Batman returns is Tim Burton1992’s Batman sequel, starring Michael Keaton as the Caped Crusader. Set at Christmas time, the film sees Batman at odds with two villains: industrialist Max Shreck (Christopher Walken) and the crime boss Oswald Cobblepot (Danny DeVito), also known as the Penguin. He also encounters the mysterious Selina Kyle (Michelle Pfeiffer), who intrigues him as herself and as Catwoman. Supported by dark and eerie visuals and great performances, it was a critical and financial success. It’s a strong Batman movie, but it also makes for a surprisingly good Christmas movie. This is what makes Batman returns a great fit for the Christmas season.
Christmas aesthetic
The movie has the look and spirit of Christmas from the start, with great Christmas visuals. It begins with Oswald Cobblepot being thrown into the sewer by his parents on a snowy Christmas night. This footage continues throughout the film, with Christmas decorations and carols. Burton’s interpretation of Gotham is often regarded as the best and grittiest, which is a perfect contrast to the bright white snow and colorful Christmas decorations everywhere. Even Alfred puts up a Christmas tree at Wayne Manor, adding a festive touch to the grand house.
In addition, many of the major plot points take place with Christmas-themed backdrops as Gotham celebrates the holiday. For example, when Catwoman and Penguin agree to team up and ruin Batman’s reputation, their plan falls on the night of the Gotham Christmas tree lights. They accuse Batman of injuring a beauty queen named the Ice Princess, further adding to the Christmas and winter themes. The penguin even introduces his henchmen by making them come out of giant presents. There’s also the awesome Christmas party scene where Bruce and Selina dance and realize each other’s identities. ScreenRant considers it one of them the best moments in Burton’s Batman movies, and it does a great job of depicting the tension and similarity between the two. All of these scenes have enough Christmas flair to make for a great holiday movie while still fitting into the dark Batman themes.
Classic Christmas elements of good, evil and greed
Batman returns also has classic Christmas themes such as good, evil and greed. These often appear in Christmas stories, such as A Christmas carol, and have seen countless interpretations. Here, they fit the superhero theme perfectly while still working on a holiday scale. Max Shreck is a corrupt factory owner whose factories produce toxic waste. He also insults his secretary, Selina, and pushes her out the window when she discovers he is corrupt. Despite this, he is a well-known public figure and plans to build a new power plant that would further damage Gotham. His corruption grows when he plans to impeach the mayor and replace him with Cobblepot, giving Shreck even more control. He’s an effective superhero villain – Collider even claims he is the main villain of the movie – but he’s also a great villain in the Christmas movie. So many Christmas movie villains are greedy and corrupt individuals who refuse to respect those lower than them or appreciate the spirit of Christmas. Shreck is a Scrooge-like figure, but one that never changes, and dies after another attempt to kill Catwoman.
There is also good and evil, but presented in a less simple way. Penguin and Catwoman, while mean, aren’t all evil, and it’s easy to see how their bad experiences made them that way. Even Batman can fall into this gray area when he’s torn between his duty and his feelings for Selina. It’s not a stereotypical battle between good and evil and it adds depth to the story, both in terms of a superhero movie and a holiday movie.
It focuses on the darker, lonelier side of the holidays
Batman returns, in keeping with its somber nature, also deals with the darker and lonelier aspects of the holiday. For example, we see how Selina goes home to her empty apartment, where she receives no visitors except for a stray cat. It’s easy to see how lonely she is, especially with the bustle of shoppers. Likewise, the Penguin, while mean, often comes across as a hurt and lonely man abandoned by his parents – his plan to kidnap Gotham’s firstborn sons stems from his own pain at being abandoned. Even Bruce, after not being able to make it work with Selina, spends a quiet Christmas with Alfred. It’s a peaceful moment between the two, but that hint of sadness is still there, as Bruce’s Batman duties make a normal life impossible.
Christmas is often painted in such a positive, cheery light; it’s refreshing and different to see a movie interpretation that doesn’t glorify the holidays. Instead of, Batman returns presents the holiday alongside the darkness and corruption of Gotham, showing how well the two go together. It shows how isolation and sadness can fit into all the Christmas cheer, and even be aggravated by it.
Although not a traditional Christmas movie, Batman returns still has enough holiday themes to capture the season. From the great Christmas imagery, to the classic depictions of good and evil, to the dark Christmas atmosphere, it’s an unexpectedly great Christmas story. After the North Pole, give Gotham a visit to your Christmas movie list.