The Batman (film)

They think I am hiding in the shadows, but I am the shadows.

We have a signal now, for when I'm needed. But when that light hits the sky, it's not just a call. It's a warning, to them. Fear is a tool.

Our scars can destroy us, even after the physical wounds have healed. But if we survive them, they can transform us. They can give us the power to endure, and the strength to fight.

Ain't it funny? All everyone wants to do is unmask you, but they're missing the point. You and I both know I'm looking at the real you right now.

The Batman is a 2022 American superhero film based on the comic book character created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. It is a reboot of the Batman film franchise. Set in his second year of fighting crime, the film sees Batman uncover corruption in Gotham City while pursuing the Riddler, a serial killer who targets Gotham's elite.

Directed by Matt Reeves. Written by Matt Reeves and Peter Craig.

Unmask the truth.Taglines

Bruce Wayne / Batman

• Thursday, October 31st. The city streets are crowded for the holiday, even with the rain. Hidden in the chaos is the element, waiting to strike like snakes. But I'm there too, watching. Two years of nights have turned me into a nocturnal animal. I must choose my targets carefully. It's a big city. I can't be everywhere, but they don't know where I am. We have a signal now, for when I'm needed. But when that light hits the sky, it's not just a call. It's a warning, to them. Fear is a tool. They think I am hiding in the shadows, but I am the shadows.
• I'm vengeance.
• This whole city is a powder keg, and Riddler's the match.
• God, I... I never thought I'd feel fear like that again. I thought I'd mastered all that. I mean... I'm not afraid to die. But I realize now there's something I haven't got past. This fear of ever going through any of that again. (looking at Alfred) Of losing somebody I care about.
• Our scars can destroy us, even after the physical wounds have healed. But if we survive them, they can transform us. They can give us the power to endure, and the strength to fight.

Selina Kyle / Catwoman

• Come on, vengeance. Let's get into some trouble.

Edward Nashton / The Riddler

• Hello, people of Gotham. This is the Riddler speaking. On Halloween night, I killed your mayor because he was not who he pretended to be. But I am not done. [shows Pete Savage in a rat trap around his body with rats eating him] Here is another who will soon be losing face. I will kill again, and again, and again, until our day of judgment when the truth about our city will finally be unmasked. Goodbye!

• The Waynes and the Arkhams, Gotham's founding families, but what is their real legacy? Twenty years ago, one reporter set out to uncover the dark truth. He found shocking family secrets. How, when Martha was just a child, her mother brutally murdered her father, then committed suicide and how the Arkhams used their power and money to cover it up. How Martha herself was in and out of institutions for years and they didn't want anyone to know. Thomas Wayne tried to force this crusading reporter into a hush-money agreement to save his mayoral campaign. But when the reporter refused, Wayne turned to longtime secret associate Carmine Falcone and had him murdered! The Waynes and the Arkhams, Gotham's legacy of lies and murder! I hope you're listening, Bruce Wayne. This is your legacy too, and Gotham needs you to answer for the sins of your father. Goodbye.

Dialogue

Carmine Falcone: His father saved my life. I got shot in the chest. Right here. I couldn't go to no hospital, so we showed up on his doorstep, operated right on the dining room table. Kid here, he... He saw the whole thing up on the stairs, looking down. I remember your face. You don't think that meant something he did there?

Bruce Wayne: It means he took the Hippocratic Oath.

Falcone: "Hippocratic Oath". That's good.

---

The Riddler: I told you I'd see you in hell.

Batman: What do you want from me?

The Riddler: Want? Oh, if only you knew how long I've been waiting for this day, for this moment. I've been invisible my whole life. I guess I won't be anymore, will I? They'll remember me now. They'll remember both of us. Bruce Wayne. Bruce Wayne! You know, I was there that day — the day the great Thomas Wayne announced he was running for mayor, made all those promises. Well, a week later, he was dead and everyone just forgot about us. All they could talk about was poor Bruce Wayne — Bruce Wayne, the orphan. Orphan? Living in some tower over the park isn't being an orphan, looking down on everyone with all that money. Don't you tell me. Do you know what being an orphan is? It's thirty kids to a room, twelve years old and already a drophead, numbing the pain. You wake up screaming with rats chewing your fingers, and every winter one of the babies dies because it's so cold. But, oh no! Let's talk about the billionaire with the lying, dead daddy because at least the money makes it go down easy, doesn't it? Bruce Wayne. He's the only one we didn't get. But we got the rest of 'em, didn't we? All those slick, sleazy phony pricks. God, look at you. Your mask is amazing. I wish you could've seen me in mine. Ain't it funny? All everyone wants to do is unmask you, but they're missing the point. You and I both know I'm looking at the real you right now. My mask allowed me to be myself completely — no shame, no limits.

Batman: Why did you write me?

The Riddler: What do you mean?

Batman: All those cards.

The Riddler: I told you. We've been doing this together. You're a part of this.

Batman: We didn't do anything together.

The Riddler: We did! What did we just do? I asked you to bring him into the light, and you did. We're such a great team.

Batman: We're not a team.

The Riddler: I never could have gotten him out of there. I'm not physical. My strength is up here. [gestures to head] I mean, I had all the pieces. I had the answers, but I didn't know how to make them listen. You gave me that.

Batman: I gave you nothing.

The Riddler: You showed me what was possible. You showed me all it takes is fear and a little focused violence. You inspired me!

Batman: You're out of your goddamned mind!

The Riddler: What?

Batman: This is all in your head. You're sick, twisted.

The Riddler: How can you say that?

Batman: You think you'll be remembered? You're a pathetic psychopath—

The Riddler: No!

Batman: —begging for attention! You're gonna die alone in Arkham—

The Riddler: No! No, no, no, no!

Batman: —a nobody!

The Riddler: No! Ah, this is not how this was supposed to go! I had it all planned out! We were gonna be safe here! We could watch the whole thing together.

Batman: Watch what?

The Riddler: Everything! It was all there. You mean you didn't figure it out? Oh, you're really not as smart as I thought you were. I guess I gave you too much credit.

Batman: What have you done?

The Riddler: What's black and blue and dead all over? You, if you think you can stop what's coming.

---

Unseen Arkham Prisoner: Isn't that just terrible? Them raining on your parade like that? Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk. What is it they say? One day you're on top. The next you're a clown. Well, let me tell you, there are worse things to be. Hey! Hey, hey. Don't be sad. You did so well! And you know, Gotham loves a comeback story.

The Riddler: Who are you?

Unseen Arkham Prisoner: Well, that's the question, isn't it? Riddle me this: the less of them you have, the more one is worth.

The Riddler: A friend.

[The two criminals begin laughing maniacally].

---

(deleted scene)

[The Batman visits someone at Arkham. He pushes a file into the partition drawer.]

Unseen Arkham Prisoner: A present. Almost our anniversary, isn't it?

Batman: He's a serial killer. I want your perspective.

Prisoner: First anniversary is paper! What makes you think I'd come so cheap?

Batman: I thought you'd be curious.

Prisoner: You think I get off on this stuff?

Batman: Don't you?

Prisoner: You have pictures. [reading the file] Oh, his violence is so baroque! Oh, he likes little puzzles, doesn't he? So meticulous, like he's been planning this his whole life. I know who he is!

Batman: Who? Who is he?

Prisoner: He's a nobody that wants to be somebody. The mayor, the commissioner. He's got ambition.

Batman: You think his motive's political?

Prisoner: Oh, no, no. This is very personal. He feels these people have all wronged him. Probably goes way back: unhealed wounds, stolen lunch money.

Batman: And why is he writing to me?

Prisoner: Maybe he's a fan of yours? Or maybe he's got a grudge against you too. Maybe you're the main course. Any theories?

Batman: Not yet.

Prisoner: Really? You're normally so ahead of the curve, but something is different this time. This is very upsetting to you.

Batman: Let's get back to him.

Prisoner: Why? You're so much more fun!

Batman: I'm not here to talk about me.

Prisoner: What are you here to talk about?

Batman: I wanna know how he thinks.

Prisoner: You know exactly how he thinks. Have you read this file? You two have so much in common. Masked avengers! But he's even more righteous. Ah, you're afraid he makes you look soft? [laughs]

Batman: I'm wasting my time. [gets up to leave]

Prisoner: I'll tell you what I really think. I think you don't really care about his motives or whether he loves you or hates you. I think somewhere deep down you're just terrified, because you're not sure he's wrong! Huh? You think they deserved it, huh? You think they deserved it! [laughs uncontrollably]

Taglines

• Unmask the truth.
• You are a part of this too. Find out why.

Cast

• Robert Pattinson - Bruce Wayne/Batman
• Zoë Kravitz - Selina Kyle/Catwoman
• Paul Dano - Edward Nashton/Riddler
• Jeffrey Wright - James Gordon
• John Turturro - Carmine Falcone
• Peter Sarsgaard as Gil Colson
• Andy Serkis - Alfred Pennyworth
• Colin Farrell - Oswald "Oz" Cobb/The Penguin

External links

• Encyclopedic article on The Batman (film) on Wikipedia
• The Batman quotes at the Internet Movie Database
• The Batman at Rotten Tomatoes