Line #55 Film/BatmanFilmSeries


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6	The ''Batman'' film series is a set of four [[LiveActionAdaptation live-action feature film adaptations]] of the Creator/DCComics {{superhero}} ComicBook/{{Batman}}, produced by Creator/WarnerBros between 1989 and 1997.
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8	The series is notable for its ToneShift between the first two dark and gothic films directed by Creator/TimBurton and the more colorful and {{camp}}ier latter two directed by Creator/JoelSchumacher, and for its [[TheOtherDarrin changes in leading actors]] [[RevolvingDoorCasting in-between installments]] -- Creator/MichaelKeaton played Bruce Wayne/Batman in the first two films, then was replaced by Creator/ValKilmer for the third, himself then replaced by Creator/GeorgeClooney for the fourth. Longtime Burton {{associate\|d composer}} Music/DannyElfman composed the soundtrack for the first two films, and Elliot Goldenthal took over for the last two.
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10	The success of the Burton films is credited with repopularizing Batman to a greater audience than the comics could at the time, and directly inspired the creation of the still very highly regarded ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries''. Following the critical and financial disappointment of ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'', Batman was [[ContinuityReboot rebooted]] on film with ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy''. For the following film incarnations of the Dark Knight, see also the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse and ''Film/{{The Batman\|2022}}''.
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12	This world is Earth-89 in [[Franchise/{{Arrowverse}} DC's live-action multiverse]] as established in 2019's ''Series/{{Crisis on Infinite Earths\|2019}}'', and made a reappearance in 2023's ''Film/{{The Flash\|2023}}''. There is also the 2021 ''ComicBook/Batman89'' comic book that continues the story after ''Returns'' while ignoring the Schumacher films.[[note]]Which are claimed to take place on Earth 97 via WordOfGod, although this hasn't been made official yet.[[/note]] Finally, 2004's ''Film/{{Catwoman\|2004}}'' is implied, at least in BroadStrokes, to be part of these films due to a photo of [[Creator/MichellePfeiffer Michelle Pfeiffer's]] Catwoman being shown.
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14	See also the ''Film/{{Superman\|Film Series}}'' film series, for the [[ComicBook/{{Superman}} other major DC Comics superhero]]'s first modern blockbusters.
15	----
16	!!Films and extended franchise:
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18	[[AC:Films:]]
19	[[index]]
20	* ''Film/{{Batman\|1989}}'' (1989)
21	* ''Film/BatmanReturns'' (1992)
22	* ''Film/BatmanForever'' (1995)
23	* ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'' (1997)
24	* ''Film/{{Catwoman\|2004}}'' (2004)
25	* ''Film/{{The Flash\|2023}}'' (2023)
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27	[[AC:Live-Action TV]]
28	* ''Series/{{Crisis on Infinite Earths\|2019}}'' (2019)
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30	[[AC:Comic Books:]]
31	* ''ComicBook/Batman89'' (2021)
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33	[[AC:Music:]]
34	* ''Music/{{Batman\|1989}}'' (1989, the studio album of the film by Music/{{Prince}})
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36	[[AC:Pinball:]]
37	* ''[[Pinball/BatmanDataEast Batman]]'' (Data East, 1991; based on the 1989 film)
38	* ''Pinball/BatmanForever'' (Sega, 1995; based on the film)
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40	[[AC:Video Games:]]
41	* ''Batman: The Video Game'' (1989)
42	* ''Batman Returns'' (1992)
43	* ''Batman Forever'' (1995)
44	* ''Batman & Robin'' (1998)
45	[[/index]]
46
47	!!Tropes applying to the film series as a whole:
48	* AlternateUniverse: According to [[invoked]]WordOfGod and other sources the Burton films exist on Earth-89 while the Schumacher films are on Earth-97, though this hasn't been made official yet. Regardless Earth-89 was featured in ''Series/{{Crisis on Infinite Earths\|2019}}'', making it this trope in regards to the ''Series/{{Arrowverse}}'' and the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse.
49	* DarkerAndEdgier: The two Tim Burton films were way more serious and gothic than the previous official LiveActionAdaptation of ''Batman'', the Creator/AdamWest [[Series/Batman1966 series]]. They do have {{camp}}, but it belongs more in Burton's [[SignatureStyle trademark]] macabre and gothic sort of camp rather than the silly and colorful camp of TheSixties (though Music/{{Prince}}'s music videos for the first film's soundtrack still harkened back to the 1960s series' camp).
50	* LighterAndSofter: After vocal complaints about ''Batman Returns'' being "too dark" and following Tim Burton's departure, ''Batman Forever'' amped up the camp and colors, more specifically with its villains (with Creator/TommyLeeJones and Creator/JimCarrey trying to [[HamToHamCombat out-ham each other]]) and NeonCity aesthetics. ''Batman and Robin'' went the extra mile with a HurricaneOfPuns mainly coming from Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger's Mr. Freeze.
51	* MovieSuperheroesWearBlack: ''Film/{{Batman\|1989}}'' introduced a full black suit for the eponymous hero, and every subsequent film in the series followed suit, with perhaps the exception of the arctic suit in ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'', which has prominent silvery elements.
52	* RaceLift: Happened twice, and for the same character oddly enough.
53	** Harvey Dent was white in the comics, and was played by the African-American Creator/BillyDeeWilliams in 1989's ''Batman''.
54	** Then the white Creator/TommyLeeJones played Harvey as ComicBook/TwoFace in ''Batman Forever''.
55	* RetroUniverse: Even though it's clear from the context that the Burton films are take place around the last decade of the 20th century, newspapers still cost about 25 cents, a chemical plant still dumps its toxic waste in the river, suburbs are nonexistent (except for Wayne Manor, of course), the town is without solar or even nuclear power, women still have no way to fight back against discrimination in the workplace, fedoras and late-1940s "New Look" dresses are everywhere, criminals fire Thompson submachine guns, and while the cars are at least contemporary, Bruce Wayne thinks nothing of having Alfred drive him around in a very old-fashioned 1930s Rolls-Royce.

Context Film / BatmanFilmSeries