Summary
- Some iconic Batman movie moments may feel silly or offensive to modern audiences due to changing times.
- The Tim Burton-era Batman films struggled to blend dark themes with slapstick humor.
- Batman’s perilous logic in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice raises moral and ethical concerns.
Batman may be one of the most well-known heroes of all time, but that doesn’t make his movies immune from aging poorly in an ever-changing world. Gotham’s Dark Knight is a character who has been around in various formats since 1939. Originally, he appeared in Detective Comics, which was later shortened to DC, but it wasn’t long before the heroic detective with no powers and incredible powers of observation became a household name, with him popping up in TV serials, movies, and continually evolving with his audience.
Over the years, Batman has grown to become one of the most popular superheroes of all time, alongside heavy hitters like Superman and Spider-Man, although he doesn’t possess any real superpowers to speak of. However, this lack of powers is part of what makes the character so iconic and relatable. However, no hero is immune from changing times and the evolution of language, and while the Batman movies since 1989 are generally still a lot of fun to watch today, some moments might land differently for a modern audience.
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10 “So That’s What It Feels Like.” – Batman
The Dark Knight Returns (2012)
While this moment in The Dark Knight Rises isn’t necessarily problematic in any way, it serves to highlight one of the silliest and most bizarre moments from the Christopher Nolan trilogy. When Catwoman, played by Anne Hathaway, disappears from the rooftop in the blink of an eye, Batman turns around to find her gone. This is something he has done several times in the series, and as a meta joke, it just feels a little silly.
The tone of the Nolan trilogy is dark and gritty, but this moment feels out of place and belittling to the heroic character. It highlights an element that has always been kind of goofy, and more akin to a magician’s trick than a Dark Avenger. In 2012, this line may have felt like it worked, but with time to reflect, it feels lacking and out of place in the series.
9 “The Ground, It’s All Metal. It’s Full Of Holes. You Know, Holey.” – Robin
Batman Forever (1995)
However, the older movies are really where holes start to appear. And ironically, that’s exactly what Robin points out in 1995’s Batman Forever. It makes sense that the Tim Burton movies were caught up in this weird limbo of trying to emulate the goofy slapstick humor of the old Adam West TV show, and combine it with a more twisted style and story, but this joke just falls flat. Modern audiences are prone to picking apart the content they consume, and this joke is unlikely to muster anything but groans from an audience today.
It’s too obvious, it feels lazy, and it simply feels dull. The Batman Forever movie is also home to a great number of moments and elements that feel like they are stuck in between two worlds. Tim Burton’s iconic style isn’t very present, aside from some bright colors and rushed makeup, and the comedy isn’t fully developed. Had the movie tried to lean fully into a dark and gritty story, like the Nolan trilogy, that could have worked, and likewise, a comedy angle might have played in its favor, but being on the fence is unforgivable.
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8 “I Won’t Kill You, But I Don’t Have To Save You.” – Batman
Batman Begins (2005)
Back to Nolan for a moment with this line that feels very strange for Batman. One of the defining features of the DC heroes is the fact that they have such a hard-line stance on preserving life. They choose to save everyone, regardless of whether the person is good or evil. And while this can lead to problems down the road, they choose to deny any desire to feed their rage and lust for vengeance, ensuring that they do all they can to save others.
Now, Christian Bale’s Batman was still finding his feet in Batman Begins, but it feels odd for the character to have a low moment like the one above where they choose to let someone die. While having what he believes to be his final encounter with Ra’s al Ghul, Batman declares his intentions to leave him on a train hurtling to certain destruction. Then, he flies away. While later films see him struggle with dilemmas of making a choice to save one or the other person, and taking responsibility there, his morals appear to be malformed at this point.
7 “You’re Catnip To A Girl Like Me. Handsome, Dazed, And To Die For.” – Catwoman
Batman Returns (1992)
Emm, this line feels quite self-explanatory in its problems… Batman Returns is one of the movies where sexual tension and lust between the Batman and Catwoman are on full display. Michelle Pfeiffer puts on a show as the deviant Selina Kyle opposite Michael Keaton’s bachelor Bruce Wayne. However, some of Pfeiffer’s lines feel so odd and extreme that it’s uncomfortable to watch in a modern setting.
The thing is, Selina has essentially had a mental breakdown after an attempt on her life. She then reshapes herself to become a menacing villain, with a clear promiscuity that sees her chasing Bats around Gotham. With that in mind, her lines where she appears to be pursuing Batman and trying to spark something between them become less flirtatious, and more damaging. She is not in full control of her faculties, and if Batman were to exploit this, there would be no excuse for his negligence.
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6 “Wanna Get Nuts?! Let’s Get Nuts!” – Bruce Wayne
Batman (1989)
This one is potentially a less conventional choice, but it also highlights how the Tim Burton movies somewhat missed the mark on capturing Batman. At one point in the film, the Joker comes face to face with Bruce Wayne, and the interaction is… interesting. Whether Bruce is simply trying to outmanoeuvre the dangerous Joker, he begins relaying a story about a man who wasn’t completely in control of his senses.
The story is simply a distraction, so Bruce can get an object to use as a weapon. However, he grabs a fire poker, begins wielding it, and shouts this line at the Joker. It’s not very quippy, and feels like a bizarre version of the Dark Knight. Maybe it was intended to be clever and tactical, but it just ends up with Bruce laid out on the floor and his date being taken away.
5 “Always Confusing Your Pistols With Your Privates.” – Catwoman
Batman Returns (1992)
Back to Catwoman in Batman Returns for more unusual innuendo. This line is kind of iconic, for the fact that Catwoman calls out the people around her and highlights their inefficiencies and tendency to be thoughtless. By pointing out the flaws of the armed men around her, she manages to set them off kilter and control the situation.
However, it is also a somewhat demeaning line. It certainly plays a role in the film, and provides an important dialogue moment that both characterizes Catwoman and potentially gets a laugh, but it feels cheap and pointed. The days of using genitals as a means of demeaning people should be in the past, and Catwoman’s sensibilities are certainly not up to speed.
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4 “Can Somebody Tell Me What Kind Of A World We Live In…” – The Joker
Batman (1989)
Can somebody tell me what kind of a world we live in, where a man dressed up as a *bat* gets all of my press? This town needs an enema!
Again looking at the first Tim Burton Batman movie, there was a line from the Joker that may appear more tone-deaf today than topical. The Joker loves attention. Considering they dress up in clown garb and makeup, and create incredible spectacles, this is no surprise. And obviously, as a villain, they don’t tend to take into account other people’s feelings while spewing out their rhetoric.
However, when the Joker aggressively calls out the Batman for getting attention in the press due to being a man going around town in fancy dress, it feels hollow. This doesn’t stop the Joker from getting attention, and the entire of Gotham is filled with characters that appear on the front page because of their wild costumes. But, beyond this, the Joker is calling out someone else for dressing up, while he chooses to wear the most outrageous suits to draw attention. It’s hypocritical and pointless.
3 He Has The Power To Wipe Out The Entire Human Race…” – Batman
Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice (2016)
He has the power to wipe out the entire human race, and if we believe there’s even a one percent chance that he is our enemy we have to take it as an absolute certainty… and we have to destroy him.
This statement might come from one of the most recent Batman films, but it’s also one of the most egregious. Batman tries to explain why it’s important to kill Superman, and his logic provides some degree of sense. However, as a hero, and a person who is supposed to inspire hope, this statement is abnormally bleak, even for the Caped Crusader.
Summizing that the power of Superman, plus the chance that he could present any degree of risk, adds up to the necessity to kill him is wild. This is an odd militant opinion that presents not only a weird complex from the hero, but also a dangerous way of thinking about the world. If anything has a slight chance of causing harm, it doesn’t mean it should be destroyed. Why not cultivate it, or try to help the threat become an ally.
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2 “Because He’s The Hero Gotham Deserves…” – James Gordon
The Dark Knight (2008)
Because he’s the hero
Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So we’ll hunt him. Because he can take it. Because he’s not our hero.
This line is also iconic in several ways, but that does not change the weird warped logic that exists in the context. James Gordon summarizes what Batman is to Gotham, and the complex relationship that exists between two codependent and broken things. Gotham is full of crime and danger at every turn. Meanwhile, Batman calls it home and hopes to be able to make a difference, through his own brand of vigilante justice. Together, it’s a potent mix, but one that makes for an incredible story.
However, Gordon takes the statement a couple of steps further. While he recognizes the role Batman plays, and his connection to Gotham, he goes on to declare that they will “hunt” him. This is, once again, a scary and odd sentiment. It’s one thing for the police to put a warrant out for the Batman due to his illegal activities, but to hunt him is entirely different. And Gordon goes on to say “because he can take it,” what on earth is happening? He doesn’t want to catch him, but it’s important to bully and chase him down. It’s all weird and feels uncomfortable.
1 “Just The Pussy I’ve Been Lookin’ For!” – Penguin
Batman Returns (1992)
Does this line even need explanation? Penguin is an odd character who is depicted as being subhuman. From his years being raised in the sewer by animals, and his grotesque appearance and nature, Penguin is supposed to be vile in Burton’s Batman Returns. Danny DeVito does a spectacular job on delivering the brief, but there are lines that felt like a step too far.
When Penguin comes face to face with Catwoman, this is the line he utters, and evidently, it is meant as a double entender. However, this cheap and lazy joke feels uncomfortable and slimy on every level. Yes, it adds to his characterization as a vile sewer rat, but is it necessary? Ultimately, all of these lines made sense in the context of the films, and when they were originally released. They served some kind of purpose and didn’t appear to cause major disruption at the time, but the world has moved on, and hopefully, many of these kinds of sentiments can be left in the past with the defunct Batman movies.
Batman Created by Bob Kane , Bill Finger First Film Batman (1989) Latest Film The Batman Upcoming Films The Batman Part II First TV Show Batman 1960s Latest TV Show Batman: The Brave and the Bold Video Game(s) Batman: Arkham City , Batman: Arkham Asylum , Batman: Arkham Knight , Gotham Knights , Batman: The Telltale Series
Summary
One of the core leading characters of DC Comics, Batman is the face behind his multimedia franchise that has been in circulation for over eighty years, initially conceived by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, appearing in the 27th issue of Detective Comics at the end of the 1930s. The Caped Crusader is the alter ego of billionaire playboy philanthropist Bruce Wayne, a man tormented by the death of his parents who has dedicated his life to cleaning up the streets of Gotham. Batman’s media works range from comic books to tv shows to films and video games. In the films, several actors have donned the cape and cowl, such as Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale, and Robert Pattinson, in the most recent incarnation of the character. The franchise continues to enjoy success more than ever, especially with The Dark Knight trilogy of films and the Batman: Arkham video game trilogy. With a commanding rogue’s gallery of some of the most recognizable villains in the superhero genre, Batman caters to several audiences and offers a wide variety of options to keep him at the forefront of the genre.
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Upcoming DC Movie Releases
- Joker: Folie a Deux
Release Date October 4, 2024
- Superman (2025)
Release Date July 11, 2025
- Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
Release Date June 26, 2026
- The Batman Part II
Release Date October 2, 2026