MovieChat Forums > Batman Forever (1995) Discussion > Why did Batman Forever resonate with aud...

Why did Batman Forever resonate with audiences better than Batman Returns (1992) and Batman & Robin (1997)?

posted 2 years ago by TMC-4 (20159)
11 replies | jump to latest

To put things into perspective, Batman Forever grossed $336.6 million worldwide. It was the sixth highest grossing film worldwide in 1995. Batman Forever was also the highest grossing film domestically from within the entire calendar year of 1995. I believe that Toy Story ultimately made more money among the films released in 1995 though.

https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/1995/

The point is that Batman Forever appeared to be a bigger box office success than its immediate predecessor, Batman Returns, which grossed $266.9 million worldwide in 1992. Like Forever, Returns was still the highest grossing film within its entire calendar year, but it was still a huge drop off when compared to Batman 1989.

https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/1992/

Returns only made $162,831,698 domestically whereas Batman 1989 made $411.6 million worldwide and $251,188,924 domestically.

Batman & Robin however, only made $238.2 million worldwide and barely passed the $100 million mark domestically (it in the end, only made $107,325,195). It add insult to injury, it wasn't even in the top five biggest box office hits in North America for 1997.

https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/1997/

A rerelease of the original Star Wars film from 1977 made more money than Batman & Robin, which has since become officially regarded as a box office bomb.

https://bombreport.com/yearly-breakdowns/1997-2/batman-robin/

[–] themightyperm (108) 2 years ago

Batman Forever is a better movie. It's more restrained.

Batman and Robin is unhinged. I remember in the middle of Batman and Robin thinking "this movie is terrible"
They leaned in on the goofy and cheesey. Not in a charming Batman 66' way.

Prior I never thought a movie I watched in the theater was bad.

But the last few movies I had watched were all good. Things like Jurrassic Park and Terminator 2.

[–] TMC-4 (20159) 2 years ago

Batman & Robin oddly, had the same type of issues as the 1960s Batman series when you really think about it. Like Batman Forever, the first season, played the campiness straight for the most part.

https://moviechat.org/tt0059968/Batman/58c726d25ec57f0478ef3841/When-did-the-series-Jump-The-Shark?reply=63be8ee35331634553f854a6

But in the latter seasons much in the same vein as Batman & Robin, it became too self-aware and leaned even further in the silliness to the point in which it felt like the producers were laughing at the audience instead of sharing a joke with them. Batman & Robin like the third season of the Adam West show, almost feels like a parody of itself to put it in another way.

https://officialfan.proboards.com/thread/625373/shows-peaked-season-1

[–] DoctorThirteen (14072) 2 years ago

Because it was lighter than Batman Returns, and 1,000,000 times better than Batman & Robin.

[–] mechajutaro (2788) 2 years ago

This movie coincided with what can only be described as the gay-ification of America

[–] DoctorThirteen (14072) 2 years ago

I'll take your word on that! Happily, I'm in the UK.

[–] bozo_500 (13129) 2 years ago

It was more fun, more action orientated with huge action sequences, the brightness/lightness of the 60s TV series mixed with the dark gothicness of Burtons original, The Riddler/Jim Carrey coming off the big hit of The Mask, post Oscar winning TLJ, the introduction/origin tale of Robin, Nicole Kidman looking 'smokin' hot, intriguing new Batman/Val Kilmer

Whereas Returns very dark, twisted, Christmas set (for a summer release?), near German expressionist weird, S&M catwoman, sick penguin, not for kids McD happy meal debacle etc

And B&R just a neon lit nightmare of bad puns, ridiculous panto performances from everyone, the worst of the 60s TV show given a 100m neon makeover

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7704) 2 years ago

I don't think I ever liked this more than Batman Returns. The goofier lighter tone was not a better thing. I still enjoy some of it but it was a step down from Tim Burton's vision.

[–] ehewitt (45) 2 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Bossdog677 (1563) 2 years ago

Debut of Robin and Jim Carrey in 1995

[–] ss5mmyers (160) 2 years ago

It was more kid friendly without being quite so goofy as Batman and Robin. Then there was the casting; Jim Carrey was a big selling point in the 90s.

[–] mikethemartian (6740) 2 years ago

I think Burton went over the top with his version of the Penguin.