Line #36 YMMV/BatmanReturns


1	* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation:
2	** Tucker and Esther Cobblepot have a lot of these.
3	*** AbusiveParents?
4	*** {{Well Intentioned Extremist}}s who wanted to spare their son the misery of growing up as a "freak"? When Oswald speaks to the press after "rescuing" the Mayor's baby, he seems to suggest that they were the latter ("... what I guess they felt they ''had'' to do..."). But it's implied this is a speech for the cameras, and TheBookOfTheFilm implies he killed them...
5	*** Here's a third one: they did it to protect others from Oswald. It's regarded that kids torturing/killing animals is a sign something's not right in the head and the kid might grow up to be TheSociopath; right before they tossed him, Oswald did kill the family cat, who just got near him.
6	*** On a fourth hand, they did have baby Oswald in a CAGE. Was he really a monster or could they not see past his deformities, [[ThenLetMeBeEvil hence providing the mental aspect that made him a monster]]?
7	*** On a crowded fifth hand, who can say if the incident with the cat was a one-time thing, or if it was just one more entry into a series of other... ''incidents''... that we just didn't personally witness, and the cat's murder was simply the last straw?
8	** Shreck's son, Chip. In the movie, he's merely a spoiled rich kid with hints of being slow witted. The novelization, however, shows that he can be just as cruel as his old man. For example, the book has Chip actually seeing Max push Selina out the window. When Max tries to stammer out that it was an accident, Chip merely smiles and suggests it was suicide.
9	** Does Batman himself have any kind of actual character arc in the film that could then reasonably be reflected in ''Film/BatmanForever''? He goes about his work in much the same way as the previous film, with the death of at least one mook on his hands, yet in ''Forever'' he seemed to regret doing things like this. Could it be that seeing firsthand what the cycle of revenge and violence did to Catwoman and Oswald gave him a wake up call, forcing him to rethink his own life? There's also that he felt his violent actions after [[spoiler:the death of the Joker--who killed his parents]]--made him also feel like he needed to reaffirm his reasons for continuing to do all he did as Batman too.
10	** Did the Penguin himself at one point decide that he did want more than just to [[spoiler:avenge himself by means of targeting all other firstborns in Gotham]]? While it clearly was his plan right from the start, there appears to be part of him that also enjoyed all the attention and praise he got for appearing to be a hero despite his appearance--so much so that he did seem to get caught up in the idea of being the Mayor as a means of continuing to develop and grow beyond that. This would also indicate that his desire to be accepted despite how hideous he was on the outside being rejected once his deception of being a good person was exposed could've resulted in him defaulting back to his old plan--thus indicated by the aspects of him still being a TragicVillain through and through despite his sadistic actions and that his ultimate fate being an AlasPoorVillain would also show that as psychotic as he could get, it's genuinely something he actually always did want after all.
11	** Selina Kyle's transformation into Catwoman. Was it [[spoiler: truly brought about by the supernatural or did she just suffer brain damage from surviving a multi-story fall out of a window?]]
12	** Was Selina actually hoping to blackmail Shreck with the information she found in the hopes of [[TookALevelInBadass taking a level in badass]], and just chickened out at the last minute? Or maybe she was hoping she could become part of his inner circle in exchange for keeping the information to herself?
13	* {{Anvilicious}}: "It is human nature to fear the unusual. Perhaps, when I held my Tiffany baby rattle with a shiny flipper instead of five chubby digits, they freaked." (Of course, it's subverted since it soon becomes clear that Oswald is just milking the citizens for sympathy).
14	* AudienceColoringAdaptation:
15	** Creator/MichellePfeiffer's version of ComicBook/{{Catwoman}} has left a long impression on general audiences. While Catwoman can't really be considered a full-on villain anymore as she's settled into being a stable romantic partner for ComicBook/{{Batman}}, she had always been more of an AntiVillain. She was never crazy and was always one of the least bad of his villains. In this film, she's straight-up crazy and the idea of her being this way still sticks in people's heads. Creator/HalleBerry's [[Film/Catwoman2004 take on the character]] was widely mocked (but more due to poor filmmaking). Creator/AnneHathaway's version from ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'', while getting a bit closer to Catwoman's personality from the comics, didn't really stick, possibly due to Creator/ChristopherNolan removing much of the cat-theming due the trilogy's more grounded take on the Batman mythos. The movie is also a bit divisive in and of itself which probably explains some of it as well. Creator/ZoeKravitz's take on the character in ''Film/TheBatman2022'' has earned praise and there can be parallels drawn between that version and Pfieffer's (Kravitz's Catwoman is more mentally stable than Pfieffer's and more closely resembles the comic book versions, yet is also presented as a hard-done-by woman who seeks vengeance against powerful, morally-bankrupt men who wronged her); Kravitz also stated that Pfeiffer's Catwoman partly inspired her own performance.
16	** The movie’s portrayal of the Penguin— an utter departure from the entirely un-deformed and more-or-less sane career criminal with a penchant for bird-themed weaponry— would go on to influence later adaptations of the character for years. Cartoon versions of the character would include the “flipper”-style finger deformities he has in the movie and various versions of the character would emphasize how grotesque and nasty he is in both demeanor and appearance.
17	* AwardSnub:
18	** Creator/DannyDeVito's performance earned him a UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward nomination. As evidenced by his mentions in SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct and JustHereForGodzilla, most viewers disagree with this nod.
19	** Also the same for Creator/MichellePfeiffer whom many critics and fans agreed that her performance was THE best performance by an actress in 1992 and she didn’t even receive an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nomination, which left many people appalled. Granted she got nominated for ''Film/LoveField'', which came out later in the year (and has largely been forgotten) but many people felt that was a make-up for her not being nominated for Catwoman.
20	** Once again, Music/DannyElfman's score wasn't nominated.
21	* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: Music/DannyElfman is on point, even more so than the previous film.
22	* BaseBreakingCharacter: Creator/DannyDeVito's interpretation of ComicBook/ThePenguin, a near-complete departure from the comic book character just as radical as what Creator/HeathLedger would [[Film/TheDarkKnight later do]] with ComicBook/TheJoker. While Ledger's take on his character was critically acclaimed by everyone, even those who thought it too much of a departure, [=DeVito's=] is more divisive. Some think it's just as awesome, others felt it wasn't even the same character at all and a big contributor to the film's DarkerAndEdgier elements going too far, some think it was an interesting take that only worked within this particular film (for what it's worth, the ''Batman Returns'' version of the Penguin has had far less influence on the comics version of the character than ''The Dark Knight'''s take on the Joker did on his comic book portrayal).
23	* BrokenBase: Some fans think that the dialogue, acting, and overall tragic feel to the film gives it a weight and maturity that the other movies just don't have. Other fans believe that this movie is unreasonably dark and depressing, while simultaneously being completely ridiculous. The critics are similarly split.
24	* CantUnHearIt: Even people who don't like the film will admit that Creator/MichellePfeiffer ''absolutely nailed'' Catwoman and still lament that she never got a spin-off film.
25	* ContestedSequel: Fans of the first film and of the Batman films in general to quote the Dark Knight are "split right down the center" on this one. Some see it as the best of the pre-Nolan films, some see it as somewhat inferior to the first but better than the Schumacher films, some feel its darkness is too overwhelming even compared to the first film, increasing numbers in the [=21st=] century feel the darkness and the ''camp'' end up clashing far too heavily and very badly muddle the film's identity (whereas ''Forever'' at least has a very good idea of what it wants to be as a film, as did ''Batman 1'') and some just think it's the best Batman film, period.
26	* CreepyAwesome: Creator/DannyDeVito's Penguin, full stop. He's a disturbing, hideous, and deranged maniac, but that's exactly what makes him an effective villain, and it's also why he has his fans.
27	* CryForTheDevil: The Penguin is a monstrous {{slimeball}} through and through, being by far the most evil of this film's BigBadEnsemble. Even most of his sympathetic moments are really just him trying to look good in front of the press. But, as horrific as his actions are, it's clear that he became the villain that he is because of his tragic past. It's no excuse for what he's done, but how many people who are born terrifyingly deformed, almost drowned by their parents, and raised by penguins would actually come out well adjusted? [[spoiler: As deserving as his death is, it's brought tears to several viewers.]]
28	* EndingFatigue: [[spoiler:Batman takes out Penguin's gang and saves the day. Then he has to confront Shreck and Catwoman. ''Then'' we see Penguin die from the earlier attack. ''THEN'' we see Bruce take in Selina's cat and the camera pans in to see Catwoman who is NotQuiteDead. Then it ends.]]
29	* EvenBetterSequel: Creator/TimBurton and Creator/MichaelKeaton consider this to be superior to the first film, with Keaton saying that it spoke to him more. Critics even think so too, with this movie having an 80% Rotten Tomatoes score compared to its predecessor's 71% score.
30	* EvilIsCool:
31	** The Penguin is an animalistic maniac who, while [[WickedPretentious far less refined than previous portrayals]], is scarily effective as a villain because of his sheer ruthlessness combined with his strategic planning and [[WhereDoesHeGetAllThoseWonderfulToys creative resources]].
32	** Max Shreck, despite being a CanonForeigner who never appeared since this film, nevertheless won over audiences as a villain and a stylish ManOfWealthAndTaste portrayed with Creator/ChristopherWalken's signature eccentric charisma.
33	* FanficFuel: Burton intended on doing more with Catwoman after showing her to still be alive in the final shot, but this was dropped when he left the series. Feel free to imagine how she would have been involved in the Schumacher films, or anything else with this rendition of Batman.
34	* FanonDiscontinuity: Quite a few people prefer to ignore (or are unaware of) the AllThereInTheManual fact that the Penguin killed his parents himself a few weeks prior, and only ''pretended'' to discover their grave leading to the iconic Cemetery scene. The idea makes the Penguin more sinister, which can be compelling in some ways, but is deemed by those fans to be much less powerful and striking than a genuinely morally complex Penguin. For those that it’s not compelling enough that such a monstrous character had such a monstrous life blurring the line between the role of his savage nature and the role of his horrible upbringing.
35	* FranchiseOriginalSin: Not only for this series but the entire genre; Catwoman was the first ever secondary villain in a superhero film. With Penguin and Shreck as the main villains, Selina was mostly in her own plot throughout the movie, and she only briefly works with the Penguin. And even then, her job--distracting Batman while the Penguin's mooks hack into the Batmobile--could have been done by another mook. She’s still probably the best example of this, as she is a really well-rounded character with emotional depth and impact and much symbolism that fits perfectly into the film's themes and mirrors the primary villain's case.
36	* SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct: Creator/DannyDeVito is best known for his more comedic roles, and while he has played villains before, they're usually not very threatening and have some comedic qualities, but here in Batman Returns, his role as Penguin proves that he can play a villain that is both intimidating and utterly disturbing, and is widely considered by both Batman fans and Devito fans to be one of his finest roles for that very reason.
37	* HilariousInHindsight:
38	** The tagline was "The Bat. The Cat. The Penguin." In 2014's ''Film/BirdmanOrTheUnexpectedVirtueOfIgnorance'', Creator/MichaelKeaton (who plays an actor who in turn plays as the eponymous superhero) would be the one who is a [[AnimalThemedSuperbeing bird themed character]].
39	** The Ice Princess says this when Batman tried to rescue her:
40	--->'''Ice Princess''': No sweat. I'll just tell the police I was kidnapped by an ugly birdman with fish breath.
41	** And again as the Vulture in ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming''.
42	** Creator/MichellePfeiffer plays Catwoman, Batman's most famous love interest in this film. A few years later she would play Tzipporah, the love interest and wife to Moses, voiced by fellow Batman actor Creator/ValKilmer, in 1998's ''WesternAnimation/ThePrinceOfEgypt''.
43	** The [[DirtyOldMan endlessly perverted]] Penguin can be seen as a dry run for Creator/DannyDeVito's future role as [[Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia Frank Reynolds.]]
44	** Batman record scratching a CD, which uses lasers, was ridiculous then, but [[TechnologyMarchesOn now]] there are record players [[http://www.decodedmagazine.com/the-eip-laser-turntable-plays-records-without-touching-them/ that can use lasers instead of needles.]]
45	** When Shreck and Penguin are discussing plans for the latter's bid for mayor of Gotham, when asked about his campaign platform Penguin responds that one plank of it would be to "Stop Global Warming, Start Global Cooling!" [[Film/BatmanAndRobin Mr. Freeze would try to fulfill that five years later]]. The fact that Catwoman in one scene falls through the roof of a greenhouse adds some more unintentional humor in relation to one of that movies' antagonists (ComicBook/PoisonIvy).
46	** The Red Triangle Circus Gang, too. In 2012, the FBI designated the UsefulNotes/{{Juggalo}}s (fans of Music/InsaneClownPosse) a gang!
47	** One of the headlines of the newspapers is "'''MEE-OUCH!'''", which was the New York Post's review of ''Film/Catwoman2004''.
48	** The HoYay between Shreck and Penguin, given the latter's AdaptationalSexuality in his [[{{Series/Gotham}} next live-action incarnation.]]
49	** Michelle Pfeiffer would later play Janet van Dyne in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse. Janet is married to Hank Pym, who is played by Creator/MichaelDouglas, the actor who forced Michael Keaton to take that screen name upon becoming an actor. Not to mention that Douglas and [=DeVito=] had both been roommates in college and collaborated on films like ''Film/OneFlewOverTheCuckoosNest'', ''Film/RomancingTheStone'', and ''Film/TheWarOfTheRoses''.
50	** Michelle Pfeiffer and Christopher Walken would meet again in the 2007 film version of ''Film/{{Hairspray\|2007}}'', but instead of killing him, she tries to ''seduce'' him.
51	** The {{blooper}} of the tombstone wobbling when the Penguin touches it was an {{homage}} to a similar goof in ''Film/PlanNineFromOuterSpace''. Creator/TimBurton's next film was ''Film/EdWood'', which shows the making of that film.
52	** Penguin saying to Batman "You're just jealous because I'm a genuine freak and you have to wear a mask!" will be incredibly ironic to many who've played ''VideoGame/BatmanTheTelltaleSeries'', since in that game, Penguin spends most of the time wearing a mask.
53	** In Max Shreck's office, several pictures show him alongside various real-life celebrities, including Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger. The latter ended up playing ComicBook/MrFreeze [[Film/BatmanAndRobin two movies later]]. In turn, Schwarzenegger would also run for public office in real-life (as Governor of California in the 2003 recall election) and, unlike his ''{{Film/Twins\|1988}}'' costar [=DeVito=]'s character Penguin in this film, succeed in being elected.
54	** This wouldn't be the last time Michael Keaton and Danny [=DeVito=] would co-star in [[Film/Dumbo2019 a Tim Burton movie dealing with a circus]].
55	** In the backstory, the main villain works for an entertainment franchise and uses his position to lure children to a secluded area before murdering them. The killer is never caught, but his actions cause the franchise to be shut down. ''Batman Returns,'' or ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys''?
56	* HollywoodHomely: Creator/MichellePfeiffer as Selina Kyle. In the time period the movie seemed to be mimicking, plenty of executive assistants and secretaries weren't hired for their office skills but for their... ahem... other assets. The movie itself showed that Selina was treated bad mostly because she was so timid she was intimidated just by being in the same room as a bunch of people. But, in her favor, she’s also shown pre-transformation as intelligent... just overlooked due to the sexism of her workplace.
57	* HoYay:
58	** You have to admit that, as far as the unsuspecting citizens of Gotham are concerned, there's something strange about the mysterious closeness between the Penguin and Max Shreck - and not just because the Penguin calls Shreck "Maxie", which is a ''very'' affectionate name for a man he's known only a few days. Consider: From the very beginning, and even before he sponsors the Penguin's mayoral campaign, Max is always beside Oswald, always shielding him from the press and standing up for his rights, when there doesn't seem to be any reason why Max should care. (''We'' know, of course, what's going on between the two of them, but the characters in the movie itself can only speculate.) Of course, given what a ManipulativeBastard he is, it wouldn't be out of character for Max Shreck to subtly lead the media to believe this.
59	--->'''Reporter:''' What's the deal, Mr. Shreck - he a personal friend?
60	** On the female side of things, the frankly kinky way Selina manhandles the Ice Princess with her whip combined with some of her dialogue gives off some pretty sapphic vibes. The novelization takes this even further, with the Penguin wondering if he could've roped them into a ''menage''.
61	* IronWoobie: Bruce Wayne at the end. Also Catwoman, considering she gets shot four times and thrown off three buildings.
62	* JerkassWoobie:
63	** Although the Penguin is a terrible person, it’s easy to feel sorry for him due to his life being so awful. He was born severely deformed, abandoned by his parents as a baby, and grew up in the sewers. His bitterness is understandable even if it doesn’t excuse his actions.
64	** Catwoman has her villainous qualities, but the fact that she's so mistreated in the work place - coupled with her mental health woes - tend make most viewers feel sorry for her. She also tends to avoid harming civilians, even letting sexist security guards leave unscathed.
65	* JustHereForGodzilla:
66	** Even those who dislike the film are willing to admit that Creator/MichellePfeiffer and Creator/DannyDeVito turned in great performances.
67	** Catwoman herself, considering her arc is interesting enough to warrant its own movie, and Michelle Pfeiffer is very much ToughActToFollow for all cinematic representations of the character. There were even plans for a spin-off movie that sadly resulted in the [[Film/Catwoman2004 infamous 2004 film]].
68	** Even though his character didn’t appear in the comics, many people who are fans of Creator/ChristopherWalken tuned in to see his very charismatic and semi-hammy performance as Max Shreck.
69	** Just like the previous film, while there are many who disagree with the narrative and character's direction, many fans overlook those issues because Creator/MichaelKeaton is such an awesome Batman.
70	--->'''Catwoman:''' Gotta go... [[UnusualEuphemism girl talk]].
71	** It must also be mentioned that, in the novel, the Penguin reflects on how sorry he is that he had to kill them both, since he had really wanted to arrange a ''menage a trois''.
72	* MagnificentBitch: [[Characters/CatwomanSelinaKyle Catwoman]], real name Selina Kyle, was [[FromNobodyToNightmare once the put-down secretary]] of [[CorruptCorporateExecutive shady businessman Max Shreck]]. When Shreck pushes her out of the window of his building for learning too much, Selina is given cat powers by strays out on the streets and uses them to become a vengeful vigilante herself. As Catwoman, she overcomes a thug mugging a woman with ease, blows up one of Shreck's stores while timing her escape perfectly and, on more than one occasion, bests [[Characters/BatmanFilmSeriesBatman Batman]] in a physical fight. Catwoman also briefly teams up with [[Characters/BatmanFilmSeriesThePenguin the Penguin]] to successfully pull off a scheme to frame Batman, and later saves the Dark Knight while finally taking out Shreck once and for all.
73	* MemeticMutation:
74	** "Bruce Wayne...why are you dressed up like Batman?" Naturally, this requires a Creator/ChristopherWalken impression for the full effect.
75	** This led to a minor snowclone meme "X...why are you dressed up like Y?" Common substitutes are other superheroes and their secret identities (i.e. "Clark Kent...why are you dressed up like Superman?"), or even [[ActorRoleConfusion actors and the characters they're playing]] (i.e."Creator/KevinConroy...why are you imitating the voice of Batman?") or vice versa (i.e. "Shreck...why are you dressed up like Christopher Walken?")
76	** "Bruce, shame on you," and, "Yawn," are also go-to lines for Walken impersonators.
77	* MisaimedFandom:
78	** Creator/MichellePfeiffer's Catwoman became a popular feminist icon, which is somewhat understandable since such characters were relatively few and far between in 1980s and early '90s mainstream films. However, Selina herself realizes that she’s not an empowering figure at all, but [[HeWhoFightsMonsters just as much a thug as the men who have persecuted her]]. This should be clear from the guilt-ridden scolding she gives herself while looking in a shop window, as well as the fact that she ''cries'' when Bruce challenges her to explain what she's really feeling. Of course, since she becomes a full-on antihero by the midway point, she's still a compelling example of a flawed and relatable heroine that isn't a FlawlessToken.
79	** There are also some viewers who enjoy the (first) Christmas tree-lighting scene before it gets disrupted, and all of the good feeling and nostalgia it represents, especially if they remember similar tree-lightings or glamorous department stores similar to Shreck's from their childhoods. The director and screenwriter clearly intended everyone to view these proceedings with disdain, [[CrapSaccharineWorld as the Penguin (understandably) does]].
80	** The same could be said about the Christmas Eve costume ball. Yes, these are all {{Upper Class Twit}}s and [[ParentalAbandonment lousy parents]], but their masks sure look funny and cool.
81	* MisaimedMerchandising: This movie had a ''lot'' of tie-in merchandise aimed at children despite not being a kids' movie by a long shot. UsefulNotes/{{McDonalds}} pulled their Happy Meal toys after parental backlash.
82	* MoralEventHorizon:
83	** The Penguin crossed the line after he had to ditch the mayor campaign and decided to kidnap all of Gotham's firstborn children, including the babies, with the intention of drowning them in a deep puddle of Shreck's industrial byproducts.
84	** The brilliance of Penguin's character in ''Returns'' is that he was already on the other side of the line from the start of the movie. His re-emergence into society, his attempts to gather census data on the populace of Gotham, all done from the start so he could identify and kill the first born children of every wealthy family in the city. It’s even implied that he's already murdered children back when he was the "bird boy" at the Red Triangle Circus's freak show.
85	** The Penguin's parents cross this in the intro when locking him in a cage and attempting to drown him in freezing water. Their [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone expressions]] when it's all said and done heavily imply they know it, too.
86	** Shreck crosses it when he throws Selina Kyle out of a 40+-story-high window for finding out about his power plant scam, as if he hadn't already crossed it back when he had his friend Frank killed, whose hand Penguin finds.
87	** The mugger crosses it when he corners the woman in the alleyway and tries to rape her.
88	* MorePopularReplacement: Vicki Vale disappears between movies and Bruce's love interest in this is Selina Kyle. Most viewers didn't mind though, as Selina proved far more popular than Vicki. While Vicki isn't universally disliked and is regarded warmly by some viewers, much of her role revolves solely around her relationship with Bruce Wayne/Batman, and her DamselInDistress tendencies get annoying for some viewers. Selina, on the other hand, gets to be a more active character with her own story arc and Michelle Pfieffer's performance as Catwoman is considered one of the best things about the film. It helps that Batman/Catwoman is one of the [[OneTruePairing biggest ships]] in the Batman fandom.
89	* {{Narm}}:
90	** Chip Shreck's DullSurprise combined with a very comical impression of Creator/ChristopherWalken to form some very hilarious deliveries, especially the very under-emoted, "Dad, go, save yourself." Shreck's dull reaction also counts when Chip tells him to go.
91	** Batman fighting against Penguin's circus freak army is also pretty laugh-worthy, mainly because of how silly they behave while fighting him.
92	** A special mention goes to Penguin driving in a giant duck vehicle, which garnered a lot of laughs from people.
93	* NarmCharm:
94	** The shot of Batman record scratching a CD [[spoiler:whilst taking down Cobblepot's mayoral campaign]]. In another movie, that moment would be straight narm, but this comes from Keaton's Batman, a character who doesn't have moments like this to show off his humorous side. Him record scratching the CD with the added smirk makes it a charming moment rather than straight narm.
95	** [[spoiler: The Penguin's death. When Oswald, wearing pyjamas, with green slime spewing from his mouth, asks for a drink of ice water as his last words, falls over dead, and is ceremoniously pushed into the sewer by six emperor penguins, acing as pallbearers, while sad and dramatic music plays in the background, it should be completely ridiculous!]] Somehow, it isn't. The scene still works, and is actually rather moving.
96	** Selina's aforementioned FreakOut can definitely be this, too, although many people (especially the unlucky enough to have witnessed or ''suffered'' a real mental breakdown) would fail to see it as {{Narm}} at all.
97	* NeverLiveItDown: Detractors of Burton's take on Batman, and/or Michael Keaton's portrayal of the character, tend to point to the scene where Batman puts a bomb on the circus strongman and then ''smiles'' before knocking him into the sewer to his death as evidence of this Batman being too kill-happy.
98	* SugarWiki/NoProblemWithLicensedGames: The Platform/SegaGenesis and Platform/SuperNintendo game adaptations are actually fairly good, fun adaptations.
99	* OlderThanTheyThink:
100	** Despite being a DarkerAndEdgier movie from a DarkerAndEdgier time, the primary villains have major callbacks to their [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] incarnations: Penguin's gang and weaponized penguins wouldn't have been terribly out of place in the Creator/AdamWest TV show, and Catwoman's personality shifts were the explanation given in comics for why Batman was DatingCatwoman -- he wanted her good personality.
101	** The plot with Penguin running for Mayor of Gotham is actually a direct lift from the 60's ''Series/{{Batman\|1966}}'' TV show ("Hizzoner The Penguin"/"Dizzoner The Penguin"), adapted of course. [[spoiler: Although in both scenarios he loses.]]
102	** Batman killed fairly commonly in his [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness first few years]].
103	* OneSceneWonder:
104	** Former San Diego Chargers punter Gregory Cummins as the bizarrely tattooed Acrobat Thug. [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments ("I'm not really one for speeches, so I'll just say 'Thanks!'")]]
105	** Steve Witting as a disastrously tactless campaign worker who gets a vicious bite in the nose from The Penguin.
106	** Lisa Guerrero as a volunteer who gets not-so-subtly groped by the Penguin. She's credited as "Campaign Bimbo".
107	* TheProblemWithLicensedGames: Depends on which systems were released for.
108	** The {{Creator/Konami}} games for the Nintendo systems were well-received. For several years, the Platform/SuperNintendo version was considered the best Batman game ever released.
109	** The Creator/{{Sega}} games for the Sega systems received mixed reviews (although the driving sections in the Sega CD version ''did'' score a decent reception).
110	** The Platform/AtariLynx version is this in spades, with NintendoHard difficulty, awkward controls, and only four levels.
111	* ProtectionFromEditors: The first film was a studio-driven film that Creator/TimBurton happened to direct. By the time the sequel came around, Burton had a lot more clout. As a result, whereas the first film felt like a Batman film that Burton directed, this feels like a Tim Burton film that has Batman in it.
112	* RetroactiveRecognition: That's Creator/DougJones as the thin clown.
113	* SignatureScene:
114	** Selina Kyle's [[FreakOut mental breakdown]] after Schreck tries to kill her, resulting in her trashing her apartment and creating her Catwoman persona.
115	** The first confrontation between the three leads, as Batman and the Penguin have a tense verbal confrontation, interrupted by Catwoman backflipping up to them and saying only one word -"Meow"- before the building behind her explodes.
116	** The striking visual of Bruce Wayne standing up with the Bat-Signal behind him.
117	** [[CryForTheDevil The Penguin's surprisingly tender]] [[spoiler: death scene]], particularly the actual penguins
118	** Batman punching out and blowing up the strongman thanks to a combination of his [[MemeticMutation memetic face]], [[ThouShallNotKill blatant killing]], and just being deemed badass.
119	** The entire Masquerade Ball scene.
120	** The conclusion of the Batman, Catwoman, and Shreck drama due to Bruce's unmasking and heartfelt plea, Max's saying "Bruce Wayne? Why are you dressed up like Batman" and Selina giving the Schreck [[spoiler: a taser charged KissOfDeath]], three of the film's most famous moments one after another.
121	* SpecialEffectsFailure:
122	** As the cats are dogpiling on Selina after she hits the ground, one shot of her legs make it very clear that's a dummy leg being used for the close-up.
123	** As the Batmobile goes on its rampage, the mechanisms used to flip the parked cars can be seen.
124	** While the penguins themselves are an example of SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome (even the live penguins used for filming were convinced the animatronic ones were real to the point where they could be occasionally found sleeping with the puppets), they're clearly not touching [[spoiler:the Penguin's body as they cast him off during his funeral]]. In this same scene, the platform used to transport Danny [=DeVito=] to the water can be seen floating out from under him right as soon as he lands in the water.
125	** The Batmobile's armor is clearly cartoonish CGI.
126	** During the moment when [[spoiler:Bruce discovers Max Shreck's electrocuted body just before the final encounter with Penguin]], it's clear that the production team settled for a cheap-looking dummy that looks nothing like Creator/ChristopherWalken.
127	** The moment just before Bruce dramatically rips his mask off in front of Selina Kyle reveals that he has no black makeup around his eyes, contrary to all of the other shots where he's in costume. The absence of said makeup makes the shot look very unconvincing.
128	** The final shot of the film (Catwoman looking up at the Bat-Signal) suffers from the same wobbly sky as the first film. That said, it could have been worse - [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0-DRPKKIkk the unused alternate ending shot]] has them using an animatronic, which comes off as overly fake (they ended up using a body double during reshoots).
129	** When Oswald goes to his parent's grave, his hand ever so gently brushes a tombstone as he goes to take off his hat, and said tombstone (clearly made from styrofoam or cardboard) visibly tilts.
130	** Snow is seen floating on water in multiple scenes.
131	* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: Originally there was the idea that Oswald Cobblepot and Max Schreck were brothers (Max being older), which could've added more depth to their dynamic together, and would've tied in nicely with Penguin's plot to kill only the first born children in Gotham.
132	* UncertainAudience: This movie does suffer a bit from this. On one hand, it tries to be a dark, cynical movie about child abandonment and psychopaths getting their revenge on society, with plenty of grisly violence and tear-jerking moments to empathize the bleak tone, but on the other hand, it also has a good number of campy elements, such as Penguin's missile strapped penguin army, Penguin driving around in a giant duck vehicle, and Penguin's circus freak goons acting silly and goofy whilst fighting Batman. While Batman Returns is still a beloved movie in the franchise, many agree that the tone of the film feels muddled.
133	* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The script mentions murderer Ted Bundy (who had been executed just a few years earlier), Alfred suggests that Bruce Wayne switch the TV channel to ''Series/LoveConnection'', and in one crowd scene the camera briefly passes over a young man wearing a jacket with a picture of Gogo Dodo from ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'', as if the filmmakers were daring us: "Betcha can't catch us trying to date this film!"
134	* ValuesResonance: The enduring popularity of Michelle Pfieffer's Catwoman is likely due in part to evoking this. Unlike some superhero movie love interests, she's not a SatelliteLoveInterest and is a well-rounded character with her own story arc; some of the subjects explored via her character are also still highly relevant three decades after the film's 1992 release:
135	** A woman gets treated horribly by her male boss, who presumes he can get away with it because he's rich and powerful. Substitute attempted murder for sexual harassment, and Selina Kyle's situation with Shreck doesn't sound too dissimilar from many real cases of work-related harassment and abuse towards women. Selina being dismissed as just a secretary whose only value is making coffee is also reminiscent of the struggles of some women trying to get ahead in male-dominated careers, or having their profession and skills dismissed as unimportant. Selina's complaint that people like Shreck tend to get away with their abusive behavior due to their wealth and influence also sounds very familiar (though her plan to ''murder'' Schreck isn't an ideal solution).
136	** It's been pointed out that Penguin's treatment of Catwoman is highly reminiscent of a so-called 'Nice Guy'; he presumes she would want to be in a relationship with him because they work together and because of her sexualized clothing and behavior, even though she never acts flirtatious with him directly and notably rejects or diverts his attempts to 'seduce' her. When she unambigiously rejects him, he resorts to insults and violence, insisting she led him on and seeing no further value in her. It could also be interpreted as a deconstruction of the belief that women who dress or act a certain way are 'asking for it'.
137	** Selina and Bruce's romance is actually pretty positive (except for the DatingCatwoman situation and the fact they could both use therapy). Bruce wins Selina's affections by treating her like a human being with no expectation she'll reciprocate his romantic interest in her; unlike some other men in the film he doesn't objectify or look down on her. During their Wayne Manor date they both respect their mutual decision to not take things further than they want to, no questions asked, and neither of them takes it personally. Batman also views Catwoman as an equal opponent; he only underestimates her because she's a woman once (and she was intentionally playing up WomenAreDelicate) and never makes that mistake again.
138	* VanillaProtagonist: Since Creator/MichaelKeaton had a good portion of Bruce's lines deleted or cut down, preferring to act without dialogue, Batman can come across as the vanilla one in this story; there to be a foil for all the outlandish characters around him. There are two villains in Penguin and Schrek, who are both extremely colorful and scene stealing in their own ways. Then there's Catwoman, who is less a secondary villain and ends up having an arc of her own that proved extremely memorable. Batman by contrast shows up in only ''one scene'' in the film's first half hour, and doesn't have much of an arc of his own; making him come across almost as ''Selina's'' SatelliteLoveInterest. Notably ''Film/BatmanForever'' would at least attempt to give him more of an arc.
139	* VindicatedByHistory: Audience reception to this movie was mixed to negative, with many people finding the movie weird and/or disturbing. In fact, ''Film/BatmanForever'' was much better received in 1995 for being more of a popcorn flick. Now over 20 years later, while ''Batman Returns'' still has a large amount of detractors (mainly for liberally adapting the source material and Batman playing second-fiddle to the villains, though even Creator/ChristopherNolan's Bat-films have been criticized for the latter), just as many people consider it the best Burton/Schumacher film, if not the best Batman film, period. It has the highest rating on Rotten Tomatoes for the Burton/Schumacher series and it’s usually ranked in the top five of all time Batman films. (''Forever'', meanwhile, is often ranked by fans somewhere near the bottom of the barrel, thanks in part to [[Film/BatmanAndRobin its own sequel.]])
140	* WTHCostumingDepartment: Cool as the Catwoman suit is, it was also impossible to go to the bathroom wearing it. Creator/MichellePfeiffer has advised every actress who’s played the role since to make sure they ask the costume designer to consider this.

Context YMMV / BatmanReturns