Batman (Film)

The Batman (2022) is an American cinema film directed by Matt Reeves and written by Reeves and Peter Craig, encompassing the genres of drama, crime, action, mystery, and thriller. The production, based on the DC Comics character Batman, was financed and distributed by Warner Bros. Released on 3 March 2022, the film stars Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne (Batman), Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle (Catwoman), Paul Dano as Edward Nashton (Riddler), and Jeffrey Wright as Lieutenant James Gordon^【1】. The film focuses on Batman’s second year fighting crime in Gotham City, portraying in a grounded narrative his battle against the Riddler, a serial killer targeting the city’s corrupt officials, underworld figures, and elite.

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Bruce Wayne has been patrolling the shadows of Gotham City for two years as Batman, instilling fear in the hearts of criminals.

The Riddler, a serial killer, begins targeting Gotham’s elite with sadistic schemes, leaving encrypted clues addressed to Batman at each crime scene. After murdering Commissioner Pete Savage, the Riddler kidnaps District Attorney Gil Colson, attaches a timed bomb to his neck, and sends him to the funeral of Mayor Don Mitchell. When Colson refuses to answer the Riddler’s questions and reveal the name of the informant who leaked details of a major drug operation, the bomb detonates.

The investigation leads Batman to the Iceberg Lounge nightclub and key figures of the underworld: Oswald Cobblepot (Penguin) and Carmine Falcone. There, he meets Selina Kyle (Catwoman), who is searching for her missing roommate Annika. It is later revealed that Annika was killed because she was a mole for Falcone.

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Clues left by the Riddler lead Batman to uncover secrets about his parents, Thomas and Martha Wayne. The Riddler claims that Thomas Wayne, during his mayoral campaign, had a journalist silenced by Falcone to suppress damaging information about the family’s past. During this time, Batman’s ally and butler Alfred Pennyworth is injured and hospitalized after opening a bomb-laden letter addressed to Bruce Wayne.

Batman locates the Riddler, whose real name is revealed to be Edward Nashton, and has him confined to Arkham State Hospital. It becomes clear that Nashton’s true plan is to detonate bombs placed along Gotham’s sea walls, flooding the city. As the bombs explode and Gotham is submerged, Batman rescues newly elected mayor Bella Reál and civilians fleeing the flood. After the events, Selina Kyle departs the city, while Batman decides to remain in Gotham to help rebuild it^【2】.

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Matt Reeves directed the film, with the screenplay co-written by Reeves and Peter Craig. The producing team includes Matt Reeves along with Michael E. Uslan, Walter Hamada, Dylan Clark, Simon Emanuel, and Toby Hefferman.

Robert Pattinson is joined by Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, and Jeffrey Wright in the main cast. Colin Farrell portrays Oswald Cobblepot (Penguin), John Turturro plays Carmine Falcone, and Andy Serkis portrays Alfred Pennyworth.

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Cinematography was handled by Greig Fraser, and the editing was completed by Tyler Nelson and William Hoy. The film’s original score was composed by Michael Giacchino. The production was released in various cinema formats, including IMAX.

With an estimated production budget of $200 million, the film was released on 3 March 2022 and grossed $772,775,278 worldwide. In the United States and Canada, it earned $134,008,524 during its opening weekend. Distributed in Türkiye by Warner Bros., the film opened on the same date and was watched by 328,680 viewers in its first weekend, generating ₺11,437,154 in revenue. By the end of its 10-week theatrical run in Türkiye, it reached a total of 1,081,473 viewers and ₺36,684,759 in box office earnings^【3】.

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The Batman received numerous nominations from film industry organizations, winning 40 awards and receiving 176 nominations. At the 95th Academy Awards (Oscars), it was nominated for Best Sound, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and Best Visual Effects. At the 76th BAFTA Film Awards, it was nominated for Best Cinematography, Best Makeup and Hair, Best Production Design, and Best Special Visual Effects^【4】. At the 50th Saturn Awards, it won Best Director (Matt Reeves), and at the 3rd Critics Choice Super Awards, it won Best Superhero Film^【5】.