The Dark Knight returns to face a dual threat: Two-Face, a former district attorney driven mad by chance, and the Riddler, a disgruntled computer genius with a deadly vendetta against Bruce Wayne. As the villainous duo plots to drain the brainwaves of Gotham's citizens and uncover Batman's secret identity, Bruce must grapple with repressed memories and a new romance. To save the city, he finds an unlikely ally in a young acrobat orphaned by tragedy, who is destined to become his partner: Robin.
Information |
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Language |
English |
Country |
United States United Kingdom |
Premiere date |
June 16, 1995 |
Running time |
121 minutes |
Genre |
Action Adventure Fantasy Superhero Universe |
Budget |
$100,000,000 |
Box Office |
$336,567,158 |
Crew |
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Directed by |
Joel Schumacher |
Produced by |
Tim Burton Peter MacGregor-Scott |
Written by |
Lee Batchler Janet Scott Batchler Akiva Goldsman |
Music by |
Elliot Goldenthal |
Cinematography |
Stephen Goldblatt |
Edited by |
Dennis Virkler Mark Stevens |
Production Co. |
Warner Bros. Pictures PolyGram Filmed Entertainment |
Distributed by |
Warner Bros. Pictures |
Top Cast |
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Official Trailer |
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Movie Collection |
Movie Order: #03 in Batman Collection
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The Plot
The Vault of Chaos and the Rejection of Genius
The dark skies of Gotham City set the stage as the former District Attorney, Harvey Dent, now the scarred criminal known as Two-Face, orchestrates a daring heist. Holding a terrified hostage inside a high-security bank vault, Two-Face’s madness is on full display. Batman arrives to intervene, but not before meeting the brilliant and alluring criminal psychologist Dr. Chase Meridian. While Chase is immediately captivated by the caped crusader’s presence, the mission is only a partial success; Batman manages to rescue the hostage in a harrowing display of acrobatics, but Two-Face escapes the scene, leaving a trail of destruction behind.
Meanwhile, deep within the corridors of Wayne Enterprises, a brilliant but eccentric researcher named Edward Nygma works in the shadows. He has developed "The Box," a revolutionary device capable of manipulating brainwaves to beam television signals directly into the human mind, creating an immersive experience. When Bruce Wayne visits the lab, Nygma eagerly demonstrates his invention, hoping for validation. However, Bruce is unsettled by the technology’s potential for mind control, stating that manipulating brainwaves "raises too many questions" and is far too dangerous. The rejection crushes Nygma, and when his supervisor, Fred Stickley, fires him for his unauthorized and obsessive research, Nygma snaps. In a fit of psychotic rage, he captures Stickley and uses a prototype of The Box to drain Stickley's brainwaves, boosting his own intellect. To cover his tracks, Nygma murders Stickley, staging it as a suicide by tampering with security footage, and leaves a cryptic riddle for Bruce Wayne before resigning in a cloud of mystery.
Terror at the Circus and the Birth of a Ward
Bruce Wayne begins receiving strange riddles at his manor, prompting him to consult Dr. Meridian. She concludes that the sender is a "wacko" dangerously obsessed with Bruce. Attempting to maintain a semblance of a social life, Bruce invites Chase to a charity event at the Gotham Hippodrome Circus. The evening turns into a nightmare when Two-Face and his henchmen storm the arena, firing into the air and planting a massive bomb. Two-Face issues a lethal ultimatum: unless Batman reveals his secret identity to the crowd, the bomb will detonate. Driven by a vengeful grudge, Two-Face blames Batman for the courtroom accident where acid disfigured his face. In the chaos, Bruce stands up and shouts, "I'm Batman!"—but his voice is swallowed by the screams of the crowd; even Two-Face fails to hear him.
High above the ground, the Flying Graysons, a family of elite acrobats, spring into action. They work frantically to move the heavy bomb toward an opening at the top of the tent. The youngest member, Dick Grayson, shows immense bravery by leading the effort and successfully pushing the explosive into the surrounding waters just seconds before it detonates. However, the triumph is short-lived. In a final act of cruelty, Two-Face fires upon the wires the elder Graysons are climbing, sending Dick’s parents and brother plummeting to their deaths. Seeing his own childhood tragedy mirrored in Dick’s loss, Bruce Wayne feels a deep sense of responsibility and takes the devastated teenager into Wayne Manor as his foster son.
Discovery in the Depths and an Unholy Alliance
Life at Wayne Manor is tense as Dick Grayson, fueled by a desire for revenge, struggles to find his place. The bond between Bruce and Dick begins to form over a shared passion for motorcycles, with Bruce offering Dick a rare bike to restore if he chooses to stay. However, Dick's curiosity leads him to stumble upon the entrance to the Batcave, where he discovers Bruce's double life. After taking the Batmobile for a unauthorized joyride, Dick ends up saving a young girl from a neon-clad street gang. Though he holds his own, he is nearly overwhelmed until Batman intervenes. Dick begs to be trained as Batman’s partner, but Bruce firmly refuses, unwilling to see the boy consumed by the same darkness that defines his own life.
Elsewhere, Edward Nygma has fully embraced his new persona as "The Riddler." Inspired by Two-Face’s chaotic raid at the circus, he seeks out the villain in his lair beneath a river bridge. The two form a sinister pact: Two-Face will help Riddler steal the resources and wealth needed to mass-produce "The Box," and in return, the device will be used to extract Batman’s true identity from the minds of Gotham’s elite. As the "NygmaTech" company rises to fame, the duo embarks on a high-stakes crime spree, robbing museums and gala events to fund their ultimate goal.
Mind Games at the NygmaTech Gala
The Riddler’s plan reaches its zenith at a massive NygmaTech business party. As guests enjoy the new entertainment technology, Two-Face crashes the event to lure Batman into a trap. Batman arrives, and during the ensuing battle, he is nearly caught in a lethal predicament until Dick Grayson arrives to save him. Despite Dick’s proven worth, Bruce remains steadfast in his refusal to let the boy join the crusade. Later, seeking clarity, Batman visits Dr. Chase Meridian’s apartment. In a surprising turn, Chase reveals that while she once longed for the vigilante, she has fallen in love with "someone else"—referring to Bruce Wayne. Batman leaves with a smile, realizing he has finally found a chance at a normal life.
However, the victory is hollow. Unbeknownst to Bruce, Nygma had used a specialized version of The Box at the gala to absorb Bruce's most private fears and memories. As the villains analyze the data, they see the image of a bat and the trauma of his parents' death. The Riddler gleefully realizes the truth: Bruce Wayne is Batman. This discovery gives the villains everything they need to strike at the heart of their enemy.
The Destruction of Wayne Manor
Believing he can finally hang up the cowl, Bruce confesses his secret to Dick, explaining that he intends to retire and pursue a future with Chase. Infuriated by what he perceives as a betrayal of their shared mission for justice, Dick runs away. That evening, Bruce invites Chase to the manor to reveal his secret identity. As they share a kiss, Chase realizes the truth just as the manor is breached. The Riddler and Two-Face launch a devastating assault, knocking Bruce and Alfred unconscious. They proceed to demolish the Batcave with explosives and kidnap Chase, leaving behind one final, mocking riddle. When Bruce awakens, he is greeted by a scene of total ruin. With Chase gone, Dick missing, and his sanctuary destroyed, Bruce must solve the ultimate puzzle to save those he loves.
Showdown on Claw Island
Using the four riddles left by Nygma, Bruce deciphers the villain's identity and tracks him to "Claw Island," a fortress located in the waters outside Gotham. As Bruce prepares to depart, he is faced with a choice of vehicles: the Batwing or the Batboat. A voice from the shadows calls out, "How about both?" and Dick Grayson emerges, clad in a suit based on his circus heritage and calling himself "Robin." Acknowledging that he cannot do this alone, Bruce finally accepts him as his partner. Upon arriving at the island, the duo faces a barrage of defenses, resulting in their vehicles being destroyed. They split up as the island’s structures begin to collapse under the weight of the Riddler’s massive brainwave machine.
Robin finds Two-Face and manages to kick him over a ledge, but when Two-Face bluffs about being helpless, Robin’s compassion takes over. He helps the villain up, only for Two-Face to use the moment of mercy to take Robin captive. Meanwhile, Batman reaches the inner sanctum where the Riddler waits. The Riddler presents Batman with a cruel choice: save either Chase or Robin, who are both trapped in glass tubes suspended over a lethal pit. Instead of playing the game, Batman challenges the Riddler with a riddle of his own. While the villain is distracted, Batman throws a Batarang into the heart of the colossal brainwave device. The machine explodes, sending a feedback loop of mental energy directly into Nygma’s brain, shattering his sanity.
The Fate of the Wicked and the Hero Reborn
As the lair crumbles, Robin and Chase fall into the pit, but Batman manages to catch them with a grappling line, pulling them to safety. Two-Face appears on a narrow girder, aiming his pistol at the trio. Batman appeals to the villain’s obsession, reminding him that he is of two minds about everything. As Two-Face prepares to flip his coin to decide their fate, Batman tosses a handful of identical coins into the air. The resulting confusion causes Two-Face to panic and lose his footing as he tries to catch his lucky coin. He plunges into the dark abyss to his death, his real coin landing on "heads" in his hand as he falls. Batman, Robin, and Chase escape the island just as it is consumed by the sea.
In the aftermath, Edward Nygma is committed to Arkham Asylum. Dr. Burton informs Dr. Meridian that Nygma claims to know Batman’s identity, but when Chase enters his cell, she finds a broken man who believes he *is* a bat, flapping his arms and shrieking in madness. Chase meets Bruce outside the asylum, assuring him that his secret is safe. Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson embrace their roles as the protectors of Gotham, and as the film ends, the dynamic duo is seen running into the night, silhouetted against the iconic glow of the Bat-Signal.
