Is 'Batman Returns' a Christmas Movie? Yes

Now that we've got Thanksgiving out of the way, the Christmas season is in full swing. And in my house that means holiday-themed movies and TV shows are in constant rotation. While I love the classics that we all know, personally I really get into those deep cut Christmas movies, the ones that are centered around Christmas but aren't exactly about Christmas. We're talking about films like Die Hard, of course, or While You Were Sleeping. But for me, the ultimate deep cut Christmas movie—no matter how many people tell me it isn't—is Batman Returns.

But before I go on, I gotta say you need to subscribe to the newsletter For the Culture, especially this month. Because all December I'll be highlighting the essential holiday movies you need to watch. And while you're at it, subscribe to The Parting Shot with H. Alan Scott podcast.

OK, I fully understand why people might say Batman Returns, directed by Tim Burton, isn't a Christmas movie. There isn't necessarily one moment that's exclusively Christmas, but there are a ton of moments that include Christmassy things, activities or are aesthetically themed to Christmas. In fact, most of the film uses Tim Burton's unique dark aesthetic to visually give moviegoers a version of Christmas we've never seen before. (Important to note, Batman Returns came out two years before The Nightmare Before Christmas, which used many of the visual elements first seen in Batman Returns).

Let's break down why Batman Returns is, in fact, a Christmas movie. Literally right from the beginning we're presented with the birth of the Penguin on a snowy night and in the corner of the room is a beautifully decorated Christmas tree. The very tone of Christmas is our first introduction to this character and story.

From there the story picks up 33 years later at Christmas time, with the lighting of Gotham City's Christmas tree being the very next thing we see. (Also, side note, can we just talk about how this means that Danny DeVito's Penguin is supposed to be only 33-years-old? Thank God I moisturize.) Even when we meet Michelle Pfeiffer's Selina aka Catwoman, it's when she forgets to give her boss, the evil Max Schreck (played by Christopher Walken), his notes for his speech at the Christmas tree lighting. This is also where the Penguin begins his evil campaign on the city with his minions, who explode onto the event coming out of a massive Christmas present. Sure, it's the Christmas from hell, but hey, it's still Christmas.

Sprinkled throughout the film are little moments of Christmas, from holiday shoppers going in and out of Gotham department stores to random Christmas decorations here and there in snowy Gotham City. The Penguin gives out gifts to kids and Bruce Wayne aka Batman (played by Michael Keaton) is shown in his mansion, the first on full blast with a Christmas tree directly behind him. It's all very filled with holiday joy.

But my favorite is Catwoman, who is the definition of the person who hates the holidays. Like, she's just going to do whatever she wants despite all the holiday madness happening around here. She even hits up (and destroys) a department store after hours. Let's be real, who hasn't dreamed of doing that after a day of trying to make your way through a chaotic mall?

(While we're on the topic of Catwoman, can I just talk about how I'm still furious Michelle Pfeiffer didn't get an Academy Award nomination for Batman Returns? It's now common place for actors to get nominated for superhero movies, I mean, two actors have won Oscars for playing the Joker—Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix. But back in 1992, the idea of a performance getting nominated for a Batman movie was just out of the question. However, if you revisit Batman Returns, you'll see that Pfeiffer's performance is, in fact, perfect, and I dare you to prove me otherwise.)

The ultimate example of why Batman Returns is a Christmas movie is one of the most iconic lines from the film. After an intense moment of fighting between Batman and Catwoman, she's lying on top of him. Batman looks over at a mistletoe and says, "Mistletoe could be deadly if you eat." Then Catwoman replies, "But a kiss can be even deadlier if you mean it." She then licks his face. I mean, come on, is that not the best mistletoe kiss ever captured on film?!

Listen, I get why a story about a group of criminals terrorizing a city over Christmas might not exactly be your idea of a warm and fuzzy holiday movie. But like, some of us are twisted and need a little dark mayhem over the holidays. And if you think about it, isn't the story of a bunch of outcasts just trying to be accepted the ultimate Christmas story? Sure, they go about getting that acceptance in horrible ways, but still, it's Christmasy! Even in the end, the fact that Catwoman lives, it's hopeful. And don't we all love a holiday movie that ends on a hopeful note?

Give Batman Returns a watch a let me know what you think, I'm @HAlanScott on everything. And subscribe to For the Culture newsletter for more holiday movie suggestions.