Roger Ebert Hated This Batman (1989), but Time Has Proved Him Wrong

Cinephiles disagree on many things, but regarding the greatest American film critic, there is a consensus about Roger Ebert. Eleven years after his death, the Chicago Sun-Times columnist is remembered for his insightful film commentary. Ebert never calibrated his enthusiasm to the views of the masses. Occasionally, he would praise films that the public or his peers hated or lambaste the ones they loved.

Ebert’s great work paid off and quarter-way into his career, he would become the first film critic to win the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism. Additionally, he was the first ‘non-industry’ figure to be included in the in-memoriam montage of the Academy Awards.

As any critic should, Ebert loved all genres equally, but he appeared to have a fondness for superhero films. He was impressed by the work done in Blade II, Superman, and Spider-Man 2, among others. Surprisingly, he rebuked Tim Burton’s Batman, balking at the performances and the dark tone it had introduced.

The Joker Runs Circles Around Batman in Batman ’89

Batman recreates the gloomy atmosphere of the early 20th-century detective comics – filled with petty thieves, mobsters, molls, crafty peasants, lawmen, and aristocrats. Within this maelstrom of humanity, Tim Burton mostly focuses on a newer version of the Joker named Jack Napier. After all, the best Batman productions have always been the ones where the villain gives him a run for his money. Here, Napier is the lackey of Gotham mob boss Carl Grissom, but their working relationship is no longer robust, and familiarity has bred contempt. Grissom knows this, so he sends Napier to raid Axis Chemicals and retrieve incriminating evidence. Secretly, he intends for the criminal to die for sleeping with his mistress, Alicia Hunt.

The mob shenanigans take on an added twist when Batman and the slovenly, aloof Commissioner Gordon appear. Napier topples off a catwalk and tumbles into a vat of chemicals. He survives but with various disfigurements, including white skin and green hair. Surgery doesn’t help him, and he only ends up with a rictus grin. From there, Burton grounds the story in the unexpected epiphany Napier experiences.

Driven insane, he starts committing crimes, going by the moniker “the Joker.” He kills Grissom and his associates, then starts terrorizing Gotham residents by lacing hygiene products with “Smylex” – a deadly chemical that causes people to die laughing. Thankfully, Batman steps in.

It’s the kind of story fans expected (but never got) from Todd Phillips, and we’re glad Tim Burton gave it to us. Here, Batman and the Joker have epic confrontations, one resulting in the golden quote, “Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?” Even when Batman is away, the Joker still mocks. “He is at home… washing his tights” is a hard line to forget. Sadly, Roger Ebert didn’t care.

Roger Ebert Felt Tim Burton’s Batman Was a Classic Case of Style over Substance

Roger Ebert gave Batman only two out of four stars. The critic wasted no time ripping into the film. His first paragraph is more of a bait-and-switch, tricking you into believing this will be one of his wax-lyrical pieces, only for him to start throwing punches.

“The Gotham City created in “Batman” is one of the most distinctive and atmospheric places I’ve seen in the movies. It’s a shame something more memorable doesn’t happen there. “Batman” is a triumph of design over story, style over substance – a great-looking movie with a plot you can’t care much about.”

Quite brutal.

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Ebert was unimpressed by nearly everything, decrying the ear-shattering sound effects and the rapid-cutting style as distracting from the story. He noted a general lack of suspense and argued that Keaton’s character was completely overshadowed by Nicholson’s(something we agree with).

The critic also faulted the movie for missing out on the basics. He mentions a scene where Vicki Vale is brought to the Batcave by Alfred and realizes Bruce Wayne is Batman. Interestingly, she doesn’t react. He also compared the film to Superman and Indiana Jones, concluding that it didn’t trigger the same kind of euphoria as those two.

Time Has Proved Roger Ebert Wrong

Roger Ebert would have been right in his assessment if Batman had fallen into obscurity like the Joel Schumacher films. Instead, the film is still remembered fondly by most franchise fans. Ebert felt there was nothing impressive about Michael Keaton’s Batman, yet this version is generally thought of as the best. And when news came that Keaton would be appearing in The Flash, fans were ecstatic, proving the character had been missed fondly.

Beyond that, Batman’s ripple effects are still being felt widely. The film’s success prompted Warner Bros. Animation to create the acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series. Consequently, the long-running DC Animated Universe was born. So far, DC’s animated productions have received more critical acclaim, offering better stories and better characterizations than the live-action films.

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Most importantly, every other major Batman movie or TV show has maintained the dark tone set by Tim Burton’s Batman. Before the film, Batman was viewed as a goofy character, thanks to the Adam West series and the comics, which had all deviated from the ‘40s noir style. After the film, Gotham was no longer a circus. It was a rotten city that needed serious repair, and it has stayed that ever since.

Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Tim Burton joked:

“Ever since I did Batman, it was like the first dark comic book movie. Now everyone wants to do a dark and serious superhero movie. I guess I’m the one responsible for that trend.”

Beyond the story and production value, Batman had a wider industry impact. It was responsible for the British Board of Film Classification’s decision to introduce the “12” age rating, as its content fell between what was expected for a “PG” or “15.” On top of that, it helped prioritize box office opening weekend figures, popularized against-the-type casting (Keaton was initially thought to be a poor choice for the role), and shortened the theater-to-video window.

Today, comic writers are still unable to resist the ’80s film. Early in 2024, the novel Batman: Resurrection by John Jackson Miller was released. It is a direct sequel to the movie, set between the events of Batman and Batman Returns, with the Caped Crusader focusing on disassembling the remnants of the Joker’s empire while piecing together clues that the villain might not be dead. Before that, a Batman ’89 limited comic series was released.

All this proves that Tim Burton’s Batman wasn’t as mediocre as Roger Ebert thought. Thankfully, the critic still grew to love Batman, first appreciating Batman Begins before heaping praise on The Dark Knight much later.