After much anticipation, 2025 has arrived. Yes, the new year is upon us and, as the celebrations continue, the fireworks calm down, and we begin to look forward, it gives us a chance to look at all of the exciting possibilities ahead.
In the world of entertainment, that obviously includes plenty of heavily-anticipated films and TV shows. It's a stacked year, with the likes of Captain America: Brave New World, Jurassic World Rebirth, Superman, Predator: Badlands, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Daredevil: Born Again, Thunderbolts* and more all on the horizon. Yep, stacked!
However, the new year also gives us the chance to reflect on what came before, including some of the classics that will be celebrating milestone anniversaries since their initial releases. That includes this iconic DC movie that fans will no doubt find it hard to believe is now almost three decades old.
Batman Forever is turning 30 years old in 2025
Batman Forever celebrates its 30th birthday this year. The classic Caped Crusader film was released all the way back in 1995, arriving in movie theaters as a summer blockbuster on June 16. It served as the third film in Warner Bros.' ongoing Batman film series at the time, coming after 1989's Batman and 1992's Batman Returns - both of which were directed by Tim Burton. Burton returned to produce Forever, but it was Joel Schumacher who directed this one.
The 1995 movie starred Val Kilmer as Bruce Wayne and his heroic alter-ego Batman. The actor replaced Michael Keaton in the role (who left after the two previous installments due to the departure of Burton as director and the direction that the third film was taking) in what was a very star-studded film that included Tommy Lee Jones in the role of Harvey Dent / Two-Face, Jim Carrey as Edward Nygma / The Riddler, Nicole Kidman as Doctor Chase Meridian, and Chris O'Donnell as Dick Grayson / Robin. Franchise veterans Michael Gough and Pat Hingle reprised their respective roles as Alfred Pennyworth and Commissioner Jim Gordon.
Upon its release, Batman Forever received mixed reviews from fans and critics due to its outlandish tone, light-hearted nature, and over-the-top approach to the Batman lore, all while juggling some relatively serious storylines. Nevertheless, it was a resounding box office success, grossing $336 million worldwide and allowing the powers-that-be at Warner Bros. to feel that they made the right decision moving away from Batman Returns' darker tone. But, as their move into more silly territory in 1997's Batman and Robin proved, it wasn't the right decision at all.
But it's important to once again note that the response to Batman Forever was mixed, because truthfully a lot of people really liked it. And there is a lot to love about it, as the larger-than-life extravaganza feels like an adventure straight out of a comic book, choosing excess over subtlety in just about everything it does, and letting all of us feel like we're watching the biggest-budget pantomime of all time. Val Kilmer is also an incredibly underrated Batman, delivering a strong performance with Bruce's struggles throughout the movie, and he looks the part in that amazing Panther Batsuit.
Nowadays, fans are more receptive to Batman Forever, appreciating it for the classic piece of movie history that it is (while also fighting for Joel Schumacher's darker version of the movie to get released). Its greatest sin is that it paved the way for the infamous Batman and Robin, which is widely regarded as one of the worst movies ever made. If you can get over that and enjoy Batman Forever for what it is, you might just see it for the awesome, ambitious movie that it is.
Blockbusters of the 1990s were largely considered modern at the time, often going bigger even if they weren't always better. They were louder and more in-your-face as they attempted to appeal to younger audiences. With that in mind, it continues to baffle us that any film from that decade is somewhere between 25 - 35 years old.
Batman Forever is now directly in the middle, turning 30 years old this summer. Yes, it's hard to believe the '90s were that long ago and no I'm not in denial.