Tim Burton’s Batman changed the superhero landscape

In 1989, Tim Burton’s Batman would forever change the way people viewed content regarding superheroes like no franchise had before.

The 1989 Batman movie is a classic. Few will deny its relevancy in the world of superhero franchises. But to truly appreciate what the film meant to the superhero genre of film and television, we have to go back to that time to remember what the content was like in that day and age.

In 1989, I was 10 years old. All of my experiences with anything superhero related or comics related was very much kid-friendly. There was the classic Adam West Batman television show, and while it was not necessarily written for kids, it was definitely kid-friendly.

There were also all of the Superman movies of the late ‘70s and ‘80s. Again, these movies were not made for children, but there was nothing most parents would object to their children watching. My mom took me to Superman IV: The Quest for Peace in 1987 when I was eight years old.

There were numerous cartoons that came on during my childhood years as well, and obviously those too all had children in mind. So up until this point in my life, I assumed that superhero movies and comic books were all written for kids.This would all change in 1989 with the release of Tim Burton’s Batman.

Batman brought maturity to comic book movies

Tim Burton’s Batman was a darker and edgier take on Batman and Gotham City than most people who weren’t die-hard comic book fans were accustomed to. The movie showcased Batman‘s iconic utility belt and other “wonderful toys”, but it also showed how skilled of a fighter the Caped Crusader was.

But perhaps more than anything, we saw the violence that is often used in the comics reflected in the movie. Most superhero violence up until that time, or at least the violence I had seen, was always played up for laughs or was very tame. Tim Burton’s Batman would rewrite the way we viewed both action and violence in superhero movies.

Batman would also introduce much more adult themes into superhero movies. Michael Keaton’s portrayal of Bruce Wayne would spend much of the film trying to woo Kim Bassinger’s Vicki Vale. While there isn’t any sexual activity on screen, the movie had one implied scene.

Today, superhero movies are among the best at delivering action and entertainment that can be enjoyed by both adults and children. And a big reason why the genre has become as popular as it has today is due to the release of Tim Burton’s Batman way back in 1989. The movie was truly groundbreaking. Without it, who knows where the superhero genre would be today.

Batman Day takes place on Saturday, September 18.

What are your thoughts on Tim Burton’s Batman? How big of an impact do you think it had on the superhero genre of film and television? Is it your favorite Batman movie? Let us know in the comments below!