Post by Rob W. Case on Dec 2, 2019 23:41:09 GMT -6
In this piece, we are going to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the 1989 movie “Batman”, share some of its history, and discuss its impact & iconic place in movie history overall.
Only in certain instances are movies celebrated decades after they were originally released. This is largely due to a film being so distinctly creative and unique that it creates an impression that not only impacts the viewer, but the impression that it has over a viewer takes on a life of its own as it influences others to see the movie, and the experience carries on in a sort of “ripple effect” with newer audiences.
A Bit of a History:
When the character was first introduced to America in 1939 in Detective Comics issue #27, the character Batman captured enough intrigue from both adults and kids to become an ongoing series. The premise of Batman was very simple. As Batman’s creator Bob Kane and co-creator Milton (Bill) Finger envisioned, Batman was supposed to be a “creature of the night” hence why he was dressed up as a bat, stalking criminals in the shadows, and executing “vigilante justice” in a way that the law wouldn’t allow. Then, during the golden age of radio, the character had numerous guest appearances on the “The Adventures of Superman”. In the 1940’s, during World War II, Superman (on radio and in animated short films) and Batman (in live action short movie serials) shorts were played in movie houses all across the country. These “shorts” were much like “The Three Stooges” in the sense that they were an added attraction that would be played before the feature film began. While Superman enjoyed greater success in newer mediums, Batman would continue mostly in comics or as a guest on “The Adventures of Superman.” In at least one instance, Batman had a partial radio program of his own in 1950. It was called the “Batman Mystery Club” and it took place in a courtroom.
The 1960’s, TV, and Perception:
It would not be until January of 1966 that Batman would have his own TV show and would star Adam West as the caped crusader and Burt Ward as his youthful ward Dick Grayson. This Batman would have something for both kids and adults. The kids would tune in for the adventure and the crime fighting, and the adults would watch mainly for the performances of the high-profile celebrity guest stars that played Batman’s villains. Caesar Romero, Burgess Meredith, Vincent Price, Shelly Winters, Roddy McDowall, Tallulah Bankhead, are just a few of the big named actors who played a Batman villain. And yet, the show was a hit! In fact, it was such a hit that the producers of the show did something that nobody ever done before to really rouse the kids. After the first season of Batman had aired on the ABC television network, and before the second season started airing, a full-length feature film was shot and released in movie theaters across America for the summer of that year. Batman ran for three seasons, was successful as a series (with 120 episodes filmed in its relatively short time span), and would be immortalized later on in syndicated re-runs winning over new generations of fans. It is however through its appeal in reruns where the perception of the character would deviate strongly from the original intentions that its creators had originally intended for it, and drift more into the direction of a show designed mainly with kids in mind, while adults who did watch it would watch it for its camp (as a source of humor), and enjoy it on that merit, rather than take it seriously.
The 1970’s, The Problem of Perception, & The Power of Big Budget Feature Films:
It would not be until 1978, when the big budget film “Superman: The Movie” starring Christopher Reeve and the success that followed, would bring hope towards the possibility of bringing a future big budget Batman film to the big screen. But because Batman craze was diminishing significantly in the 1970’s, the effort to bring Batman to the big screen was an uphill battle, a battle that would finally be won in the 1980’s under the influence of Michael Uslan an ardent fan of the Batman comic book character from childhood who wrote Batman comics, entered the film industry, and attempted to purchase the film rights to create the darker more serious character that its comic book creators had originally intended. When Uslan and former MGM executive Benjamin Melkicker tried to pitch the idea to major film studios, they were told that “nobody is interested in Batman anymore.” Uslan recalls, “They told me basically it was the worst idea they ever heard, that I was crazy. You can't do serious comic book movies. You can't do dark superheroes. You can't make a movie out of an old television series. It's never been done."
The 1980’s, The Rise of Fresh Ideas, New Concepts, & the Formation of New Perceptions:
In 1985, Frank Miller, the graphic novelist who would later be famous for “Sin City” and “300” (which would later be adapted to film) did one for Batman entitled, “The Dark Knight Returns.” After its success, more and more people would see a unique vision that would begin the shaping of a new perception of the Batman character, a perception that would not be appealing mainly to kids (like the TV series was), but would be targeted more towards and captivated by adults.
Tim Burton Gets it:
Tim Burton, a director with a vision for dark, eccentric, and unconventional ideas and concepts saw the vision that Uslan had and, not being a really big fan of comic books in general, was enthusiastic about the idea. To make this vision a reality, Uslan’s philosophy from concept to completion was simple. “'Let's just find great filmmakers who love this character, have an understanding and knowledge of it, have a vision for it." With just the right persistence and the waves of marketability riding in its favor, Warner Bros. decided to give it a go, and hire Tim Burton to direct this multi-million-dollar project. From that point in his career, he had a couple of notable independent films under his belt, and his directing of the film “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure”, was a success as it was filmed with an 8-million-dollar budget, and brought in over $40 million at the box office. In handling the project with care and seriousness, Tim Burton approached comic book fan Sam Hamm to write the screenplay for the film. By having a sensitivity for realism and not immersing the viewer in a complete origin story, Sam Hamm decided to write in flashbacks the primary events that led to the development of the character of Bruce Wayne turning into Batman.
Casting:
Long before images of actors like Robert Downey Jr. could be re-invented and become more versatile, Burton’s casting for such a big film project and the re-invention of a new perception towards a comic book character was going to require some tall orders. Michael Keaton, who was cast mainly in television sitcoms and feature film comedies (like “Mr. Mom” and “Nightshift”) was hired by Burton after working with him in his 1988 comedy “Beetlejuice.” When comic book fans got word of this, they were outraged. Even Bob Kane, the comic book character’s main creator, as well as Uslan and Sam Hamm also were doubtful about the move. They wanted this movie to be as far away from the 1960’s TV series as humanly possible and hiring a comedian to play a tough, dark superhero type character wasn’t all that convincing to them. To rest any doubts against his ability to pull the portrayal of the Batman character off, Michael Keaton read and studied the Frank Miller novel “The Dark Knight Returns” for inspiration. Bob Kane and Michael Uslan envisioned Academy Award winner Jack Nicholson as portraying the most famous and most dangerous Batman villain of all, the Joker, particularly after his increasingly psychotic disposition in the film “The Shining” in 1980, also released by Warner Bros. The film’s producer Jon Peters wanted Kim Basinger to play Vicki Vale, and Robert Wuhl as reporter Alexander Knox. Tim Burton chose Billy Dee Williams to play Gotham City’s District Attorney Harvey Dent because he anticipated a future sequel involving the villain two face, and after his transformation wanted his face to be half white and half black. Other characters would include veteran actor Jack Palance as crime boss Carl Grissom, Pat Hingle as Commissioner Gordon, fashion model Jerry Hall as Alicia, Jack Napier’s (who would become the Joker) girlfriend, Lee Wallace as the Mayor of Gotham City, and William Hootkins as Lieutenant Eckhardt. Filming would begin in October of 1988 and resume until January of 1989.
The Music:
Tim Burton hired Danny Elfman to create the iconic musical score for this film. Danny Elfman previously collaborated with Burton for “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” and “Beetlejuice.”
The title sequence sets the tone for the entire film & beyond:
With the minds of audiences filled with the fun filled “na, na, na, na, na, na, na, Batman” theme song of the 1960’s, Danny Elfman’s new opening score would proclaim something big, bold, catchy, and deep. His theme would be that of a march, a march into battle, one that would definitively set the tone not only for the movie, but for the character.
The Opening Theme:
Elfman was very key in maximizing the effect of a scene by coupling the right mood and intensity of drama, with the right music piece. For example, posted below is the scene where Bruce Wayne drives Vicki Vale into the Batcave. The musical piece is titled “Descent into Mystery” and not only does it capture in a dramatic way, the mysteriousness of this key moment in the film, but it also shows off the awesomeness of the batmobile in action.
Elfman was also great at intensifying action sequences through music while, in this scene, the special effects, the events, and the “attack of the batwing” would lead to the final climax.
The music of Danny Elfman is so captivating and engaging in this film overall that it takes on an important role in the development and depth of the characters, the movement of the story, and the direction that it ultimately leads. In and of itself, the music is a vital component to the experience and excitement of the film that is a major part to the "body" of this film.
Then, of course, there is the story….
The Story:
Gotham City is about to celebrate its 200th anniversary, and its dangerous and unsafe streets are about to undergo a cleanup headed by its Mayor (Lee Wallace) and followed through by Gotham’s new District Attorney Harvey Dent (Billy Dee Williams) and Police Commissioner Jim Gordon (Pat Hingle). At the same time, a reporter by the name of Alexander Knox (Robert Wuhl) and photojournalist Vicki Vale (Kim Basinger) hear of rumors concerning a “giant bat” by criminals who have encountered it, and begin investigating as to who or what this thing really is. At a fundraiser held at the home of billionaire industrialist Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton) for the 200th anniversary festival, Vicki meets Bruce and they end up becoming romantically involved.
At the same time Crime boss Carl Grissom (Jack Palance) learns that his mistress Alicia (Jerry Hall) is cheating on him with his “number one guy” Jack Napier (Jack Nicholson), and sets him up by strategically placing him at the center of a planned raid on Gotham City’s Axis chemical plant. Commissioner Gordon hears an anonymous tip about Napier “cleaning out” Axis chemicals,” and demands that Napier be taken alive. When Jack becomes aware that he was set up, he immediately points his gun to corrupt lieutenant Eckhardt and shoots him dead. After a major confrontation at the chemical plant, Napier comes face to face with Batman. Napier shoots at Batman, Batman blocks the shot, the bullet ricochets off of Batman’s glove, hits Napier in the face, and he falls over the railing on top of a vat of chemicals. Batman tries to pull Napier up, but his hand slips from Batman’s grip, and he falls into the vat, and is permanently altered from there. Napier survives, but is “reborn” and declares his new identity as “The Joker”. He kills Grissom, takes charge of his mob syndicate, and tries to poison Gotham City by tampering with various hygiene chemical products.
With deaths occurring everywhere due to the lethal mixture of chemicals, Bruce Wayne begins investigating the Joker’s insidious plot in hopes to stop him. On the day that the Joker’s men take out a big mob boss, his assistant Bob takes pictures, one of which is Vicki Vale, and it captures the attention of the Joker. When he finds out that she is a photographer, he devises a scheme to “corner” her and take pictures of some of his twisted “works of art.” As he finds himself attracted to her, he pursues her, but Batman intervenes. When the Joker finds out that Vicki is the primary connection to both Bruce Wayne and Batman, he pursues her not only as an interest, but as “bait” to try and trap and eliminate Batman, who keeps thwarting his evil plans. It is through this battle between two powerful forces, each of which, was made by the other, that Gotham City, learns of Batman, who can now be summoned through a signal.
Trailer:
Batman was rated PG-13 for violence, and ran 2 hours and 6 minutes.
Personal Memories of Batman:
When Batman was released in theaters in 1989, it was so much of an event that news coverage of fans camping out in front of movie theaters, and around the block waiting to get the first glimpse of the caped crusader, made headlines. What’s also fascinating with this new Batman was that, even though the film was targeted more towards adults, a very clever campaign and line of toys targeted and won over kids. In fact, I still have my batmobile from that release, and it was built well, all things considered. Then on top of all of that was a dynamic marketing campaign (like how Batman sold products like Diet Coke for example)……..
......followed by a revolutionary VHS release. I personally remember going to K-Mart with my parents as a kid, and seeing the movie being played on a display TV hooked up to a VCR, in the middle of a big display full of VHS tapes for sale. In fact, the first time I saw this movie was after it was released on VHS and my Grandma (knowing how much I loved this new Batman) bought it for us.
Batman Sets the Precedent for Future Batman Films/Series:
After the success of Batman, Michael Uslan’s influence in future films impacted every serious portrayal thereafter. After this particular franchise ended, Uslan was also involved in other future Batman franchises (most notably, the Christopher Nolan Batman films, i.e. Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), and The Dark Knight Rises (2012)). He has also been involved in the 2019 film The Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix. But when you really think of it, all of these Batman films would not necessarily have the respect and prestige it has if it weren’t for Uslan’s unrelenting efforts, Tim Burton’s vision, and the elements that came together to make a comic book character so intriguing, so mysterious, and so captivating, that he would be taken seriously to some, and to others, be the next greatest example of how a superhero without superpowers could be so action packed and adventure filled.
Batman is now available to own on 4K UHD, as well as on blu-ray and DVD. It is also available to own or rent on multiple streaming services. Earlier this year, it was shown in movie theaters through Fathom Events, which broadcasts movies to theaters across the country, where people are able to see it on the big screen.
Only in certain instances are movies celebrated decades after they were originally released. This is largely due to a film being so distinctly creative and unique that it creates an impression that not only impacts the viewer, but the impression that it has over a viewer takes on a life of its own as it influences others to see the movie, and the experience carries on in a sort of “ripple effect” with newer audiences.
A Bit of a History:
When the character was first introduced to America in 1939 in Detective Comics issue #27, the character Batman captured enough intrigue from both adults and kids to become an ongoing series. The premise of Batman was very simple. As Batman’s creator Bob Kane and co-creator Milton (Bill) Finger envisioned, Batman was supposed to be a “creature of the night” hence why he was dressed up as a bat, stalking criminals in the shadows, and executing “vigilante justice” in a way that the law wouldn’t allow. Then, during the golden age of radio, the character had numerous guest appearances on the “The Adventures of Superman”. In the 1940’s, during World War II, Superman (on radio and in animated short films) and Batman (in live action short movie serials) shorts were played in movie houses all across the country. These “shorts” were much like “The Three Stooges” in the sense that they were an added attraction that would be played before the feature film began. While Superman enjoyed greater success in newer mediums, Batman would continue mostly in comics or as a guest on “The Adventures of Superman.” In at least one instance, Batman had a partial radio program of his own in 1950. It was called the “Batman Mystery Club” and it took place in a courtroom.
The 1960’s, TV, and Perception:
It would not be until January of 1966 that Batman would have his own TV show and would star Adam West as the caped crusader and Burt Ward as his youthful ward Dick Grayson. This Batman would have something for both kids and adults. The kids would tune in for the adventure and the crime fighting, and the adults would watch mainly for the performances of the high-profile celebrity guest stars that played Batman’s villains. Caesar Romero, Burgess Meredith, Vincent Price, Shelly Winters, Roddy McDowall, Tallulah Bankhead, are just a few of the big named actors who played a Batman villain. And yet, the show was a hit! In fact, it was such a hit that the producers of the show did something that nobody ever done before to really rouse the kids. After the first season of Batman had aired on the ABC television network, and before the second season started airing, a full-length feature film was shot and released in movie theaters across America for the summer of that year. Batman ran for three seasons, was successful as a series (with 120 episodes filmed in its relatively short time span), and would be immortalized later on in syndicated re-runs winning over new generations of fans. It is however through its appeal in reruns where the perception of the character would deviate strongly from the original intentions that its creators had originally intended for it, and drift more into the direction of a show designed mainly with kids in mind, while adults who did watch it would watch it for its camp (as a source of humor), and enjoy it on that merit, rather than take it seriously.
The 1970’s, The Problem of Perception, & The Power of Big Budget Feature Films:
It would not be until 1978, when the big budget film “Superman: The Movie” starring Christopher Reeve and the success that followed, would bring hope towards the possibility of bringing a future big budget Batman film to the big screen. But because Batman craze was diminishing significantly in the 1970’s, the effort to bring Batman to the big screen was an uphill battle, a battle that would finally be won in the 1980’s under the influence of Michael Uslan an ardent fan of the Batman comic book character from childhood who wrote Batman comics, entered the film industry, and attempted to purchase the film rights to create the darker more serious character that its comic book creators had originally intended. When Uslan and former MGM executive Benjamin Melkicker tried to pitch the idea to major film studios, they were told that “nobody is interested in Batman anymore.” Uslan recalls, “They told me basically it was the worst idea they ever heard, that I was crazy. You can't do serious comic book movies. You can't do dark superheroes. You can't make a movie out of an old television series. It's never been done."
The 1980’s, The Rise of Fresh Ideas, New Concepts, & the Formation of New Perceptions:
In 1985, Frank Miller, the graphic novelist who would later be famous for “Sin City” and “300” (which would later be adapted to film) did one for Batman entitled, “The Dark Knight Returns.” After its success, more and more people would see a unique vision that would begin the shaping of a new perception of the Batman character, a perception that would not be appealing mainly to kids (like the TV series was), but would be targeted more towards and captivated by adults.
Tim Burton Gets it:
Tim Burton, a director with a vision for dark, eccentric, and unconventional ideas and concepts saw the vision that Uslan had and, not being a really big fan of comic books in general, was enthusiastic about the idea. To make this vision a reality, Uslan’s philosophy from concept to completion was simple. “'Let's just find great filmmakers who love this character, have an understanding and knowledge of it, have a vision for it." With just the right persistence and the waves of marketability riding in its favor, Warner Bros. decided to give it a go, and hire Tim Burton to direct this multi-million-dollar project. From that point in his career, he had a couple of notable independent films under his belt, and his directing of the film “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure”, was a success as it was filmed with an 8-million-dollar budget, and brought in over $40 million at the box office. In handling the project with care and seriousness, Tim Burton approached comic book fan Sam Hamm to write the screenplay for the film. By having a sensitivity for realism and not immersing the viewer in a complete origin story, Sam Hamm decided to write in flashbacks the primary events that led to the development of the character of Bruce Wayne turning into Batman.
Casting:
Long before images of actors like Robert Downey Jr. could be re-invented and become more versatile, Burton’s casting for such a big film project and the re-invention of a new perception towards a comic book character was going to require some tall orders. Michael Keaton, who was cast mainly in television sitcoms and feature film comedies (like “Mr. Mom” and “Nightshift”) was hired by Burton after working with him in his 1988 comedy “Beetlejuice.” When comic book fans got word of this, they were outraged. Even Bob Kane, the comic book character’s main creator, as well as Uslan and Sam Hamm also were doubtful about the move. They wanted this movie to be as far away from the 1960’s TV series as humanly possible and hiring a comedian to play a tough, dark superhero type character wasn’t all that convincing to them. To rest any doubts against his ability to pull the portrayal of the Batman character off, Michael Keaton read and studied the Frank Miller novel “The Dark Knight Returns” for inspiration. Bob Kane and Michael Uslan envisioned Academy Award winner Jack Nicholson as portraying the most famous and most dangerous Batman villain of all, the Joker, particularly after his increasingly psychotic disposition in the film “The Shining” in 1980, also released by Warner Bros. The film’s producer Jon Peters wanted Kim Basinger to play Vicki Vale, and Robert Wuhl as reporter Alexander Knox. Tim Burton chose Billy Dee Williams to play Gotham City’s District Attorney Harvey Dent because he anticipated a future sequel involving the villain two face, and after his transformation wanted his face to be half white and half black. Other characters would include veteran actor Jack Palance as crime boss Carl Grissom, Pat Hingle as Commissioner Gordon, fashion model Jerry Hall as Alicia, Jack Napier’s (who would become the Joker) girlfriend, Lee Wallace as the Mayor of Gotham City, and William Hootkins as Lieutenant Eckhardt. Filming would begin in October of 1988 and resume until January of 1989.
The Music:
Tim Burton hired Danny Elfman to create the iconic musical score for this film. Danny Elfman previously collaborated with Burton for “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” and “Beetlejuice.”
The title sequence sets the tone for the entire film & beyond:
With the minds of audiences filled with the fun filled “na, na, na, na, na, na, na, Batman” theme song of the 1960’s, Danny Elfman’s new opening score would proclaim something big, bold, catchy, and deep. His theme would be that of a march, a march into battle, one that would definitively set the tone not only for the movie, but for the character.
The Opening Theme:
Elfman was very key in maximizing the effect of a scene by coupling the right mood and intensity of drama, with the right music piece. For example, posted below is the scene where Bruce Wayne drives Vicki Vale into the Batcave. The musical piece is titled “Descent into Mystery” and not only does it capture in a dramatic way, the mysteriousness of this key moment in the film, but it also shows off the awesomeness of the batmobile in action.
Elfman was also great at intensifying action sequences through music while, in this scene, the special effects, the events, and the “attack of the batwing” would lead to the final climax.
The music of Danny Elfman is so captivating and engaging in this film overall that it takes on an important role in the development and depth of the characters, the movement of the story, and the direction that it ultimately leads. In and of itself, the music is a vital component to the experience and excitement of the film that is a major part to the "body" of this film.
Then, of course, there is the story….
The Story:
Gotham City is about to celebrate its 200th anniversary, and its dangerous and unsafe streets are about to undergo a cleanup headed by its Mayor (Lee Wallace) and followed through by Gotham’s new District Attorney Harvey Dent (Billy Dee Williams) and Police Commissioner Jim Gordon (Pat Hingle). At the same time, a reporter by the name of Alexander Knox (Robert Wuhl) and photojournalist Vicki Vale (Kim Basinger) hear of rumors concerning a “giant bat” by criminals who have encountered it, and begin investigating as to who or what this thing really is. At a fundraiser held at the home of billionaire industrialist Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton) for the 200th anniversary festival, Vicki meets Bruce and they end up becoming romantically involved.
At the same time Crime boss Carl Grissom (Jack Palance) learns that his mistress Alicia (Jerry Hall) is cheating on him with his “number one guy” Jack Napier (Jack Nicholson), and sets him up by strategically placing him at the center of a planned raid on Gotham City’s Axis chemical plant. Commissioner Gordon hears an anonymous tip about Napier “cleaning out” Axis chemicals,” and demands that Napier be taken alive. When Jack becomes aware that he was set up, he immediately points his gun to corrupt lieutenant Eckhardt and shoots him dead. After a major confrontation at the chemical plant, Napier comes face to face with Batman. Napier shoots at Batman, Batman blocks the shot, the bullet ricochets off of Batman’s glove, hits Napier in the face, and he falls over the railing on top of a vat of chemicals. Batman tries to pull Napier up, but his hand slips from Batman’s grip, and he falls into the vat, and is permanently altered from there. Napier survives, but is “reborn” and declares his new identity as “The Joker”. He kills Grissom, takes charge of his mob syndicate, and tries to poison Gotham City by tampering with various hygiene chemical products.
With deaths occurring everywhere due to the lethal mixture of chemicals, Bruce Wayne begins investigating the Joker’s insidious plot in hopes to stop him. On the day that the Joker’s men take out a big mob boss, his assistant Bob takes pictures, one of which is Vicki Vale, and it captures the attention of the Joker. When he finds out that she is a photographer, he devises a scheme to “corner” her and take pictures of some of his twisted “works of art.” As he finds himself attracted to her, he pursues her, but Batman intervenes. When the Joker finds out that Vicki is the primary connection to both Bruce Wayne and Batman, he pursues her not only as an interest, but as “bait” to try and trap and eliminate Batman, who keeps thwarting his evil plans. It is through this battle between two powerful forces, each of which, was made by the other, that Gotham City, learns of Batman, who can now be summoned through a signal.
Trailer:
Batman was rated PG-13 for violence, and ran 2 hours and 6 minutes.
Personal Memories of Batman:
When Batman was released in theaters in 1989, it was so much of an event that news coverage of fans camping out in front of movie theaters, and around the block waiting to get the first glimpse of the caped crusader, made headlines. What’s also fascinating with this new Batman was that, even though the film was targeted more towards adults, a very clever campaign and line of toys targeted and won over kids. In fact, I still have my batmobile from that release, and it was built well, all things considered. Then on top of all of that was a dynamic marketing campaign (like how Batman sold products like Diet Coke for example)……..
......followed by a revolutionary VHS release. I personally remember going to K-Mart with my parents as a kid, and seeing the movie being played on a display TV hooked up to a VCR, in the middle of a big display full of VHS tapes for sale. In fact, the first time I saw this movie was after it was released on VHS and my Grandma (knowing how much I loved this new Batman) bought it for us.
Batman Sets the Precedent for Future Batman Films/Series:
After the success of Batman, Michael Uslan’s influence in future films impacted every serious portrayal thereafter. After this particular franchise ended, Uslan was also involved in other future Batman franchises (most notably, the Christopher Nolan Batman films, i.e. Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), and The Dark Knight Rises (2012)). He has also been involved in the 2019 film The Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix. But when you really think of it, all of these Batman films would not necessarily have the respect and prestige it has if it weren’t for Uslan’s unrelenting efforts, Tim Burton’s vision, and the elements that came together to make a comic book character so intriguing, so mysterious, and so captivating, that he would be taken seriously to some, and to others, be the next greatest example of how a superhero without superpowers could be so action packed and adventure filled.
Batman is now available to own on 4K UHD, as well as on blu-ray and DVD. It is also available to own or rent on multiple streaming services. Earlier this year, it was shown in movie theaters through Fathom Events, which broadcasts movies to theaters across the country, where people are able to see it on the big screen.