THE REWATCHABLES · March 8, 2022
A 1989 action / superhero directed by Tim Burton, covered in the complete Rewatchables archive.
ON THIS EPISODE
FROM THE CONVERSATION
WHY IT WORKS
WHAT DID NOT WORK
SCENES THEY KEPT COMING BACK TO
Batman confronts thugs, rescues the victim, and lands the iconic “I’m Batman” introduction.
About 32 minThe hosts enjoy Bruce’s strange, rich-guy banter and the odd social dynamic of the scene.
About 32 minBatman’s arrival in the Batcave and the machinery around it are described as incredibly cool and weird.
About 32 minNicholson’s vandalism, dancing, and Prince-scored chaos are treated as one of the film’s signature set pieces.
About 16 minThe apartment confrontation is remembered as a key escalation point and a memorable Bruce/Joker clash.
About 40 minThe climax is memorable but also mocked for its size, logic, and odd geometry.
About 40 minWHERE THEY DISAGREED
Bill SimmonsIt is basically the Joker movie; Nicholson drives the story.
Chris RyanNicholson dominates the film, so the Joker is effectively the lead.
Sean FennesseyThe movie’s structure and energy largely belong to the Joker.
Sean FennesseyYes, and that has partly damaged the industry.
Bill SimmonsYes, it showed the blueprint for massive corporate tie-ins.
Chris RyanAfter newer Batman films, it feels somewhat lighter than remembered.
Bill SimmonsIt is dark, but mostly in a controlled, stylized way.
Sean FennesseyThe darkness fits the character and was striking for the time.
Sean FennesseyBatman Returns is probably Burton’s apex because he controlled it more.
Bill SimmonsBatman 1989 is the defining pop-cultural peak for the era.
Chris RyanBatman Returns may be stronger as a movie, but this one is the bigger cultural event.
He likes many superhero films but thinks Batman helped accelerate an industry trend toward IP and commodification.
Opening minutesHe frames the film as a cultural landmark that launched Batmania and the modern blockbuster-merchandising model.
Opening minutesHe sees Nicholson as perfect casting because the actor’s signature meltdown energy fits the Joker.
About 16 minHe thinks the montage marks the symbolic end of the 1980s.
About 16 minHe likes the crazy, over-the-top quality of the museum sequence and its pop-art weirdness.
About 16 minHe credits Burton and Anton Furst with creating a Gotham that still looks great decades later.
About 24 minHe contrasts Batman’s rule-breaking, morally gray presence with the cleaner Superman model.
About 8 minHe says the Batcave sequence is a favorite because of how strange and well-staged it is.
About 32 minHe argues Burton was a rare mainstream auteur who made accessible outsider stories before IP took over.
About 24 minHe repeatedly complains that Wuhl’s character is overpresent and unnecessary.
About 48 minHe enjoys the introduction of Batman and the directness of the classic line delivery.
About 32 minHe eventually argues Burton’s sequel may be his apex because he controlled it more completely.
About 1:12The hosts treat the film as the blueprint for modern blockbuster IP strategy, marketing, and merchandise tie-ins.
Opening minutesThey argue the film is structurally a Joker movie, with Nicholson carrying the biggest arc and momentum.
About 8 minSean emphasizes Batman’s psychotic, rule-breaking nature and how that made the character culturally potent.
About 8 minThe movie is framed as a hinge point between the brighter 1980s and the darker, more cynical 1990s.
About 8 minThe casting of Nicholson, Burton, and Keaton is treated as a crucial part of why the movie worked as an event.
About 8 minThe film cost about $48 million and made about $411.6 million.
About 40 minIt was the fastest film to reach $100 million at the time.
About 40 minJack Nicholson may have made far more than his reported salary because of backend participation.
About 24 min · medium confidenceThe film was shot at Pinewood Studios to keep Nicholson’s Joker look secret.
About 56 minThe Batman suit reportedly cost $250,000 and the cathedral set about $100,000.
About 56 minThe movie had 56 dead bodies.
About 56 minNicholson had conditions such as top billing, backend participation, and time off for Lakers games.
About 1:04During production, Nicholson allegedly watched taped basketball games while in makeup.
About 56 minUsed as the earlier superhero template that Batman later followed and surpassed culturally.
Opening minutesCited fondly as an example of an earlier blockbuster sequel they loved.
Opening minutesUsed to compare late-80s action innovation and to discuss how the new Batman felt to Craig.
About 24 minHeld up as a major 1989 release that was also highly anticipated.
About 16 minMentioned as another film that used early cross-promotion tactics.
About 8 minCompared to Batman as another culture-wide event movie with massive hype.
Opening minutesUsed to compare Nicholson’s Joker performance to his late-film breakdown in that movie.
About 16 minMentioned as a film that echoes Batman with callbacks and references.
About 16 min · medium confidenceUsed as the sequel that may represent Burton’s peak Batman film.
About 1:12Mentioned in the context of Robin Williams and the Riddler role.
About 1:04Used as the contemporary comparison point for darkness and tone.
About 24 minUsed to illustrate Nicholson’s late-career move into big pop-culture roles.
About 24 minUsed in the Robin Williams sliding-doors discussion and as a major 1989 hit.
About 1:04Mentioned as the production location where secrecy was important.
About 56 minThe episode opens by joking that the themed month is finally over and they can return to superhero movies.
Opening minutesBill repeatedly jokes about a hypothetical rewatchables-style Arliss project and Robert Wuhl’s place in it.
About 1:04Nicholson’s Batman contract is compared to Chris’s own sports-viewing scheduling needs.
About 1:04The hosts keep returning to memorable Joker one-liners like “Wait till they get a load of me.”
About 16 minThey joke about Keaton’s low Batman voice and the coolness of the Batcave reveal.
About 32 min“I'm Batman.”About 32 min
“Wait till they get a load of me.”About 16 min
“You wanna get nuts? Let's get nuts.”About 40 min
“I'm rich.”About 32 min
“Never rub another man's rhubarb.”About 16 min
MAKE IT A MOVIE NIGHT
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
Three movies to watch before Batman, and three to watch next.
ON THE MIC
Bill SimmonsThe Rewatchables
Chris RyanThe Rewatchables
Sean FennesseyThe RewatchablesREWATCH FAVS
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