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Batman

Batman

Justice is always darkest before the dawn.

1989126 minPG-13Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
Director
Tim Burton
Starring
Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl

Having witnessed his parents' brutal murder as a child, millionaire philanthropist Bruce Wayne fights crime in Gotham City disguised as Batman, a costumed hero who strikes fear into the hearts of villains. But when a deformed madman known as 'The Joker' seizes control of Gotham's criminal underworld, Batman must face his most ruthless nemesis ever while protecting both his identity and his love interest, reporter Vicki Vale.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Batman?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Batman streaming on Cinemax via Prime Video and HBO Max and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

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via Prime VideoNew

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Batman?

Batman earns 12 badges, led by Oscar Winner and Universally Loved.

Show 4 more
  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Batman worth watching?

Batman's Midcredits score is the 93rd percentile of all films, from 1.1M ratings across 6 sources. 83% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

93rd percentile

Better received than 93% of films

94th percentile among Crime93rd percentile among 1980s
Acclaim (how much people like it)89th
Approval (how many liked it)93rd

74 /100

89th percentile of all films

92nd percentile among Crime91st percentile among 1980s

Critics 69 · Audience 74

Critics and audiences broadly agree.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.6 — solid but not unanimous.

83% liked it

93rd percentile of all films

93rd percentile among Crime94th percentile among 1980s
83% rated it 7–1017% rated it 1–6

Critics 77% · Audience 84%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Awards

1 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 11 wins / 30 noms overall

  • WonAcademy Awards· Best Art Direction-Set Decoration
  • NominatedGolden Globes· Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical

99th percentile

1.1M ratings across platforms

99th percentile among Crime99th percentile among 1980s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 15% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$35M
Opening weekend$40M
Domestic gross$251M
Worldwide gross$412M

Returned 11.8× its budget — 99th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps recognize the film's striking Gothic visual design and Nicholson's iconic performance as the Joker, while disagreeing on whether the weak plot and lack of character depth undermine the experience.

Fans praised

  • Jack Nicholson's Joker is a brilliant, scene-stealing blend of menace and dark comedy
  • Michael Keaton perfectly embodies the haunted Bruce Wayne and an imposing Batman
  • Tim Burton's Gothic, expressionist vision of Gotham City is visually stunning and immersive

Detractors panned

  • The thin, illogical plot fails to support the impressive visuals, making the film dull
  • Character development is severely lacking, especially for Vicki Vale and supporting figures
  • The script is flat and the dialogue ranges from corny to embarrassingly bad

What stands out

Cinematography88

Expressionist, Gothic set design and matte paintings create timeless noir atmosphere

Atmosphere88

Brooding, oppressive, timeless Gotham city and moody tone praised by most

ActingDivisive82

Nicholson's Joker and Keaton's dual role praised; detractors deem Keaton lacking physical presence

Sound and musicDivisive82

Danny Elfman's epic theme iconic; Prince songs polarizing and dated

Effects and spectacleDivisive67

Great practical effects and Batmobile, but dated CGI and silly action break immersion

DialogueDivisive60

Quotable Joker lines praised, but romantic dialogue and some exchanges panned as corny

CharactersDivisive45

Underdeveloped Vicki Vale and thin supporting roles; Joker overshadows Batman

Plot and storyDivisive38

Simple good vs. evil, but logic holes and lack of depth widely criticized

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 11 points higher than women.

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Over-30s

Over-30s scored it 13 points higher than under-30s.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Critics vs users 9 points apart
  • US vs non-US 1 point apart

Watch experience

What is Batman like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Fun ride: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want a fun ride.

It is intense, has a few laughs and leaves you fired up.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Fun ride.

The answer rests on this: Moods
TenseDreadThrillingMelancholic
Heaviest: late
Dark humor
Register
Epic · 2% of films: Vast in scale: big landscapes, big stakes, a long span.Campy · 4% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneTim Burton plays the material with a mix of gothic seriousness and deliberate comic-book camp, creating a darkly playful tone that never fully mocks its characters.
The rideThe film sustains a tense, brooding atmosphere, swinging between action peaks and quieter character moments; the finale is the most heightened and darkly triumphant.
StructureThe story unfolds in a conventional beginning-middle-end sequence, tracking Batman rise, his conflict with the Joker and the final confrontation.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Fired up.

The answer rests on this: Rousing · 10% of filmsFun
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves you exhilarated by Batman triumph and the stylish, darkly comic spectacle.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterTyrant
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% (this title) · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Tyrant: A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).

21% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeBatman must stop the Joker, a flamboyant crime lord who has seized control of Gotham's underworld and terrorises the city. A whodunit thread emerges as Vicki Vale investigates Batman's identity, and the revenge motive stems from the Joker's murder of Bruce Wayne's parents.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfJusticeMorality
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% (this title) · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16% (this title): Justice 13% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% (this title) · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Morality

Justice · 13% of filmsIdentity · 14% of filmsBetrayal · 5% of films
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Single lead
How it treats its themeBatman seeks to bring order to a corrupt Gotham, while the Joker's anarchy challenges any notion of justice; Bruce Wayne's dual identity and the betrayal that created the Joker are also central.
StanceThe film questions whether one man's war on crime can bring justice to a deeply corrupt city, without fully endorsing or condemning Batman's methods.

The world

Late 20th centuryUrbanDomesticStylized realism
Orchestral modernForeground music · original score · Danny Elfman
SettingGotham City, a dark Art Deco metropolis of crooked towers and neon-lit streets
MusicElfman's heroic, gothic theme and the Joker's carnivalesque waltz become inseparable from the film's identity.

Content guide

Is Batman okay for kids?

PG-13

Batman is rated PG-13. As of September 28, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (63/100), sexual content at mild (30/100), language at moderate (38/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (33/100) and frightening material at moderate (59/100). Overall it is heavier than 69% of PG-13-rated films.

Ratings in 21 other countries
  • UK12
  • AustraliaPG
  • Germany12
  • France12
  • Ireland15
  • New ZealandPG
  • JapanG
  • South KoreaAll
  • Brazil12
  • Belgium14
  • Denmark11
  • FinlandK-12
  • Hungary12
  • ItalyT
  • MexicoA
  • Netherlands12
  • Norway15
  • Poland12
  • PortugalM/12
  • Spain12
  • Sweden15
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 42% of all filmsHeavier than 69% of PG-13-rated films
Violence & Gore
Intense
heavy for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 79%
Sex & Nudity
Mild
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 51%
Profanity
Moderate
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 40%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 56%
Frightening / Intense
Moderate
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 72%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is violence. Everything else sits at or below what PG-13-rated films usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Batman have?

MovieCove's classifier found 4 depicted content warnings in Batman: Gun violence (severe), Gore or body horror (moderate), Sexual harassment or grooming (mild), plus 1 withheld here because it would spoil the plot. 2 more are mentioned only, in dialogue or backstory: Suicide, War atrocities. Each is backed by a verbatim quote from the parents' guide notes; a missing warning is not a guarantee of absence.

SevereGun violence
ModerateGore or body horror
MildSexual harassment or grooming
MentionedSuicideWar atrocities

Mentioned: referenced in dialogue or backstory, not shown in the story’s present.

Cast and crew

Who is in Batman?

Cast

1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Michael Keaton
as Batman
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Jack Nicholson
as Joker
Globe nominee: Golden Globe nomination — Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or MusicalTop draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Kim Basinger
as Vicki Vale
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Robert Wuhl
as Alexander Knox
Pat Hingle
as Commissioner Gordon
Career best: Their highest-reaching film role by billing, audience size and rating.
Billy Dee Williams
as Harvey Dent
Michael Gough
as Alfred
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Jack Palance
as Grissom
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Jerry Hall
as Alicia
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Tracey Walter
as Bob the Goon

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Batman?

Movies like Batman include Batman Returns (1992), Batman Forever (1995) and Black Panther (2018). Of the 12 closest matches, most are superhero films, and most are stories about tyrants.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

Bob Kane wrote 4 of these 12. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Batman?

605 other films share the rarest tag below, follows: superhero. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.