1. The Joel Schumacher movies
The Joel Schumacher Batman movies don’t come at the top of many Bat-related lists, but the Bat-Signal used in those films is second-to-none. Yes, it’s a controversial choice, but let’s just remember that the light in the sky has nothing to do with the reputation of the movies.
This Bat-Signal had much more of a role in 1995’s Batman Forever, constantly appearing overhead in the Gotham City skies, before The Riddler tried to commandeer it and turn it into a question-mark symbol. It’s easy to see why the movie leaned on it so much because it’s a thing of beauty.
It takes inspiration from the traditionally-shaped bat emblem that the two Tim Burton movies had used, but widens it significantly. The edges are also somewhat exaggerated, making it look that much sharper as it glows against the night sky. It’s cooler, which matches the aesthetic that the ’90s movies were going for, but not in a vacuous way that doesn’t age well. In fact, that Bat-Signal is one of the few aspects of these movies that has aged very well, and this iteration of it wouldn’t look at all out of place in a modern day Batman movie.
The sight of Batman and Robin running towards the camera at the end of Batman Forever (and Batman, Robin, and Batgirl in Batman and Robin) against the backdrop of the Bat Signal is among the most awe-inspiring shots in cinema history. It’s the childhood of so many people who grew up watching these movies. And it’s a reminder of why that Bat-Signal, in particular, is so darn epic.
You wanna get Batman’s attention, flash this signal in the sky.
Do you have a favorite version of the Bat-Signal? Which movie/TV show did it appear in?