=June 19, 1992 | access-date = August 14, 2008 | archive-date = November 7, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121107051455/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/batmanreturnspg13howe_a07fbb.htm | url-status = live |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

<ref name="ReviewReaderRosenbaum">{{cite web |first=Jonathan |last=Rosenbaum | author-link = Jonathan Rosenbaum |title=Batman |website=[[Chicago Reader]] |url=http://onfilm.chicagoreader.com/movies/capsules/771_BATMAN_RETURNS |date=June 19, 1992 | access-date = August 14, 2008 | archive-date = December 8, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081208081824/http://onfilm.chicagoreader.com/movies/capsules/771_BATMAN_RETURNS | url-status = live}}</ref>

<ref name="ReviewSiskel">{{cite web |first=Gene |last=Siskel | author-link =Gene Siskel |title=Offbeat ''Batman Returns'' Is A Freudian Fairy Tale |website=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-06-19-9202240337-story.html |date=June 19, 1992 | access-date = July 12, 2022 | archive-date = May 30, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190530210235/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-06-19-9202240337-story.html | url-status = dead}}</ref>

<ref name="ReviewTribuneKehr">{{cite web |first=Dave |last=Kehr | author-link =Dave Kehr |title=Caped Fear |website=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-06-19-9202240323-story.html |date=June 19, 1992 | access-date = July 12, 2022 | archive-date =September 21, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190921151240/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-06-19-9202240323-story.html| url-status = dead}}</ref>

<ref name="ReviewWaPoKempley">{{cite web |first=Rita |last=Kempley |title=	''Batman Returns'' |website=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/batmanreturnspg13kempley_a07fba.htm |date=June 19, 1992 | access-date = July 17, 2022 | archive-date =December 16, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181216031313/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/batmanreturnspg13kempley_a07fba.htm | url-status = dead|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

<ref name="ReviewVarietyMcCarthy">{{cite web |url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117901465.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0 |title=''Batman Returns'' |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |first=Todd |last=McCarthy | author-link=Todd McCarthy |date=June 15, 1992 | access-date =August 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101008033852/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117901465.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0|archive-date=October 8, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="RollingStoneElfman">{{cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/watch-tim-burton-and-danny-elfman-talk-batman-score-36871/ |title=Watch Tim Burton And Danny Elfman Talk ''Batman'' Score |website=[[Rolling Stone]] |first=Kory |last=Grow |date=October 27, 2015 | access-date =July 27, 2022 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210802042010/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/watch-tim-burton-and-danny-elfman-talk-batman-score-36871/ |archive-date = August 2, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="RottenTomatoesScore">{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/batman_returns |title=''Batman Returns'' |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] | access-date =July 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603223153/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/batman_returns |archive-date=June 3, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="SMHerald">{{cite web |first=Garry |last=Maddox |title=Danny Elfman Presents His Tim Burton Movie Scores At Adelaide Festival |url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/danny-elfman-presents-his-tim-burton-movie-scores-at-adelaide-festival-20141016-116qbg.html |website=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=October 16, 2014 |access-date=June 30, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018183803/http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/danny-elfman-presents-his-tim-burton-movie-scores-at-adelaide-festival-20141016-116qbg.html |archive-date=October 18, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="SlashReappraise">{{cite web |last=Dutta |first=Debopriyaa |date=June 7, 2022 |title=30 Years Later, Tim Burton Is Proud Of ''Batman Return'', His 'Weird Experiment' |website=[[/Film]] |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/887405/30-years-later-tim-burton-is-proud-of-batman-returns-his-weird-experiment/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250729114000/https://www.slashfilm.com/887405/30-years-later-tim-burton-is-proud-of-batman-returns-his-weird-experiment/ |archive-date=July 29, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="StanWinstonPenguin">{{cite web |title=''Batman Returns'' – Creating The Penguin |url=https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/blog/batman-returns-the-penguin-danny-devito-makeup |website=[[Stan Winston Studio]] |date=November 13, 2015 |access-date=July 18, 2022 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20220718194524/https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/blog/batman-returns-the-penguin-danny-devito-makeup |archive-date=July 18, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="StanWinstonPenguinArmy">{{cite web |title=''Batman Returns'' – Creating The Penguin's Army Of Penguins |url=https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/blog/batman-returns-behind-the-scenes-stan-winston-studio-the-penguin-army-of-penguins |website=[[Stan Winston Studio]] |date=November 6, 2018 |access-date=July 18, 2022 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20220718200354/https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/blog/batman-returns-behind-the-scenes-stan-winston-studio-the-penguin-army-of-penguins |archive-date=July 18, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="TCM">{{cite web |url=https://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/152602 |title=''Batman Returns'' |website=[[Turner Classic Movies]] |access-date=February 22, 2013|archive-date=March 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326143851/http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/152602%7C0/Batman-Returns.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="ThemesLAist">{{Cite web |title=''Batman Returns'' — Is There Anti-semitism In This Kind-of Christmas Movie? |url=https://laist.com/podcasts/off-ramp/batman-returns-is-there-anti-semitism-in-this-kind-of-christmas-movie |website=[[LAist]] |date=December 19, 2014 |access-date=August 11, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241117150450/https://laist.com/podcasts/off-ramp/batman-returns-is-there-anti-semitism-in-this-kind-of-christmas-movie |archive-date=November 17, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="ThemesTaussig">{{Cite web |last=Taussig |first=Arthur |author-link=Harry Taussig |title=''Batman Returns'' [1992] & ''Batman'' [1989] |url=https://www.arthurtaussig.com/wp-content/uploads/Batman-Returns-film-essay-by-Arthur-Taussig.pdf |website=AthurTaussig.com |date=1999 |access-date=August 11, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231023042541/https://www.arthurtaussig.com/wp-content/uploads/Batman-Returns-film-essay-by-Arthur-Taussig.pdf |archive-date=October 23, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="TheRinger2022">{{cite web |first=Adam |last=Nayman |title=The Grotesque Beauty Of ''Batman Returns'' |url=https://www.theringer.com/movies/2022/2/28/22950929/batman-returns-best-superhero-movie-tim-burton-michael-keaton |website=[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]] |date=February 28, 2022 |access-date=June 29, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503200231/https://www.theringer.com/movies/2022/2/28/22950929/batman-returns-best-superhero-movie-tim-burton-michael-keaton |archive-date=May 3, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="THRLego">{{cite web |first=Borys |last=Kit |date=May 16, 2023 |title=Lego Unveils Massive Batcave Inspired by Tim Burton's ''Batman Returns'' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/lego-batcave-tim-burton-batman-returns-1235492333/ |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=September 5, 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213174052/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/lego-batcave-tim-burton-batman-returns-1235492333/ |archive-date=February 13, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="THRSuit">{{cite web |first=Elizabeth |last=Gulino |date=January 27, 2017 |title=Michael Keaton's ''Batman Returns'' Suit Brings $41,000 at Auction |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/michael-keatons-batman-returns-suit-brings-41000-at-auction-969457/ |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=September 5, 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250513131048/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/michael-keatons-batman-returns-suit-brings-41000-at-auction-969457/ |archive-date=May 13, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Telegraph30Best">{{cite web |first=Robbie |last=Collin |date=July 24, 2025 |title=The 30 Best Superhero Films Of All Time, Ranked |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/best-superhero-films-all-time-ranked/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250801123607/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/best-superhero-films-all-time-ranked/|archive-date=August 1, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="THR50Best">{{cite web |last1=Couch |first1=Aaron |last2=McMillan |first2=Graeme |last3=Shanley |first3=Patrick |date=March 1, 2017 |title=The 50 Greatest Superhero Movie Performances of All Time |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/best-superheroes-performances-ever-981207/spider-man-tobey-maguire/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125170716/https://variety.com/lists/biggest-superhero-oscars-snubs-ranked/ |archive-date=January 25, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="THRReturnsat25">{{cite web |first=Byron |last=Burton |title=''Batman Returns'' At 25: Stars Reveal Script Cuts, Freezing Sets And Aggressive Penguins |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/batman-returns-at-25-stars-reveal-script-cuts-freezing-sets-aggressive-penguins-1013942/ |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=June 19, 2017 |access-date=June 27, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624084018/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/batman-returns-at-25-stars-reveal-script-cuts-freezing-sets-aggressive-penguins-1013942/ |archive-date=June 24, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="THRWuhl">{{cite web |first=Byron |last=Burton |title=The Battle To Make Tim Burton's ''Batman'' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/batman-michael-keaton-vetoed-michelle-pfeiffer-role-1989-film-1220139/ |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=June 21, 2019 |access-date=July 2, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613125803/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/batman-michael-keaton-vetoed-michelle-pfeiffer-role-1989-film-1220139/ |archive-date=June 13, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="TheWrapSequels">{{cite web |first=Adam |last=Chitwood |title=Michael Keaton Explains Why He Didn't Return for ''Batman Forever'' |url=https://www.thewrap.com/why-michael-keaton-didnt-return-for-batman-forever/ |website=[[TheWrap]] |date=January 4, 2022 |access-date=July 17, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220312203450/https://www.thewrap.com/why-michael-keaton-didnt-return-for-batman-forever/|archive-date=March 12, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="TributeCA">{{Cite web |last=Heilbron |first=Alexandra |date=August 21, 2017 |title=Batman Through The Years – From Comic Books To Movies |url=https://www.tribute.ca/news/batman-through-the-years-from-comic-books-to-movies/2017/08/21/ |access-date=August 22, 2025 |website=[[Tribute (magazine)|Tribute]]| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303122832/https://www.tribute.ca/news/batman-through-the-years-from-comic-books-to-movies/2017/08/21/ |archive-date=March 3, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="VarietyBestSequels">{{cite web |first1=William |last1=Earl |first2=J. Kim |last2=Murphy |first3=Pat |last3=Saperstein |first4=Rachel |last4=Seo |first5=Ellise |last5=Shafer |first6=Ethan |last6=Shanfeld |first7=Zack |last7=Sharf |first8=Meredith |last8=Woerner |date=March 2, 2023 |title=The 50 Best Movie Sequels of All Time |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://variety.com/lists/best-movie-sequels/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250702054014/https://variety.com/lists/best-movie-sequels/ |archive-date=July 2, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="VarietyOscarSnubs">{{cite web |last=Davis |first=Clayton |date=December 10, 2023 |title=The Biggest Superhero Oscar Snubs, Ranked: From Michelle Pfeiffer in ''Batman Returns'' to ''Black Panther'' and ''The Dark Knight'' |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://variety.com/lists/biggest-superhero-oscars-snubs-ranked/michelle-pfeiffer-batman-returns-supporting-actress/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125170716/https://variety.com/lists/biggest-superhero-oscars-snubs-ranked/ |archive-date=January 25, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="VarietyDolby">{{cite web |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=August 1, 2025 |title=Tim Burton on ''Batman Returns'' at 30: 'I Think It's a Good Thing That It Still Baffles People' |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/tim-burton-batman-dolby-cinema-1236476335/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250810090618/https://variety.com/2025/film/news/tim-burton-batman-dolby-cinema-1236476335/ |archive-date=August 10, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="VarietyBestof50">{{cite web |first=Clayton |last=Davis |title=62 Best Superhero Movie Performances, From Heath Ledger to Angela Bassett |url=https://variety.com/lists/best-superhero-movies-performances-ranked/michelle-pfeiffer-batman-returns-1992-2/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=June 5, 2023 |access-date=September 3, 2025 |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616210157/https://variety.com/lists/best-superhero-movies-performances-ranked/michelle-pfeiffer-batman-returns-1992-2/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="VarietyCatwoman2">{{cite web |first=Michael |last=Fleming |url=https://variety.com/1994/voices/columns/seagal-on-the-pulpit-may-be-too-much-for-wb-117395/ |title=Seagal on the pulpit may be too much for WB |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=January 13, 1994 | access-date = August 14, 2008 | archive-date = October 24, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121024095640/http://www.variety.com/article/VR117395 | url-status = live}}</ref>

<ref name="VarietyCatwoman">{{cite web |first=Michael |last=Fleming |url=https://variety.com/1993/voices/columns/another-life-at-wb-for-catwoman-and-burton-109036/ |title=Another Life At WB For ''Catwoman'' And Burton? |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=July 22, 1993 | access-date = August 14, 2008 | archive-date = October 24, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121024095605/http://www.variety.com/article/VR109036 | url-status = live}}</ref>

<ref name="VarietyNosferatu">{{cite web |title=''Batman Returns'' |url=https://variety.com/1992/film/reviews/batman-returns-1200430018/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=June 15, 1992|access-date=July 2, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402140515/https://variety.com/1992/film/reviews/batman-returns-1200430018/ |archive-date=April 2, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="VentureBeatVideoGame">{{cite web |first=Jeff |last=Grubb |title=A Quick History Of ''Batman'' In Video Games |url=https://venturebeat.com/2012/07/21/batman-in-video-games/ |website=[[VentureBeat]] |date=July 21, 2012 |access-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220711184148/https://venturebeat.com/2012/07/21/batman-in-video-games/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Vulture2017">{{cite web |first=Angelica Jade |last=Bastién |author-link=Angelica Jade Bastién |title=25 Years Later, Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman Is Still the Best Superhero Movie Villain |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/06/michelle-pfeiffer-catwoman-batman-returns-is-still-the-best-villain.html |website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |date=June 26, 2017 |access-date=June 30, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625223952/https://www.vulture.com/2017/06/michelle-pfeiffer-catwoman-batman-returns-is-still-the-best-villain.html |archive-date=June 25, 2022 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="VultureWaters">{{cite web |first1=Dan |last1=Reilly |first2=Vikram |last2=Murthi |title=The Hardest Sequel I Ever Wrote The Writers Behind ''Blade Runner 2049'', ''Batman Returns'', The ''John Wick'' Sequels, And More On Their Toughest Franchise Gigs. |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/hardest-sequel-i-ever-wrote.html |website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |date=April 27, 2022 |access-date=July 7, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702150304/https://www.vulture.com/article/hardest-sequel-i-ever-wrote.html |archive-date=July 2, 2022 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="WatersIndiewire">{{cite web |first=Wilson |last=Chapman |title=Tim Burton's Catwoman Spinoff Would've Been an '$18 Million Black and White' Film, Says ''Batman Returns'' Screenwriter |url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/batman-returns-catwoman-spinoff-black-and-white-1234938822/ |website=[[IndieWire]] |date=December 28, 2023|access-date=September 6, 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240720013324/https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/batman-returns-catwoman-spinoff-black-and-white-1234938822/ |archive-date=July 20, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="WAPOBO">{{cite web |first=Steve |last=Pond |title=Chris Coppola, In Uncle's Footsteps |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1992/07/17/chris-coppola-in-uncles-footsteps/87fbc4ea-a24b-492b-9d52-3d57b7e61652/ |website=[[The Washington Post]] |date=July 17, 1992 |access-date=July 7, 2022 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20220707121809/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1992/07/17/chris-coppola-in-uncles-footsteps/87fbc4ea-a24b-492b-9d52-3d57b7e61652/ |archive-date=July 7, 2022 |url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

<ref name="WAPOLawsuit">{{cite web |first=Kim |last=Masters |title=Holy Lawsuit, ''Batman''! |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1992/03/27/holy-lawsuit-batman/618f302a-4ec5-4a9d-a413-e94d2b98ced5/ |website=[[The Washington Post]] |date=March 27, 1992 |access-date=July 7, 2022 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20220707121511/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1992/03/27/holy-lawsuit-batman/618f302a-4ec5-4a9d-a413-e94d2b98ced5/ |archive-date=July 7, 2022 |url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

<ref name="WiredTheCobblepots">{{Cite web |last=Dockterman |first=Eliana |title=Paul Reubens' Lost Roles |url=https://www.wired.com/2016/03/paul-reubens-lost-roles/ |website=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=March 24, 2016 |access-date=8 August 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250223153819/https://www.wired.com/2016/03/paul-reubens-lost-roles/ |archive-date=February 23, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="XmasVariety">{{cite web |first1=Emily |last1=Longeretta |first2=William |last2=Earl |first3=Jordan |last3=Moreau |first4=J. |last4=Kim Murphy |first5=Pat |last5=Saperstein |first6=Ethan |last6=Shanfeld |first7=Ellise |last7=Shafer |first8=Katcy |last8=Stephan |first9=Meredith |last9=Woerner | first10 = Michaela | last10 = Zee |url=https://variety.com/lists/best-christmas-movies/batman-returns-1992/ |title=The 40 Best Christmas Movies Of All Time |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=November 17, 2023 | access-date = November 18, 2023 | archive-date = November 18, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231118082109/https://variety.com/lists/best-christmas-movies/ | url-status = live}}</ref>

<ref name="XmasTelegraph">{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/best-christmas-movies-watch-top-films-elf-home-alone-die-hard/batman/ |title=The 25 Best Christmas Movies, From ''Love Actually'' To ''The Muppets Christmas Carol'' |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=December 24, 2019 |access-date=November 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226055030/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/best-christmas-movies-watch-top-films-elf-home-alone-die-hard/batman/ |archive-date=December 26, 2019  |url-status=dead}}</ref>

}}

===Works cited===
====Books====
*{{cite book |last1=Proctor |first1=William |editor-last1=Guignard |editor-first1=F. |title=Reboot Culture – Comics, Film, Transmedia |chapter=The Darkest Knight: Archaeology of the Batman in Comics and Film |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-40912-7_6 |date=2023 |publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]] |isbn=978-3-031-40911-0 |doi=10.1007/978-3-031-40912-7_6 |location=[[London]] |pp=195–258}}
*{{cite book |first=Mark S. |last=Reinhart |title=The Batman Filmography - Second Edition |chapter=10: ''Batman Returns'' |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |location=[[Jefferson, North Carolina]] |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-7864-6891-1|pp=123–138}}
*{{cite book |first1=Mark |last1=Salisbury |first2=Tim |last2=Burton|author2-link=Tim Burton |title=Burton on Burton |publisher=[[Faber and Faber]] |location=[[London]] |year=2006 |pages=102–114 |isbn=0-571-22926-3 |chapter=Batman Returns}}
*{{cite book |last1=Siegel |first1=Carol |date=2013 |title=The Works of Tim Burton - Margins to Mainstream |chapter=Tim Burton's Popularization of Perversity: ''Edward Scissorhands'', ''Batman Returns'', ''Sleepy Hollow'', and ''Corpse Bride'' |editor-last1=Weinstock |editor-first1=J.A. |publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]] |location=[[New York City]]|doi=10.1057/9781137370839_12 |pp=197–216}}

====Journals====
*{{cite journal |last1=Born |first1=Simon Philipp |date=2017 |title=Shadows of the Bat: Constructions of Good and Evil in the Batman Movies of Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan |url=https://jrfm.eu/index.php/ojs_jrfm/article/view/81 |access-date=12 August 2025 |journal=Journal for Religion, Film, and Media |doi=10.25364/05.3:2017.1.5 |volume=3 |issue=1 |publisher=Schüren Publishing House |location=Marburg, Germany}}
*{{cite journal |last=Mettler |first=Catarina |date=2012 |title=The Carnevalesque in Tim Burton's ''Batman'' and ''Batman Returns'' |journal=Werkstücke |volume=2 |issue=2 |pages=109–133 |doi=10.60135/werkstuecke.02.2012.6}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Newman |first1=Graeme |date=1993 |title=Batman and Justice: The True Story |journal=Humanity & Society |volume=17 |issue=3 |pages=297–320 |doi=10.1177/016059769301700304}}

====Magazines====
* {{cite magazine |last=Cotta Vaz |first=Mark |title=A Knight At The Zoo |magazine=[[Cinefex]] |location=United States |issue=51 |date=August 1992 |pages=22–69}}
*{{cite magazine |first=Tim |last=Fennell |date=August 1992 |title=Schwing! |magazine=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |page=40 |location=[[London]] <!-- readable text https://www.gorgeouspfeiffer.com/blog/exclusive-on-location-with-the-bat-the-cat-and-the-pengiun-august-1992/ Archive https://web.archive.org/web/20250425225939/https://www.gorgeouspfeiffer.com/blog/exclusive-on-location-with-the-bat-the-cat-and-the-pengiun-august-1992/ April 25, 2025 -->}}
*{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |page=18 |date=August 2, 1993 |title=''Park'' Keeps Stomping On World B.O. |last=Groves |first=Don |location=[[Los Angeles]], California}}
*{{cite magazine |last=Jones |first=Alan |title=Batman |url=https://archive.org/details/cinefantastique_1970-2002/Cinefantastique%20Vol%2020%20No%201-2%20%28Nov%201989%29/page/n61/mode/2up?view=theater |date=November 1989 |magazine=[[Cinefantastique]] |publisher=Fourth Castle Micromedia |location=[[Forest Park, Illinois]]  | access-date=July 2, 2022 |pages=48–63 |volume=20 |number=1–2}}
*{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Daily Variety]] |date=July 14, 1992 |page=20 |last=McBride |first=Joseph |title=Socko Batsequel Rolls To Record B.O. In U.K. |location=[[Los Angeles]], California}}
*{{cite magazine |first=Jeffrey |last=Resner |date=August 1992 |title=Three Go Mad in Gotham |magazine=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |pages=39–46 |location=[[London]] <!-- readable text https://www.gorgeouspfeiffer.com/blog/exclusive-on-location-with-the-bat-the-cat-and-the-pengiun-august-1992/ -->}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Shapiro |first=Marc |date=July 1992 |title=Darker Knights When Batman Returns |pages=30–33 |issue=114 |magazine=[[Fangoria]] |publisher=Fangoria Publishing, LLC |location=[[Atlanta, Georgia]]}}
*{{cite magazine |last=White |first=Taylor L. |title=Batman Returns |url=https://archive.org/details/cinefantastique_1970-2002/Cinefantastique%20Vol%2023%20No%201%20%28Aug%201992%29/page/n7/mode/2up |date=August 1992 |magazine=[[Cinefantastique]] |publisher=Fourth Castle Micromedia |location=[[Forest Park, Illinois]]  | access-date=July 3, 2022 |pages=8–11 |volume=23 |number=1}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/batman-returns/}} (Warner Bros.)
* {{Official website|http://www.dccomics.com/movies/batman-returns-1992}} (DC Comics)
* {{IMDb title|0103776|Batman Returns}}
* {{TCMDb title|68181|Batman Returns}}

{{Tim Burton's/Joel Schumacher's Batman}}
{{Batman in popular media}}
{{Batman in film}}
{{DC Comics films}}
{{Tim Burton}}
{{Catwoman}}
{{Subject bar|portal1=1990s|portal2=Film |portal3=United States|portal4=Speculative fiction|commons=yes|n=no|wikt=no|q=no|d=no|voy=no|d-search=Q189054}}
{{Authority control}}

<!--[[WP:FILMCAT]]-->
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[[Category:1992 films]]
[[Category:1990s Christmas films]]
[[Category:1990s political satire films]]
[[Category:1990s superhero films]]
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[[Category:Batman (1989 film series)]]
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[[Category:American Christmas films]]
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[[Category:American sequel films]]
[[Category:American superhero films]]
<!--Additional categories-->
[[Category:Catwoman in other media]]
[[Category:Films about elections]]
[[Category:Films adapted into comics]]
[[Category:Films directed by Tim Burton]]
[[Category:Films produced by Denise Di Novi]]
[[Category:Films produced by Tim Burton]]
[[Category:Films scored by Danny Elfman]]
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[[Category:Films with screenplays by Daniel Waters (screenwriter)]]
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[[Category:PolyGram Filmed Entertainment films]]
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