MovieChat Forums > Batman (1989) Discussion > Who saw this in cinemas back in '89?

Who saw this in cinemas back in '89?


Who saw this back in the day? What are your memories - the anticipation of seeing it in the weeks/days before, the actually seeing it and how much a big deal was it where you were back then, the crowds, audience etc and after coming out of the cinema what were your thoughts and in the days/weeks that followed.
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I saw it must've been a week or so after was released. I remember ALOT of hype in the weeks/months before, bat logo was everywhere t shirts, badges, posters everywhere. There was also ALOT of discussion in the news about the rating. Initially it was to be a 15 (which would mean I couldn't see it) but then the BBFC invented a new rating especially for it (that's how much of a big deal the movie was) so it got 12 (more equivalent to the PG13, before that in UK PG13either had to be cut for PG or get the kid unfriendly 15 rating)

I didn't really get the hype, id never been that interested in batman (was a superman fan) and beyond the AWest TV show had little knowledge of the character (only read the odd DC comics in annual form, had no knowledge of any of the adult Frank miller stuff) and the rating stuff confused me..how violent could it be?..this was batman not the terminator!

Onto the film it was something that id never really seen before, the retro/modern 1930s gangster look, the hard violence, the dark atmosphere and gritty hard urban legend edge..I was a huge superman movie fan and just 2 years before had seen SIV at cinema (and loved it!) But this was like the dark twisted side of those films, very adult in tone. Suddenly I felt like superman was for kids Saturday morning cartoons but this was a real adult film with very adult feel. I completely got why it was almost a 15 like the movies I was too young for back then. When I emerged from the darkness of the cinema I definitely felt more grown up more of a man 

In the weeks that followed I bought (or had bought for me) stuff like the TOPPS magazine, poster magazine, DC comic adaptation (which had incredible artwork and cover), the novel, some badges, as well as started collecting the TOPPS bubble gum cards, the Elfman soundtrack LP (the score sounded amazing back then..had to be careful not to get the Prince album by mistake which was everywhere).. I even got a bat logo t shirt that everyone was wearing (although initially I didn't want one)

there was ALOT of movies to see in 89 - Indiana Jones was just before batman like happened almost 20 years later in 2008 (with a new joker - almost a remake of Bat89 in some ways), BTTF2, Ghostbusters 2, Star trek V, Bond (which was 15 so couldn't see it) but Batman topped them all..

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I did. Two hours of my life I'll never get back!

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Nope. I'd demand a refund if I had.

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Back in 1989 they weren't politically correct so they'd point and laugh at you for being such a retard.

Of course, since you weren't even born back then it doesn't make a difference one way or another.

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I did

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I saw this in the theater on opening night....surrounded by dozens of people in Bat-shirts, with the bat symbol shaved ion their hair (seriously...what if it had been a flop? That's not something you can take back seriously) and a couple wearing Batman mask/cape combos. To compound this, right when the movie was to start....the theater lost power. Thank goodness it was only for 2-3 minutes because that crowd was going...pardon the pun....batshit crazy.

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I saw it on opening night at the local Drive-In. Bunch of us originally went to see it at the theater which was sold out. Passed the Drive-In and saw barely anyone there. Got right in. Next morning looking at the newspaper saw that they had advertised the wrong film.

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😄

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I also saw it in '89, loved it as a kid and actually haven't seen it since.

One of my favorite childhood memories associated with this movie are the character cards that came with a stick of bubblegum - I can still taste it.

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Those TOPPS bubble cards were such a big part of my life back then lol.. funny it seemed so very important at the time. still have them and barely looked at them since lol (ud think I would've kept a couple of wrappers and stick of pink gum or even an unopened pak but no) think they did them for Returns as well but didn't bother..

Couple of years before Batman used to collect Superman Movie cards on sale in comic stores opened of course. were about 10p each.. then years later ebay got the Superman movie card sets along with Superman II and III sets (which I never knew they did cards for) weren't that much money. And just 2 or 3 years go even got a 'unofficial' fan made Superman IV set (that never had gum cards made. they are very well done in the same style as previous..virtually indistinguishable from the proper ones)

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Wish I still had mine! haha

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I just remembered back then I also was collecting the Bat89 postcard set think it was 18 postcards. Every now and then id buy one until thought i'll just get all them. must till have them someplace and again never looked at them since

Postcards, bubblegum cards.. we were easily pleased back then!

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I did, it had enormous hype, I would say the biggest ever till that point.
It was actually too much hype considering the quality of this film, and I could feel it even if I was a kid.
I still had a great time watching it!

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I saw it with a big group and everyone loved the movie. We were talking about going to see it again while walking back to where we parked, only to find the car was missing. No one saw the "tow away zone" sign.

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LOL what a downer after seeing the movie . aint nobody got time for that!

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