Batman (1989)
Justice is always darkest before the dawn.
Having witnessed his parents' brutal murder as a child, millionaire philanthropist Bruce Wayne fights crime in Gotham City disguised as Batman, a costumed hero who strikes fear into the hearts of villains. But when a deformed madman known as 'The Joker' seizes control of Gotham's criminal underworld, Batman must face his most ruthless nemesis ever while protecting both his identity and his love interest, reporter Vicki Vale.
| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 21 June 1989 |
| Genre | Fantasy, Action, Crime |
| Director | Tim Burton |
| Starring | Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson and Kim Basinger |
| Runtime | 126 min |
| Rated | PG-13 |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes 77% · Rotten Tomatoes (average) 7.1/10 · Metacritic 69/100 · TMDB users 7.2/10 |
| Budget | $35 million |
| Box office | $412 million worldwide |
Where to watch Batman
Batman is streaming on Max ($18.49 a month) in the US. If that is the only reason to subscribe, one month of Max is $18.49 at list price.
We check availability daily. Page last updated 19 October 2026. Prices are standard monthly plans and change often, so check with the service before you sign up.
Where to watch Batman in 63 other countries
| Country | Streaming on (price a month) |
|---|---|
| Andorra | Max |
| Antigua & Barbuda | Max |
| Argentina | Max $9590 ARS |
| Australia | Max $15.99 AUD |
| Austria | Max €11.99 |
| Bahamas | Max |
| Barbados | Max |
| Belgium | Max €10.99 |
| Belize | Max |
| Bolivia | Max |
| Brazil | Max R$34.90 |
| Chile | Max $9590 CLP |
| Colombia | Max $24900 COP |
| Costa Rica | Max |
| Denmark | Max 119 kr DKK |
| Dominican Republic | Max |
| Ecuador | Max $8.29 |
| El Salvador | Max |
| Estonia | Max |
| Fiji | Max |
| Finland | Max €10.99 |
| France | Max €9.99 |
| Germany | Max €11.99 |
| Guatemala | Max |
| Guyana | Max |
| Honduras | Max |
| Hong Kong | Max |
| Iceland | Max |
| Indonesia | Max |
| Ireland | Skygo, Max |
| Italy | Skygo, Now TV, Max €9.99 |
| Jamaica | Max |
| Japan | Hulu, U-NEXT ¥2189 JPY |
| Latvia | Max |
| Liechtenstein | Max |
| Lithuania | Max |
| Luxembourg | Max |
| Malaysia | Max |
| Mexico | Max $149 MXN |
| Monaco | Max |
| Netherlands | Max €12.00 |
| New Zealand | Max |
| Nicaragua | Max |
| Norway | Max 89 kr NOK |
| Pakistan | Max |
| Panama | Max $8.29 |
| Papua New Guinea | Max |
| Paraguay | Max |
| Peru | Max S/35.90 |
| Philippines | Max |
| Portugal | Max €5.99 |
| Singapore | Max |
| Spain | Max €10.99 |
| St. Lucia | Max |
| Sweden | Max 149 kr SEK |
| Switzerland | Max CHF12.90 |
| Taiwan | Max |
| Thailand | Max |
| Trinidad & Tobago | Max |
| Turks & Caicos Islands | Max |
| United Kingdom | Max £9.99 GBP, Skygo |
| Uruguay | Max $U399 |
| Venezuela | Max |
Subscription, free and ad-supported services we track. All countries as data.
What kind of watch this is
Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman treats Gotham like a decaying gothic cathedral where neon flickers against peeling wallpaper. It runs 126 minutes, a long enough stretch to let the aesthetic settle into something less like a costume change and more like a mood. The film trusts that shadows can carry the weight of a crime story. It is less a superhero spectacle than a noir drenched in velvet and decay.
What the critics said
Critics found Batman generally positive, though they noted the darkness. Rotten Tomatoes sits at 77% approval with a 7.1 average rating as of August 2024. Metacritic gives it 69 out of 100, a score it files under generally favorable. Roger Ebert praised the design but called the plot "a triumph of design over story." Gene Siskel disagreed, finding the approach "refreshingly adult." Not everyone was a fan of the Prince soundtrack, though.
How it did with audiences
Batman cost $35 million and grossed $411 million worldwide, a margin that suggests the studio bought a cape and sold a fortune. It took in $251 million in North America, a figure that anchored its place in the studio's financial history. On TMDB, users rate it 7.2 out of 10, a score that treats the spectacle with the same casual interest as a decent Tuesday night. The numbers do the heavy lifting; the reviews just nod along.
What came next for the cast
Michael Keaton shifted from Mr. Mom to Birdman. Jack Nicholson moved from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest to The Departed. Kim Basinger went from Nine 1/2 Weeks to Fifty Shades Freed. The credits cannot prove the film caused these shifts. They only record what followed.
Where it left its mark
Burton once joked that he started the trend of dark, serious superhero movies. Everyone wants to do that now, he claimed, so he is the one responsible. It is a bold admission for a film that changed the genre. The film also launched Batman: The Animated Series. Co-creator Bruce Timm said the show’s Art Deco design came from the movie. He added that the series would never have been made without the first film. That connection is hard to argue with.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Batman.
Read more: The Dark Knight · Batman Begins · The Dark Knight Rises
Sources
- Batman on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q116852 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Batman (1989 film)” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
Watch it without paying for the whole year
Binge Boss tracks the movie you are on and tells you which services you need this month, and which you can cancel.
Add Batman to your list