It’s the 80th anniversary of Batman, and Fathom Events is helping DC and Warner Bros. mark the occasion with a cinematic celebration.
For four days in May, four Batman movies will return to the big screen, each for one day only.
Each Batman film will play in more than 600 movie theaters nationwide, beginning with director Tim Burton’s 1989 visionary opus, Batman, a film whose unprecedented success and acclaim helped make comic book movies big business again.
“We’re honored Warner Bros. has turned to Fathom Events to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Batman with these iconic superhero films,” explained Fathom Events Vice President of Studio Relations Tom Lucas. “The cycle of Batman films that began with Tim Burton’s big-screen classic thirty years ago this summer is an amazing group of films that helped usher in an exciting new era of moviemaking.”
Batman will screen on Saturday, May 4, 2019. Starring Jack Nicholson as The Joker, Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne/Batman, and Kim Basinger as Vicki Vale, this also marks its 30th anniversary, making this Fathom Events presentation a dual celebration for fans. The top-grossing film of 1989 ($251.19 million domestic, unadjusted for inflation) led to three sequels, which make up the screening series.
In 1992’s Batman Returns, both Keaton and Burton are back, along with Danny DeVito as The Penguin, Michelle Pfeiffer as Selina Kyle/Catwoman and Christopher Walken as Max Schreck in a film equally hailed as the first for its eye-popping visual flair and riveting performances. Made for $80 million, a substantial increase on Batman’s $35 million budget, it grossed $266.8 million at the worldwide box office and has gone on to be considered a classic and one of Burton’s best movies. Batman Returns screens on Monday, May 6, 2019.
Val Kilmer dons the Batsuit in 1995’s Batman Forever, along with an all-star cast that includes Tommy Lee Jones as Two-Face, Jim Carrey as The Riddler, Nicole Kidman as Dr. Chase Meridian, Chris O’Donnell as Dick Grayson/Robin, and Drew Barrymore as Sugar. This entry got more mixed reviews than the previous movies but was still a financial success. The $100 million budgeted Batman Forever grossed over $336 million worldwide and became the sixth-highest-grossing film worldwide that year. It screens on Sunday, May 12, 2019.
In 1997’s Batman and Robin, screening on Tuesday, May 14, 2019, George Clooney is the Caped Crusader and O’Donnell is back as Robin, alongside such indelible performers as Arnold Schwarzenegger playing Mr. Freeze, Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy, and Alicia Silverstone as Barbara Wilson/Batgirl. With the biggest budget of the Batman movies, $125 million, Batman & Robin made $238.2 million worldwide – the lowest-grossing live-action Batman film to date. Batman and Robin was a critical failure and is often considered to be one of the worst movies of all time. Due to the film’s negative reception, Warner Bros. canceled a sequel, Batman Unchained.
Tickets for the Batman movies can be purchased online by visiting Fathom Events or at participating theater box offices.
