When Tim Burton directed his first Batman movie, it was unlike anything comic book fans had ever seen before on the big screen. Before this, there were the fun Superman movies and some lesser efforts like Howard the Duck and The Punisher. However, Burton made Batman into something darker. It wasn’t necessarily serious, since it mostly drew on Burton’s gothic sensibilities, but it also wasn’t the optimistic look the Superman movies presented. It is easy to say that, without Tim Burton’s Batman movies, there might not be a DCU or an MCU, and comic book movies wouldn’t be what they are today.
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Over 35 years later, some things might not hold up as well as they did when the movie came out. That said, several Tim Burton Batman scenes have aged perfectly.
6) Batman’s Introduction in the First Movie
Some of the most iconic things in Batman movies are the scenes where he introduces himself to someone. It has almost become a joke in many cases, with memes, YouTube sketches, and more making fun of the “I’m Batman” line. However, the line was made famous here with Batman’s introduction, and it might still be the best use of it in a Batman movie. The movie opens with a look at Gotham City, which still might be the best depiction of the town in any film.
This led to a murder similar to the one that killed Thomas and Martha Wayne, but with a new family where, thankfully, no one is killed in this instance. This then led to Batman’s arrival to approach the two thieves. His introduction came when he dropped, his caped body silhouetted against white smoke. Batman then knocked out one thief and allowed the other to live, saying he wanted him to tell everyone about him. “I’m Batman,” he said, and the franchise started with a bang.
5) Bruce Wayne’s “Let’s Get Nuts” Scene
The most ridiculous scene in the first Tim Burton Batman movie involved Bruce Wayne, not Batman. However, while the scene is absurd, it remains a highlight of the first film and has stood the test of time, showcasing Michael Keaton’s incredible performance in the role. Of course, this was when he challenged Joker, asking if he wanted to “get nuts.”
Bruce was at Vickie Vale’s apartment when Joker and his gang showed up. Knowing he needed to do something quick, Bruce put on a show and grabbed a fire poker and began to flip out, asking if Joker wanted to “get nuts” before the villain shot him point blank, but not before delivering the same line he used before killing Bruce’s parents years before. It worked great to show Bruce’s devil-may-care attitude and also upped the stakes at the same time.
4) The Joker’s Museum Scene
While it really isn’t much like the Joker in DC Comics, Jack Nicholson brought something to his performance that makes his version of the villain one of the most memorable in Batman history, whether in comics, movies, or otherwise. That was made even more memorable by one specific scene in which he showed up with his gang during the art museum heist.
This Batman scene might seem dated, but even the music by Prince works very well in the scene. Joker released his gas in the museum, leaving only Vickie Vale standing. In a hilarious moment, he had his gang start playing Prince music from a giant boom box while he went through the paintings and defaced them all. While it might seem dated, it has actually aged perfectly because Prince remains a legend, and this masterfully shows Joker’s sense of anarchy.
3) Bruce Wayne and the Bat Signal
For many people, this scene makes almost no sense, but for conveying who Bruce Wayne is and his sole obsession with protecting Gotham City as Batman, it is a perfect moment. This was in Batman Returns, and Bruce Wayne is sitting in his study, alone, in the dark. He is contemplating, seemingly brooding, when the Bat Signal shines through the giant windows of his mansion, illuminating the room.
While it doesn’t seem to make sense why it would shine there, it is likely due to Batman setting up a way for it to be reflected into the mansion when it lights up in the sky. It really doesn’t matter how or why it happens, though. The fact is that when Bruce stands up and the Bat Signal shines in the background behind him, it is a masterful shot that parallels the same feeling from his introduction in the first movie.
2) Max Shreck’s Costume Party
The best scene in either of Tim Burton’s Batman movies came in Batman Returns at the costume party Max Shreck held. This was masterful on several levels, from the fact that Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle were the only ones not wearing costumes to the moment when they discovered who each other really were.
Selina and Bruce began to dance at the ball, and she admitted she was planning to kill Shreck. However, when Bruce eventually kissed her under the mistletoe, they said the same lines they did when Batman and Catwoman fought earlier, and they realized the truth about each other. This was a perfect scene for two reasons. First, the idea that the two masked vigilantes were the only ones unmasked was a great moment, and the moment they discovered the truth was masterful. This Tim Burton Batman scene might be better than any other Bruce Wayne scenes in movies.
1) Catwoman’s Revenge Against Max Shreck
While Batman wanted to stop Selina Kyle from killing Max Shreck in Batman Returns, that was something that was always going to happen. By the end of the movie, it was something that couldn’t be avoided as Batman battled Penguin under the city, and Catwoman took on Max Shreck. Penguin’s death had a kind of poetic justice, with the penguins carrying off his body.
However, the best scene came when Catwoman killed Max Shreck in what appeared to be a self-sacrifice to end his reign of terror in Gotham City. She began to kiss him and then blasted them both with the live cable, seemingly eviscerating them both. It was horribly graphic. Max was fried and died a horrible death, but in the shocking twist, it seemed Catwoman still had two of her nine lives left and made it out alive. It was a terrible death for someone who deserved it, and it set up the Batman world for a future that never happened after Tim Burton left the franchise.
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