Every Tim Burton Batman Scene That Aged Perfectly

Tim Burton’s first *Batman* film was a game-changer for comic book movies. Before that, films based on comics were generally lighthearted, like the *Superman* movies, or didn’t quite hit the mark, such as *Howard the Duck* and *The Punisher*. Burton took a different approach, creating a much darker and more gothic take on the superhero. While still fun, it was a far cry from the optimistic tone of *Superman*. It’s likely that without Burton’s vision for *Batman*, the current landscape of superhero films – including both the DC Universe and the Marvel Cinematic Universe – wouldn’t exist as we know it today.

Although it’s been over 35 years, and some parts might feel a little dated now, many scenes from Tim Burton’s *Batman* still look fantastic today.

6) Batman’s Introduction in the First Movie

As a huge Batman fan, I always get a kick out of how he first reveals himself to the bad guys. It’s become a running gag – you see it all over the internet with memes and funny videos – but this movie is where the whole “I’m Batman” thing *really* took off. It’s probably still the most effective delivery of that line in any Batman film, honestly. And the way the movie starts, with a view of Gotham City? Still the best visual representation of the city I’ve ever seen on screen.

A crime mirroring the tragic murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne occurred, but this time, the family survived. This event brought Batman onto the scene, where he confronted the two thieves. He made a dramatic entrance, descending from the shadows in a cloud of smoke. Batman quickly subdued one thief and let the other go, instructing him to spread the word about his arrival. With the simple declaration, “I’m Batman,” a legend was born.

5) Bruce Wayne’s “Let’s Get Nuts” Scene

The most memorable, and arguably silliest, moment in Tim Burton’s *Batman* doesn’t actually feature Batman – it’s when Bruce Wayne confronts the Joker. Despite being over-the-top, the scene is still a fan favorite and perfectly demonstrates Michael Keaton’s talent in the role, especially when he famously challenged the Joker with the line, “You wanna get nuts?”

When Bruce was visiting Vickie Vale, the Joker unexpectedly arrived with his crew. Reacting quickly, Bruce pretended to lose control, dramatically brandishing a fire poker and challenging the Joker. The Joker shot him at close range, but not before repeating the very line he’d used years ago when he killed Bruce’s parents. This display successfully masked Bruce’s true feelings and dramatically increased the tension of the situation.

4) The Joker’s Museum Scene

Though quite different from the comic book Joker, Jack Nicholson’s portrayal in Batman is unforgettable, and remains one of the most iconic versions of the character across all media. This is largely thanks to a particularly striking scene: the art museum robbery with his crew.

Although this scene from *Batman* feels like a product of its time, the Prince music actually fits surprisingly well. After releasing gas in the museum, the Joker leaves only Vickie Vale unharmed. In a memorable and funny moment, he has his gang blast Prince songs from a huge boombox while he vandalizes the artwork. Despite feeling dated, the scene holds up because Prince’s music is still iconic, and it perfectly highlights the Joker’s chaotic nature.

3) Bruce Wayne and the Bat Signal

This scene often seems strange to viewers, but it brilliantly captures the essence of Bruce Wayne and his unwavering dedication to protecting Gotham City as Batman. In *Batman Returns*, Bruce is alone in his dark study, lost in thought. Suddenly, the Bat Signal shines through the large windows of his mansion, flooding the room with light.

It’s strange that the Bat-Signal appears inside the mansion, but it’s probably a trick Batman set up to reflect it from the sky. However, the details aren’t important. The real power of the shot – Bruce standing with the Bat-Signal behind him – is that it echoes the iconic introduction of Batman in the original movie, creating a similar emotional impact.

2) Max Shreck’s Costume Party

The most memorable scene in Tim Burton’s two *Batman* films happens in *Batman Returns* during Max Shreck’s costume party. It’s brilliantly done for many reasons, including the fact that Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle are the only guests who aren’t in costume, and the powerful moment when they realize each other’s true identities.

At the ball, Selina revealed she intended to harm Shreck while dancing with Bruce. But when Bruce kissed her under the mistletoe, they unexpectedly repeated lines from their earlier confrontation as Batman and Catwoman, leading them to realize each other’s true identities. This scene was particularly brilliant because it highlighted the irony of the two masked heroes being the only ones unmasked, and the reveal itself was incredibly well done. Many consider this Tim Burton Batman scene to be one of the best Bruce Wayne moments ever filmed.

1) Catwoman’s Revenge Against Max Shreck

In *Batman Returns*, Batman tried to prevent Selina Kyle (Catwoman) from killing Max Shreck, but it was inevitable. The film culminated in both confrontations: Batman fighting Penguin beneath the city, and Catwoman dealing with Shreck. Penguin’s death felt fittingly ironic, as his penguin companions carried his body away.

The most memorable moment was when Catwoman seemingly sacrificed herself to kill Max Shreck, finally ending his control over Gotham. She kissed him and then shockingly electrocuted them both with a live cable, in a very graphic scene. While Max suffered a gruesome death, Catwoman surprisingly survived, revealing she still had lives to spare. It was a fitting end for a villain like him, and it created possibilities for future Batman films that ultimately weren’t explored after Tim Burton moved on from the series.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/movies/feature/2026s-new-batman-movie-can-even-show-christopher-nolan-how-its-done-14-years-later/embed/#

2025-10-19 20:44