Batman Forever
A standalone sequel to Batman Returns with a lighter tone.
Batman Forever, released in 1995, is an American superhero film centered on the DC Comics character Batman. It serves as the third movie in the Batman film series and functions as a standalone follow-up to Batman Returns. Joel Schumacher directed the film, with Tim Burton and Peter MacGregor-Scott producing. Val Kilmer took over the role of Bruce Wayne / Batman from Michael Keaton, and the cast also includes Jim Carrey, Tommy Lee Jones, Nicole Kidman, and Chris O'Donnell. The story follows Batman as he tries to stop the Riddler (Carrey) and Two-Face (Jones) from learning his secret identity and stealing information from the minds of Gotham City's citizens, while also dealing with his feelings for psychologist Dr. Chase Meridian (Kidman) and taking in orphaned acrobat Dick Grayson (O'Donnell), who becomes his partner and close friend, Robin.
Schumacher largely moved away from the dark, grim atmosphere of Burton's earlier films, instead taking inspiration from the Batman comic books of the Dick Sprang era and the 1960s television series. After Keaton decided not to return, actors like William Baldwin and Ethan Hawke were considered for the role before Kilmer was cast.
Warner Bros. released Batman Forever on June 16, 1995. Critics gave it mixed reviews, praising the visuals, action scenes, and soundtrack, but criticizing the screenplay and the shift in tone from the first two films. Commercially, it was a hit, earning over $336 million worldwide and ranking as the sixth highest-grossing film of 1995. A sequel, Batman & Robin, followed in 1997, with Schumacher returning to direct, O'Donnell reprising his role as Robin, and George Clooney taking over as Batman from Kilmer.
**Plot**
In Gotham City, Batman stops a hostage situation orchestrated by the criminal Two-Face, formerly district attorney Harvey Dent, who then escapes. Flashbacks show that Dent, once a strong supporter of Batman, was horribly scarred on one side of his face by acid thrown by mobster Sal Maroni. This trauma caused Dent to develop a split personality, making all his decisions based on a coin flip and swearing revenge on Batman for not preventing the attack.
Edward Nygma, an eccentric and arrogant researcher at Wayne Enterprises, approaches his boss Bruce Wayne with an invention that can beam television signals directly into people's brains, demanding immediate approval. Bruce rejects the
- Release date
- June 16, 1995
- Director
- Joel Schumacher
- Producers
- Tim Burton, Peter MacGregor-Scott
- Lead actor
- Val Kilmer
- Box office
- Over $336 million worldwide
- Genre
- Superhero film
- Based on
- DC Comics character Batman
Lore & Background
Batman Forever follows Batman as he attempts to prevent the Riddler (Jim Carrey) and Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones) from uncovering his secret identity and extracting information from the minds of Gotham City's residents. At the same time, he navigates his feelings for psychologist Dr. Chase Meridian (Nicole Kidman) and adopts orphaned acrobat Dick Grayson (Chris O'Donnell), who becomes his partner Robin. Schumacher eschewed the dark atmosphere of Tim Burton's films, drawing inspiration from the Dick Sprang era of Batman comic books and the 1960s television series. After Michael Keaton chose not to reprise his role, William Baldwin and Ethan Hawke were considered before Val Kilmer joined the cast.
Reader's Guide
Batman Forever was released by Warner Bros. on June 16, 1995, to mixed reviews from critics, who praised the visuals, action sequences, and soundtrack, but criticized the screenplay and tonal departure from the previous two films. The film was a box office success, grossing over $336 million worldwide and becoming the sixth-highest-grossing film of 1995. It was followed by Batman & Robin in 1997, with Schumacher returning as director, O'Donnell returning as Robin, and George Clooney replacing Kilmer as Batman. The film's lighter tone marked a significant shift from the darker Burton films, reflecting Warner Bros.' desire to appeal to a broader audience after Batman Returns was deemed too dark for children.
Did You Know?
- Val Kilmer replaced Michael Keaton as Batman after Keaton chose not to reprise his role.
- The film was directed by Joel Schumacher, who drew inspiration from the Dick Sprang era of Batman comics and the 1960s television series.
- Batman Forever grossed over $336 million worldwide, becoming the sixth-highest-grossing film of 1995.
- The film was followed by Batman & Robin in 1997, with George Clooney replacing Kilmer as Batman.
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