Batman Returns

Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Presented by The Queer Review!

Tuesday, December 23 at 9:15: In-person introduction by The Queer Review’s editor James Kleinmann with electronic pop musician Bright Light Bright Light

Special recorded intro by screenwriter Daniel Waters!

Join The Queer Review under the mistletoe for a special 33rd anniversary screening of the ultimate Christmas movie for misfits, Tim Burton’s BATMAN RETURNS. Batman (Michael Keaton) might have his name in the title, but for us it’s all about the queer icon that is Michelle Pfeiffer’s skintight latex-clad antiheroine, Catwoman, purring and whipping her way across Gotham delivering one-liners like, “I am Catwoman, hear me roar!” Screenwriter Daniel Waters (Heathers, Hudson Hawk) keeps the deliciously camp and quotable dialogue coming.

There’s something about superheroes and villains wrestling with their double identities that those of us who grew up queer, feeling forced to hide our authentic selves, strongly identify with. The heightened tone of this gothic pop-up book of a movie charms, while production designer Bo Welch’s (reuniting with Burton following Edward Scissorhands and Beetlejuice) twisted urban fairytale is a festive feast for the eyes. Look out for a memorable cameo from Paul Reubens as The Penguin’s (Danny DeVito) father and remember kids: “mistletoe can be deadly if you eat it” but “a kiss can be even deadlier if you mean it.”

BATMAN RETURNS-themed costumes encouraged!

  • Country USA
  • Year 1992
  • Running Time 126 minutes
  • Format DCP
  • Distributor Warner Brothers
  • Director Tim Burton
  • Cast Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Michael Gough
  • Accessibility Assistive Listening, T-Coil

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.