Batman Returns’ Villains Weren’t A Problem (They Defined Gotham)

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Batman Returns didn't struggle with its villains — in fact, they embodied Gotham's eccentricities much more than most other Batman antagonists. Tim Burton's 1989 Batman became one of the most influential superhero movies because it restored Batman's dark style at a time where the character was primarily known for Adam West's camp. Batman Returns attempted to retain that dark atmosphere, but the sequel couldn't prevent future installments from falling back into the dreaded camp. It was only until Christopher Nolan released Batman Begins that the Caped Crusader was cemented as the cinematic Dark Knight everyone knows and loves today.

Contrary to Batman's straightforward fight against Jack Nicholson's Joker in 1989's Batman, Batman Returns followed the storylines of philanthropist Max Shreck (Christopher Walken), who intends to steal Gotham's energy and take over the city; Oswald Cobblepot a.k.a. The Penguin (Danny DeVito), who seeks revenge for his childhood trauma of abandonment; and Selina Kyle a.k.a. Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer), who becomes mentally unstable after being attacked by Max Shreck. Despite the overwhelming opposition, Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton) manages to thwart The Penguin's evil plan while Catwoman enacts her revenge on Shreck.

Batman Returns has been criticized for paving the way for Joel Schumacher's somewhat absurd style in Batman Forever and Batman & Robin due to these films also having multiple villains and a notably offbeat tone. Newer superhero movies like The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and Wonder Woman 1984 have been criticized for these issues, as their story tends to become muddled and unrealistic. However, Batman Returns connected its three villains with a tight plot where their interests justified their conflict. Although still bizarre, they had logical reasons to cross paths with Batman and clash with each other, arguably making them less a problem, and more a way to show how this version of Gotham city operated.

Tim Burton's vision for Gotham is that of a melting pot of lunatics. This is exemplified by The Penguin's absurd quirks, such as his oversized duck vehicle, his family of real penguins, and the Red Triangle Gang. While it's true that Batman Returns borders on the ridiculous, Tim Burton's villains in Batman Returns' Gotham fit perfectly with the kind of criminals a millionaire in a bat suit would attract. Each antagonist, from a gangster-turned-clown to an umbrella-wielding maniac, epitomizes the city's gloomy idiosyncrasy. That's why Catwoman's iconic leather jumpsuit makes sense within the movie's context despite being extremely unpractical.

The Hollywood trend of gritty realism has created the notion that non-tactical suits and outlandish villains don't belong in the real world. Yet, Batman Returns proves that superhero movies don't have to chase the same bleak cynicism every time in order to depict Gotham as a grim wasteland. Such a stylized aesthetic would fit an Arkham Asylum or Batman: The Animated Series live-action adaptation much more than another ultra-realistic Dark Knight trilogy, and that wouldn't mean they would be as silly as Batman & Robin.