Despite being set at Christmastime, the debate over whether Batman Returns is a Christmas movie or not has gone on since its release in 1992. The sequel to 1989's Batman, Batman Returns marks director Tim Burton's second and final live-action take on the iconic DC superhero. Michael Keaton assumed the lead role of Bruce Wayne, a.k.a. Batman, for the holiday-set movie, ed by Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman and Danny DeVito as Penguin. Simply being set at Christmastime isn't enough to make holiday watch lists, however, so the discussion over whether Batman Returns is a Christmas film or not is still very much alive.
With its Christmastime setting, Batman Returns could feasibly be considered a Christmas movie, with several other films also falling into this ambiguous category - including 1988's Die Hard, 1984's Gremlins, and 1998's You've Got Mail. For Batman Returns, however, there are several other factors at play, such as the overt seasonal set-pieces throughout the film. While not everybody will agree with Batman Returns' categorization as a Christmas movie, there are several reasons why Batman Returns - considered by many to be superior to Tim Burton's original Batman movie - crosses the boundary between superhero and Christmas movies.
Batman Returns Has Christmas Themes Throughout
There's more than enough evidence to suggest that Batman Returns is a Christmas movie. Not only is the film set during Christmas, but the holiday also plays into the story in various significant ways. Gotham's public Christmas tree is a recurring element during Batman Returns, and snow, Christmas decorations, and yuletide songs are also around every corner. Moreover, the story twists classic Christmas tales, with Christopher Walken's evil businessman Max Shreck standing in as the Grinch or Scrooge character. While he at least grows enough of a heart to save his son from the Penguin, the movie doesn't redeem him either.
Likewise, DeVito's Penguin was thrown into the sewers by his parents at Christmas. Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman is the subject of several divine resurrections. Although most Christmas stories are about family, Batman Returns focuses on three characters who are alone; Bruce Wayne and Penguin are orphans, while Catwoman only has her cats - bringing some weight to the traditional Christmas story. Batman and Catwoman even share romantic moments while standing under mistletoe, so Batman Returns could easily be considered a Christmas movie.
Overt Christmas themes are woven throughout Batman Returns, with even the villains' henchmen being launched out of a giant present during their introduction. Perhaps not the usual feel-good holiday story like Home Alone and It's a Wonderful Life, Batman Returns is instead reminiscent of Burton's Edward Scissorhands, a melancholy fairytale set at Christmastime. Although Batman Returns ends with Bruce Wayne alone, he does receive a gift in the form of a stray cat and even closes the film by bidding Alfred, "Merry Christmas." Even so, this certainly isn't a kid-friendly Christmas film, as Batman Returns is also laced with sexual and creatively violent content.
Batman: The Animated Series Had The Best Batman Christmas Story
Batman Returns isn't the only time the Caped Crusader has had a Christmas adventure, as Batman: The Animated Series season 1, episode 2, "Christmas With The Joker," is perhaps an even more famous holiday tale for the Dark Knight. During the episode, Batman and Robin's Christmas plans are interrupted when Mark Hamill's menacing Joker kidnaps Commissioner Gordon's family and turns Gotham City into a Christmas-themed booby-trap course for the crime-fighting duo. Despite being created with a much lower budget than Batman Returns, "Christmas With The Joker" is arguably an even better Christmas story for Batman.
Similarly, 1993's animated Christmas adventure Batman: Mask of the Phantasm also rivals the holiday story set out in Batman Returns. Mask of the Phantasm's titular villain is actually inspired by themes from Charles Dickens' world-renowned A Christmas Carol, and though not as overtly seasonal as Batman Returns or "Christmas With The Joker," Mask of the Phantasm's Christmastime release date and fairytale themes prove that the Dark Knight and the holiday season go hand-in-hand. Indeed, the Caped Crusader may not be the hero Christmas needs, but it's always a better holiday for his presence, and that's a gift even Batman's Gotham City deserves.
