TheBatmanmovie franchise has undergone several changes over the years, but its first critical makeover came in 1995 with the release ofBatman Forever. The third big screen release had to do a bit of a reset because it would be the first without star Michael Keaton and director Tim Burton, and it had to make up for allegedly scaring a legion of kids and offending parents following the release of 1992’sBatman Returns. The film certainly had its work cut out for it, but by leaning into a few pop-culture moments and allowing the film to speak to the MTV generation,Batman Forevermore than proved itself as a solidBatmanentry. At least one that the audience truly needed at the time.
Batman Foreverhad to go a lighter route following thepolarizing reaction toBatman Returns. While that film is now embraced far more fondly, many felt at the time that letting Burton be left to his own devices resulted in a movie that was too inappropriate for kids, especially with all the associated McDonald’s Happy Meal tie-ins.Batman Returnsended up grossing about $150 million less than its pop-cultural-defining predecessor, so Warner Bros. believed a new direction was necessary.
Burton would be replaced as director, although he remained on as a producer, which opened the door for Joel Schumacher to enter Gotham City. Schumacher was currently filmingThe Clientfor them and had previously had success with the studio, notably with 1987’sThe Lost Boysand 1993’sFalling Down. With Burton out, Keaton decided that he would not return after rejecting the direction of the script, soBatman Foreverwould have a complete change in front of and behind the camera that would allow it to meet the moment it was being released.
Casting Was Critical to ‘Batman Forever’s Success
Thelate Val Kilmerwould take on the titular role, something he only did once, but a choice that would help set the tone for how cool and different thisBatmanfilm would be. Kilmer was no stranger to cool given his role in 1986’sTop Gun, and he continued that with a scene-stealing turn in 1993’sTombstoneas Doc Holliday. Casting Kilmer would be the first casting choice at the top of the food chain. One that would show the movie was going for something a little less dour and a bit different.
The inclusion of Robin, Batman’s trusty sidekick, was a significant move, indicating that the film aimed to appeal more to kids, including young girls. Robin’s inclusion in the movie dates back to the 1989 film, but it was something that Burton rejected. He was then included in one of the scripts forBatman Returns, but was later removed because the filmmakers felt the movie already had too many characters.
Batman Foreverwould be the right time for Robin, withMarlon Wayans reportedly being castfirst (with promises of a potential sequel). However, when Schumacher joined the film, he decided to look into other actors for the part. Leonardo DiCaprio met with Schumacher at one point but passed on the role. While other names such as Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg and Ewan McGregor, among others, were in the mix, Chris O’Donnell would come out on top following his breakout roles in 1991’sFried Green Tomatoes, and the 1992 double punch ofSchool TiesandScent of a Woman, the latter of which earning him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor. O’Donnell had the acting chops, but also the boyish good looks that would prove appealing for the part.
Of All the Batman Actors, Val Kilmer Had the Toughest Act To Follow
In ‘Batman Forever,’ Val Kilmer had the difficult task of replacing fan favorite Michael Keaton as the Caped Crusader as well as a shift in directors.
In terms of villains, the film dug into Batman’s rogues’ gallery and went with Two-Face and The Riddler. Schumacher hadalready worked with Tommy Lee JonesonThe Client, so he became an easy choice for Harvey Dent/Two-Face, although Jones ultimately only took the role, reportedly because his son insisted. For The Riddler,Robin Williams was once in discussions, but something happened in 1994 that became its own moment in the pop culture lexicon.
Jim Carrey was emerging as a comedic actor to watch and certainly appealing to a younger audience due to his zany, over-the-top style. In 1994 alone, Carrey appeared in a trio of box office hits that includedAce Ventura: Pet Detective($72 million, $15 million budget),The Mask($351.6 million globally, $23 million budget) andDumb and Dumber($247 million globally, $17 million budget).Carrey’s stock rose considerably because of this, and landing him forBatman Foreverwould prove crucial.
It was essentially the perfect storm of a bona fide box office star landing a significant role in a summer tentpole film that only proved to boost its profile. When considering the future box office success of the film,Carrey’s participation as The Riddlermust be acknowledged as playing a critical role, especially in attracting a younger fan base. Throw in the addition of a beautiful actress named Nicole Kidman as Bruce Wayne/Batman’s love interest, and the film had everything it needed to succeed.
‘Batman Forever’s Look Was Perfect for the Time
Batman Forever
Everything aboutBatman Foreverfelt like a crazy mix of pop and grunge, drenched in neon. Burton’s Gotham City was a dark place, and whilesomeof that aesthetic remained, Schumacher went for a landscape that felt more alive and bursting with more color. It’s said he wanted a mix of New York City architecture from the 1930s, theBatmancomics from the early 1950s, and a touch of modern-day Tokyo.All of this is present inBatman Forever, giving fans a Gotham City that truly popped and felt like it was meant for its time of release in 1995.
Marketing proved crucial forBatman Forever. Warner Bros. was likely keenly aware this film was far lighter than its predecessor, so they went all in with a line of action figures, video games, and another partnership with McDonald’s that resulted in collectible mugs to go along with the release of the film. Six Flags Amusement Park locations underwent a significant aesthetic change to matchBatman Forever,and the soundtrack also played a role. While the film featured a traditional score by Elliot Goldenthal, who replaced Danny Elfman, the decision was made to release a soundtrack in a similar fashion to that of 1989, when Prince released his highly successfulcompanion album to the film.
Although only five songs on the soundtrack were featured in the movie, it proved to be commercially successful, selling 2 million copies. The most successful singles spawned from the soundtrack were U2’s “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me” and Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose,” a song that was first featured on his second album but was then picked by Schumacher to be the film’s love theme for Batman and Dr. Chase Meridian (Kidman).
Here’s 5 Reasons Why Batman Forever Wasn’t That Bad
Batman Forever has developed a reputation for being a bad movie about DC’s Caped Crusader. Here are 5 reasons why that’s not necessarily true.
Its inclusion inBatman Forever(fresh with a new video filmed by Schumacher against the backdrop of the Bat Signal) propelled the song to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned Seal Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. The rest of the soundtrack, which included songs by Method Man, Massive Attack, and Nick Cave, underscored the intention to give the film a more pop and mainstream feel.
Released on July 27, 2025,Batman Foreverproved to be the financial success Warner Bros. needed it to be. The film opened to $52.8 million, breaking the record of 1993’sJurassic Parkto claim the biggest opening weekend of all time (althoughThe Lost World: Jurassic Parkwould snag that record back two years later). When it was all said and done,Batman Forevergrossed $184 million domestically and $336.5 million worldwide on a $100 million budget. Most importantly, at least for Warner Bros., it outgrossedBatman Returns($162 million domestic, $266.8 million global) and was the second-highest-grossing film of 1995, behindToy Story.
Unfortunately, critics didn’t seem to getBatman Forever, as it sits at a 39% on Rotten Tomatoes, with a consensus that reads, “Loud, excessively busy, and often boring,Batman Forevernonetheless has the charisma of Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones to offer mid relief.” There is no one, most likely, who would call this the definitiveBatmanmovie. It’s silly and doesn’t offer much character depth (something thatthe famed Schumacher Cut allegedly does), butit’s a fun experience and one that was necessary for the franchise at the time.
By tapping into a popular aspect of pop culture,Batman Foreverarrived during a time in the mid-90s when most fans welcomed it. While Schumacher went too far with this approach when 1997’sBatman & Robinarrived, he struck the right balance of pop culture flair and kid-friendly energy inBatman Forever,making it a defining moment of its time.Batman Foreveris streaming onMax.
