How Batman Returns (and McDonald's) Helped Destroy the Bat Movie Franchise 

I’m so happy to learn despite all the money he was offered, Keaton had enough sense/dignity to walk away from the dumpster fire sequels.

Its my favorite Batman movie. Its dark, cold & fantastic...with some silly moments. Lets not forget Danny Elfman's score, excellent. "Oh its not a Batman movie, its more of a Tim Burton movie", good. McDonalds getting pissed cause they cant sell their happy meal toys, good. He took risks by taking it to a new direction. I admire that. Oh Penguin's death, you get different reactions from so many people. I think its a sad scene and works well. Ok maybe the penguins showing up was too silly but it makes the scene even more memorable. The film has so many bizarre ideas which makes it special.

Batman Returns was my favorite movie when it came out in 1992 when I was 10 years old and still is one of my favorite Batman films ever today as an adult.

Totally disagree. Batman Returns was a good movie. Burton was in his prime back then (unlike his current films, they're fucking disasters).

Batman Returns was actually the first Batman film I've seen when I was a kid. I loved it(although Penguin gave me nightmares), grew up to be a Batman fan and Burton fan

Batman returns gets so much undeserved hate even nowadays I just dont get it, it's a great film with an assamble cast, great characters and amazing visuals it's in my top 10 movies of all time

I blame that on parents thinking Batman’s for kids when in reality he’s more for teen and adult crowd. If you read the comics before the 60s, they’re kind of violent. In his debut, Batman throws a guy in a pit of acid. In his debut, the Joker threatens to poison three of Gotham’s prominent citizens. I think in Batman and Robin #28 imply that Two-Face commits suicide by shooting himself in the head.

Batman Returns is a Tim Burton movie. And as a fan of Burton, I liked it. The mood of the movie was dark and surreal. I struggled some with the Penguin design. Burton has a thing for freaks and outcast, so his Penguin aligned with that. But I don't think his Penguin was ultimately to my liking, but Danny Di-veto did a great job. I also like Max Shreik but I do think the movie could have been better without his character arch. The problems with the movie were the story arch and character development. Batman didn't really change. The Penguin's plan to kill children was unnecessary and Catwoman aligning with Penguin to kill Batman was weak. If the movie was about the Penguin, a mobster lime lighting as a social elite used his gang to cause chaos to displace the Mayor and become Mayor himself and with Catwoman being a more morally gray character trying to expose Penguin with Batman having to ally with Catwoman to take down Penguin would have been great. But Matt Reeves The Batman seems to be going down this path somewhat. Overall, it was a entertaining movie.

What I don’t understand about the Batman Returns moral panic is we were all marketed Terminator, Robocop, Aliens, and Predator toys as kids in the ‘90s - all films we definitely should NOT have been watching - yet no-one seems to have cared. I get that the McDonald’s tie-in brought this into stark relief but it’s still inconsistent.

One has to enjoy watching Danny DeVito as the crude Penguin to really enjoy Batman Returns, since he is in most of the movie.

Batman Returns is underrated in my opinion

Batman Returns was great. They should have let Burton continue with the movies.

Return didnt ruin it that was forever lol

STILL love "Batman Returns". It's my Christmas movie. I actually enjoy "Batman Returns" more than "Batman". I still think the best movies are the Burton(comic book movies)and Nolan(graphic novel movies)movies.

Next time y'all go to McDonald's for a Happy Meal, just remember that McDonald's uses prison labor. 🤣

Batman Returns did not cause, help cause nor help lead the demise. Batman Returns is a great Batman movie and is one of the very best Batman movies ever made (along with Batman (1989) despite it's backlash, controversy and lower financial success. The whole problem and reason for the backlash and controversy was because they wrongly classified the film with a PG rating initially when it wasn't suitable for children's viewing (despite the irony of Batman essentially being created for children) and McDonalds (a more child focussed/friendly restaurant back then) was involved in marketing and promoting Batman Returns and it's merchandise to children without even inquiring into and seeing the film beforehand, which reflects that they were more concerned with and cared more about cashing in and making money from it than with whether the film was appropriate for children or not. If the film was classified with a M15+ rating originally as it should have been and parents didn't allow their children to see it (despite the irony of Batman essentially being created for children) there wouldn't have been a backlash and such controversy. And it seems Burton became the scapegoat essentially when the problem was the aforementioned, and with regard to suitability for children, the script not being suitable for children. Also, it seems McDonalds wanted to 'jump on the bandwagon' and cash in on the film's success after the success of the previous film and may have had an influence with regard to the film wrongly being classified with an inappropriate PG rating to suit themselves/their business when McDonalds should not have had any involvement, influence, say and power in the matter at all (except for excusing their own foolishness afterward). Corporations and corporate business should not influence and dictate art and media.

Man I saw this movie as a 5 year old and I loved it. These other kids must have been sensitive lol

Moral of the story. Fuck McDonald's

I remember Batman Returns vividly. I was 12 at the time, and the movie had a huge impact, caused in no small part by the controversy it generated. While Batman 89 is still my personal favorite of the old films, I actually thought Batman Returns was bit more entertaining at time, because Batman only had the Joker whereas Batman Returns had Penguin, Catwoman, and a brand new character Max Schrek, created exclusively for the movie. I agree the movie has problems, but I like it better than most people because I like Tim Burton’s dark style and aesthetic. Also, I feel that Batman Returns was a little-dare I say it-ahead of it’s time in a lot of ways. It was more than just a fun comic book movie. It was complex, psychological, and brooding. I remember when Watchmen came out, which was gory, violent, and gritty, but if Batman Returns hadn’t come out first to push the boundaries a bit, would an R-rated comic book movie even have been considered possible? Most comic book movie back then were still considered for kids, and I feel that when Batman Returns came out and was a success despite the negative backlash it probably made other movie studios take more risks. I don’t remember there being a lot of controversy surrounding Watchmen, other than people advising parents at the theater it wasn’t for kids. Batman Returns cleared the air a bit for other more adult Superhero movies to be released.

Batman Forever still remains one of my favourite Batman films

That commercial trips me the hell out because i had that water Batman as a kid 😱

Great video as always! This movie was actually the first Batman movie I ever watched :)

I don’t think so at all. The worst Batman movies are Batman forever and Bateman & Robin

Michael Keaton is to return as his Batman so guess this video aged poorly haha.

Remember going to see Batman Forever and being like WTF is this...

I love the tim Burton Batman movies I don't hate the Joel Schumacher Batman movies I still love them their entertaining but Tim Burton's are the best

The original 89 film was fantastic and in many ways better than the Nolan films which are a classic trilogy. The problem was WB let Tim Burton do whatever he wanted with Batman Returns and it was one weird film. It was beautiful looking but many people reacted negatively to it.

Batman Returns is by far the best Batman film! 👍

Imo Batman Returns is not a bad Bat film. It may be a Tim Burton film but the way Burton directed it and showed how all three characters are considered outcasts and anti social was brilliant. Batman is the loner who likes to stay hidden in the shadows Penguin is a misfit abandoned by his parents and Selina Kyle was a good person gone bad transforming into Catwoman. Even Batman Forever and Batman and Robin arent that bad ❤❤❤❤

A lot of people thought that “Batman Returns” is a Christmas movie, and it did. “Batman Returns” is technically a Christmas movie, because the movie took place around Christmas time, and the movie was released around June 1992, but it should’ve released around Christmas to say the least.

When me and my twin sister were both small young young children from ages 7-10 we watched enjoyed and were underage fans of Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins (A Very Dramatic/Serious Dark Brooding Violent Creepy Horrific Scary Intense Brutal Nightmarish Disturbing Take on Batman Aimed at Teens and Adults Aged Either 13 and up) and even worse when my twin sister was 10 as the last age of a small young little kid she saw Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight (A Much More Serious/Dramatic Dark Brooding Violent Creepy Horrific Scary Intense Brutal Nightmarish Disturbing Sequel to Batman Begins Aimed at Older Teens and Adults Aged 15 and up) When me and my twin sister were both small young little children under the age of 11, we both did not watch or enjoy either Joel Schumacher’s Batman Forever and Batman & Robin (Two Good But Not Great Batman Films That Were Aimed at Tweens/Preteens to Adults Ages 11 and Up, A Lot More Tween/Family-Friendly, Campy Light, Humorous and A Lot Less Serious/Dramatic Dark Gothic Brooding Violent Creepy Horrific Scary Intense Brutal Nightmarish Disturbing) or Tim Burton’s Batman & Batman Returns (Two Great Batman That Are A Lot More Serious/Dramatic Dark Gothic Brooding Violent Creepy Horrific Scary Intense Brutal Nightmarish Disturbing Take on Batman in which includes Batman (1989) Aimed at Teenagers to Adults Ages 13 and up and Batman Returns (1992) Aimed at Older Teens and Adults Aged 15 and up

Returns is better than 89

My favourite films from the Burton/Schumacher franchise will always be Batman 1989 and Batman Forever. Batman Returns and Batman & Robin were the two polar and extreme opposites which ruined the franchise. The first was too adult themed, depressing and disgusting and the other was campy, stupid and...TOYETIC. I've always beleived and i always will that Forever has the right balance of darkness and campiness but i would have loved it even more if we had gotten the uncut Red Book edition instead of the final cut.

Batman Returns scared me so much as a kid! I haven't seen it since then, but I'd probably like it now XD

Funny how he became Ray Croc

I really like Batman animated series which is inspired from Burton movies, so MC donnalds is to blame i guess?

Batman Returns is the best Batman movie ever made, and the movies afterwards all stunk until the Dark knight revived it.

This movie pissed me off. Forever only made it worse. 89 is the only movie of these 4 that I love. Mask Of The Phantasm is my personal favorite of this era

Was this called cancel culture back then. No that is only over used today

I disagree. I can't blame the best Batman for the last two ruining it. Yes it was darker But is it darker then the dark night? The only thing about Batman Returns that could of been better is not to have so many adult themes. But thankfully most kids didn't pick up on it.

The first one was good, make them all like that and there would have been no trouble.

The only movies who destroyed the franchise was forever and Batman and Robin any true Batman fans knows that.I saw Returns when i was seven years old when it came out in 92 and i enjoyed even more than the first one and i wanted to see Keaton ,Burton and of course Elfman back again for more.

Cleary this critic is a tasteless Nolan fanboy. Parents and Mac Donalds destroyed the franchise. This film is absolutely fantastic. Great acting, great OST, amazing look, cool story and awesome references.

This was a childhood movie of mine in the 2000s

Everyone in the comment section slagging off the video before they’ve watched it 🤦🏻‍♂️

Kevin Conroy IS Batman forever and always.

Batman returns is the best batman movie😤.but still #ReleaseTheSchumacherCut

So wait there is a comic book sequel to batman returns? What is it called?

A $24 return on a $3 happy meal over 22 years is not a ‘good investment’.

As a kid born in 1991 the Batman movie of my era is definitely Batman Forever so in its defense it’s not a bad movie but Batman and Robin on the other hand was utter trash! I remember pop tart had brung out Mr Freeze flavored ones and they were nasty

ummmmm NO ...this should be titled how WARNED BROS destroyed the franchise. by putting happy meal dollars before art. and if you think i'm wrong then why did they reverse course when embarking on the Nolan films?

Awesome! This is an excellent video. Shame it doesn't have more views!

You related to robothead?

And he didn’t kill anyone that movie

Because that’s origin

Batman Begins is thed best Batman film

To sum it up, we got four feature length toy commercials made by people who didnt give a flying f*ck about the source material.

catwoman is not a zombie.

Parents, no women just didn't have anything else to complain about. So then.....

Guys I love your videos. Been watching for a few years and I love the content you put out. Keep up the great work! 😁

i watched this when i was 10 with my grandma and she said that i may not sleep because of this

So it destroyed franchise because it sold toys? Really?

This is just a opinion

Batman forever was the beginning of the end. And then Ben affleck came along and took a dump on it

The penguins death is depressing and sad and to me personally I love it

Unpopular Opinion: I like fantastical dark and gritty as opposed to modern realistic because, as much as I like modern realistic dark and gritty, I prefer Burtons fantastical dark and gritty cause it scares me and leaves an impact on me.

Honestly...I think movie overall is awful. Then Joel Schumacher put the nail in the coffin with the next two.

Bs

I personally love all the Batman sequels.

yeah it was the neon batman, it wasnt batman returns foh

I believe Batman Returns ruined Batman. Burton went way too far.

It’s very shameful

Sorry, but Keaton is the worst Batman of all time. He shares zero attributes with Batman. He brought his 5'5 short self to set without getting into shape....cuz who needs craftsmanship? The worst Batman....Gere, Russell, Swayze, Gibson, Matt Dillan, Ted Danson....literally anyone in Hollywood. In conclusion, Keaton sucked then and sucks now.

So SJWs ruined it

Worst Batman movie ever made. Batman Forever was superior in every conceivable way.

Yea I never cared for this movie even as a kid. Batman 89 was amazing though! Mainly as kid I just couldn’t take Burtons portrayal of Penguin seriously, I just thought it was cheesy. I never liked Ninja turtles or this lol.

Batman was a cinematic disaster from the first movie through to the last

Nolan sucked, Snyder only got the casting and suit right, Matt Reeves had NO CLUE what to do, my god what a waste of 3 hours… at 41 years old I feel like I will never see a true to character canon version of Batman on film

Movie was sooooooooooooooo goddamn bad