How Michael Keaton’s Batman Went From Flop to Phenomenon

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  • čas přidán 13. 06. 2023
  • It’s 1988, and the new Batman has just been announced. There’s no internet, because it’s 1988, so I’m hearing this news on the corner of 12th Street and Broadway at Manhattan’s comic-book mecca of the time, Forbidden Planet.
    But the thing is, people are pissed. Michael Keaton? Mr. Mom?! How could this guy be Batman?!
    But it wasn’t just the fans. The Wall Street Journal ran a front-page story in November of that year questioning the casting of Keaton as Batman. That in turn spurred on even more media speculation about the choices being made on this multi-million dollar movie.
    And then there were the petitions and the letter-writing campaigns where fans are said to have pleaded with Warner Bros. to get rid of Keaton and change the course of the DC film - some reports say there were 50,000 letters written!
    The role of Batman is so huge now, as is Keaton’s part in making the character the big-screen legend that he is, that it’s hard to conceptualize today what a shock his casting was in 1988. But at the time, the actor was mostly known for his comedic roles like Mr. Mom.
    Of course, the echos of Tim Burton’s Batman still influence the superhero movie genre to this day, even as Keaton himself returns to the role for The Flash some 31 years after being away. But it’s easy to forget now that when he first donned the cowl and eyeliner, there were a ton of fans who couldn’t handle the notion of Mr. Mom, Beetlejuice, the Clean and Sober guy, and so on playing Batman. And for better or worse, it would be a trend that would continue with pretty much every Batman since, from Christian Bale to Ben Affleck to Robert Pattinson (and even Val Kilmer and George Clooney if you dig deep enough).
    So let’s look back at the inauspicious debut of Michael Keaton’s Batman, and how his Dark Knight would go on to soar all the same, paving the way for the big-screen dominance of the character ever since.
    #IGN #Movies #Batman
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Komentáře • 282

  • @TheTransitmtl
    @TheTransitmtl Před rokem +56

    Literally no one actually watched the video before saying "it was never a flop"

  • @omt4293
    @omt4293 Před rokem +119

    The funny thing, he’s 71 years old. And his work in The Flash as Batman is arguably his best work as Batman. He was incredible in The Flash.

    • @ReecytheRapper
      @ReecytheRapper Před rokem +8

      his “best work” is crazy 😂

    • @omt4293
      @omt4293 Před rokem +3

      @@ReecytheRapper well considering he hasn’t really lost a step! Ok his best work was ‘89…happy?🤣

    • @ReecytheRapper
      @ReecytheRapper Před rokem +2

      @@omt4293 yes 😂

    • @omt4293
      @omt4293 Před rokem +1

      @@ReecytheRapper lol alright! 😁

    • @ieuanrichards8840
      @ieuanrichards8840 Před rokem +4

      Yeah looks like your never too old to be a superhero even for Michael keaton batman

  • @BruddaJakka
    @BruddaJakka Před rokem +211

    It was never a flop. Both movies did very well. He only left the role because Burton wasn't going to be coming back to direct.

    • @JamesJome123
      @JamesJome123 Před rokem +10

      Michael Keatons situation kinda got repeated with Robert, everyone was saying he was gonna be awful because he was in Twilight.

    • @jeahavvalentin980
      @jeahavvalentin980 Před rokem +15

      ​@@JamesJome123 Actually they were right about Robert Pattinson being the worst batman ever but were dead wrong about Michael Keaton's Iconic Batman role

    • @HunterHartley14
      @HunterHartley14 Před rokem +2

      @@jeahavvalentin980 why do you think roberts the worst. no hate just wondering

    • @dislexicpotato
      @dislexicpotato Před rokem +9

      @@jeahavvalentin980 Robert pattinson's portrayal is the most comics accurate to date.

    • @JamesJome123
      @JamesJome123 Před rokem +1

      @@jeahavvalentin980 well, Roberts doesn’t kill people or use guns, I’m looking at you Michael and Ben

  • @JoshuaBallinger
    @JoshuaBallinger Před rokem +19

    christopher reeves vs Michael Keaton Batman VS Superman was the masterpiece we never got!

  • @pastorsson1052
    @pastorsson1052 Před rokem +258

    He never was a flop. His version of Batman will always be my favorite.

    • @TheLastLineLive
      @TheLastLineLive Před rokem +11

      Yeah but they’re talking about the backlash before they saw the movie for themselves. This is one of those times where the fans were wrong.

    • @andymc96
      @andymc96 Před rokem +12

      Doesn't make it a flop though, just a click bait title.

    • @AdamAddictL
      @AdamAddictL Před rokem +1

      @@andymc96Yea..lGN needs to *DO BETTER*

    • @user-vi4xy1jw7e
      @user-vi4xy1jw7e Před rokem +2

      ​​​@@andymc96Reading comprehension skills. "From flop to phenomenon." Did you watch the video? Lmao

    • @nehemiahpouncey3607
      @nehemiahpouncey3607 Před rokem

      Ign clickbaiting.😂

  • @1977TA
    @1977TA Před rokem +31

    Keaton's Batman was never a flop. Anyone alive during the Bat mania summer of '89 will tell you the movie did more than exceed expectations. The title of this video should be "How The casting of Michael Keaton as Batman Went From Hated To Accepted"

  • @blutomindpretzel1735
    @blutomindpretzel1735 Před rokem +81

    let's be honest, we're all going to see the Flash just for Keaton's return as Bats. He's the man

    • @AdamAddictL
      @AdamAddictL Před rokem +2

      Amen!!!! 😂😂😂👍👍👍

    • @dreamrestore213
      @dreamrestore213 Před rokem +2

      You can tell people who comment on the title before they watch the video.

    • @onlyone23km
      @onlyone23km Před rokem +1

      55 million at the box office when it should’ve gotten 70. What a tragedy. We let this man down!

    • @sunnybearbuds
      @sunnybearbuds Před rokem

      Preach it.

    • @TheBipolarBatman
      @TheBipolarBatman Před rokem

      Heck yeah!

  • @jordanellis3615
    @jordanellis3615 Před rokem +21

    It was never a flop it’s a classic and he’s always been my favorite Batman🦇

  • @TheLastLineLive
    @TheLastLineLive Před rokem +21

    This movie kind of is the reason we have comic book movies today as well as a reason why Keaton is one of my favorite actors. Tough to say if Comic Book movies would have ever been taken seriously without this and Keaton probably would have likely been a typecasted actor without this movie.

  • @nullvoid2001
    @nullvoid2001 Před rokem +15

    Jack Nicholson as the joker was always the best.

  • @EnragedMollusk
    @EnragedMollusk Před rokem +25

    Michael Keaton will always be my Batman.

  • @herrlogan17
    @herrlogan17 Před rokem +15

    The perfect fit for Batman costume and hilarious abstracted multimilionaire...It was perfect combination for me. Batman Returns is the pinnacle of batman comics for me. The cast is simply brilliant.

  • @steveafanador6441
    @steveafanador6441 Před rokem +15

    Keaton is the ONLY Batman.

  • @Darthadios
    @Darthadios Před rokem +130

    Still the best Batman, and one of those rare superhero movies which is not childish and completely ridiculous.

    • @Amanojaku8
      @Amanojaku8 Před rokem +16

      Batman Returns ends with him defeating an army of bazooka carrying penguins....

    • @_Cetarial
      @_Cetarial Před rokem +7

      A man dressed as a bat isn’t ridiculous?

    • @AdamAddictL
      @AdamAddictL Před rokem +5

      @@Amanojaku8STILL one of the BEST Batman movies

    • @kidrobot.
      @kidrobot. Před rokem +2

      nice try

    • @kylesawkon4074
      @kylesawkon4074 Před rokem +6

      It was childish and ridiculous but still a movie for adults

  • @kabal28
    @kabal28 Před rokem +73

    Never a flop. He's still my true Batman

  • @bowlsem7
    @bowlsem7 Před rokem +5

    People were skeptical when Keaton was cast, but the movie and his role was never a flop. It was a blockbuster.

  • @iracloniger6052
    @iracloniger6052 Před rokem +31

    Never a flop always a phenomenon!!!!

  • @Wingedspace22
    @Wingedspace22 Před rokem +21

    Flop??? He’s like one of the best Batman ever!!

  • @omegajackson
    @omegajackson Před rokem +15

    There was lines around the movie theater twice when the first Michael Keaton batman. That is far from a flop

  • @distinguishedblues3761
    @distinguishedblues3761 Před rokem +5

    Flop? Never. His two films were legit especially for that era.

  • @Chad_Billington
    @Chad_Billington Před rokem +4

    Keaton and Conroy are the goats

  • @dfletcher532
    @dfletcher532 Před rokem +5

    Since when did ANYONE said that Michael Keaton's version was a flop??

  • @amiciprocul8501
    @amiciprocul8501 Před rokem +26

    1988 seems like a lifetime away now 😮

  • @laentidaddesconocida
    @laentidaddesconocida Před rokem +3

    Michael Keaton will be The Batman forever!
    There are certain actors or actresses that absorb the hero/heroine to perfection.
    A few examples below:
    Christopher Reeves as Superman.
    Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft.
    Scarlett Johansson as the Black Widow.
    Robert Downey Jr. as the Iron Man.
    Frank Castle as the Punisher.

    • @Ironcabbit
      @Ironcabbit Před rokem +1

      You mean: Jon Bernthal as The Punisher

  • @arturovillalobos336
    @arturovillalobos336 Před rokem +2

    Batman back then become more agressive (being able to kill and get killed), he was more dark using leather suit and even more sensual somehow, Kim Basinger put a spark in the mix.

  • @amazo88
    @amazo88 Před rokem +3

    Keaton, Affleck, and Pattinson all made people pissed for being casted. like, it is becoming a pattern.

  • @MrMetallidude
    @MrMetallidude Před rokem +7

    We all have a favorite and Keaton is permanently mine.

  • @elliswhitworth
    @elliswhitworth Před rokem +7

    the best one in my eyes and tim burton did a great job. love that gothic style.

  • @philippefrancisco8633
    @philippefrancisco8633 Před rokem +3

    He was never a flop to begin with

  • @GBglide
    @GBglide Před rokem +4

    "Clean and Sober" is proof Keaton can play anything.

  • @MrPatrichon
    @MrPatrichon Před rokem +2

    Back in '89, we went to see the Batmobile exhibited in a shopping mall. The line-up was so long we decided to turn our backs and go watch the movie in a theater instead. At the time, we had only watched it in a drive-in, which was a very bad idea because the movie was way too dark and we realized, when we watched it in a proper theater, that we had missed the most part... and also that it actually was an amazing movie. Both Keaton and Nicholson knocked it way out of the park.

  • @stevensales4731
    @stevensales4731 Před rokem +3

    I've always thought he was the very best batman and not a flop

  • @eye-saacthegalaxyeye4567
    @eye-saacthegalaxyeye4567 Před rokem +15

    He's not a version of batman
    HE IS BATMAN

  • @kanukki84
    @kanukki84 Před rokem +4

    Keaton and Affleck are Best batmen.

  • @PhilMoskowitz
    @PhilMoskowitz Před rokem +1

    There most certainly was an internet back then, and it was fairly popular. There were also BBSes (Bulletin Board Systems) and services such as America Online and Prodigy. These were the very kind social communications geeks latched on to discusses movies, tv shows, comicbooks, science, etc.

  • @stanley26red
    @stanley26red Před rokem +3

    Keaton Batman worked bacause he was the best Batman for Nicolson's Joker.

  • @jacktodd3439
    @jacktodd3439 Před rokem +3

    Those pre internet days were better than todays world, I'll tell you that.

  • @archilpandey
    @archilpandey Před rokem +3

    Now fans value his portrayal again after the flash

  • @Gummo22
    @Gummo22 Před rokem +8

    Clean and Sober is an awesome movie. Keaton alway made sense to me even as an comic reading 8yo. Beetlejuice = Batman. It should not have been a big leap.

  • @jayfroggy
    @jayfroggy Před rokem +1

    No one gonna mention his role in the critically acclaimed Birdman which was a homage to Batman which at the time no one saw him returning

  • @arasuishere
    @arasuishere Před rokem +2

    We need his Batman story more.. Andy kills it with Keaton Batman in The Flash.

  • @rimmynerd5746
    @rimmynerd5746 Před rokem +8

    What's flop? The film was successful!!!

  • @joojoobears2617
    @joojoobears2617 Před 11 měsíci +2

    There was always a darkness to Batman ever since the first appearance in 1939. When discussing the darkness of Batman with other media sources and other franchises after Batman's theatrical success, you should have mentioned prior influences such as Frank Miller's Dark Knight in the 80s for example. The Watchmen is another prime example of darker tone in comics in the 80s as well. Instead, the viewer might believe Tim Burton's Batman is somehow the origins of the darker version of Batman and other superheroes in general.

  • @54raynor
    @54raynor Před rokem +1

    At no point was Michael Keaton ever considered a flop as Batman. There was backlash to his casting, but those tune completely changed after the first movie.

  • @billyin4c274
    @billyin4c274 Před rokem +2

    Keaton’s Batman was never a flop.

  • @TheJustUsLeague
    @TheJustUsLeague Před rokem +2

    Michael Keaton .... best batman ever.
    Robert Pattinson .... still not sold.

  • @Saiyan_Assassin9
    @Saiyan_Assassin9 Před rokem +3

    Never a flop wtf

  • @vintageoriginallegit
    @vintageoriginallegit Před rokem +3

    Never a flop reported the video for misleading

  • @Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache

    That moment it could've been Bill Murray as Batman if Burton and Keaton hadn't decided to take Batman in the direction it took.

  • @ChristianThueringer
    @ChristianThueringer Před rokem +1

    great documentary and fan Service

  • @VicharB
    @VicharB Před 11 měsíci +1

    Keaton's' return as Batman in Flash was awesome, idea and execution, even though his Batman was ok, though it is not him but rather the production and cinematography that made it bad. Nolan's' Batman is gem till date for me. Flash, it was ok, 7/10 max.

  • @Crbennettx
    @Crbennettx Před rokem +1

    He is Adrian Toombs

  • @RoyFokker93
    @RoyFokker93 Před 6 dny

    Not a flop. As stated in the video, at the time, when it was anounced that Keaton would be Batman, people were skeptical.
    But when the movie was released, everyone loved his performance.

  • @LuiCambio
    @LuiCambio Před rokem +2

    Michael Keaton, Christian Bale, Robert Patterson were the best choices that was made for BruceWayne/Batman

  • @kendrickcalles5981
    @kendrickcalles5981 Před rokem +10

    A flop? I’ve never heard anyone refer to his Batman as a flop. Until this…

  • @jglg7238
    @jglg7238 Před rokem +7

    Batman returns has the best batmobile in any movie, also it's a true comic style batman that follows the comic books

  • @Dooncat
    @Dooncat Před 11 měsíci +1

    michael keaton has perfect voice and mouth . mouth is really important in batman when he wear it only mouth and eyes is visible

  • @lea-rw5cb
    @lea-rw5cb Před 11 měsíci +1

    Keaton actually revolutionised Batman before that it was really a comedy show.

  • @InfectiousGroovePodcast
    @InfectiousGroovePodcast Před rokem +2

    Lol, what? Not sure who did the research for this video but the hype for the 1989 Batman movie was insane. It was never even close to being a flop. For those of us who lived through it, revisionist history videos like this make no sense.

  • @playerone2629
    @playerone2629 Před rokem

    Loved the thumbnail🤣

  • @RONI_RRS
    @RONI_RRS Před rokem +1

    Those early young footages of Michael keaton as Tv actor is hilariuos 👌😆😆😆🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
    So glad that they've brought him back 🙏
    It wud be his ultimate redemption as 🦇
    🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

  • @alangreenway6695
    @alangreenway6695 Před rokem +8

    You have to look at the casting with the time it came out. Dan Ackroyd, Eddie Murphy, and Michael J Fox all had huge action roles after coming from TV and comedy. The 80’s Batman films are bleaker vision than the 60’s TV show, but there is an undercurrent of dark humour that runs through the films that requires comic timing and facial expression under that mask.

  • @williamblake831
    @williamblake831 Před rokem +2

    It was a banger out of the gate. Lol

  • @bradywitt8206
    @bradywitt8206 Před rokem +1

    Great video

  • @EricToro-ef4hr
    @EricToro-ef4hr Před rokem +1

    it was never a flop on the first view of the film it was a surprisingly. A huge hit at the box office anybody that was raised in the eighties know this. Michael Keaton became the next Batman after many hated the idea. that Michael Keaton was going to play batman, but he pulled off. Awesome

  • @prince21781
    @prince21781 Před 11 měsíci +1

    Keaton has been the best bat man to date. Nuff said

  • @mattmisanthropy.
    @mattmisanthropy. Před rokem +2

    *Keaton was the best Batman. Burton was the best director. Anyone that disagrees is wrong.*
    *It really goes to show - Don't listen to the media.*

  • @dmtmediabrothers
    @dmtmediabrothers Před rokem +4

    How was it a flop? It was huge and set the super hero standard for years

  • @XBX4LFE
    @XBX4LFE Před rokem +1

    Oh IGN. Batman was never a flop it was the hottest movie of 89.

  • @Tiyong55
    @Tiyong55 Před rokem +1

    FLOP?! HE WENT FROM ICON TO A LEGEND.

  • @BlackMask1980
    @BlackMask1980 Před rokem +1

    Is IGN on something Michael Keaton's batman was one of the best batman movies ever made

  • @Zeluth
    @Zeluth Před rokem

    C;ean and Sober still resonates.

  • @davecurry5604
    @davecurry5604 Před rokem +1

    That bat logo was money back then.

  • @rondoughhowell6442
    @rondoughhowell6442 Před rokem

    Well who ever said that Keaton Batman was or is a Flop must be a Dark Knight lover

  • @askjeevescosby2928
    @askjeevescosby2928 Před 11 měsíci

    12:30 the first kid to ever say rad.

  • @RONI_RRS
    @RONI_RRS Před rokem +1

    What a CLASSIC ❤‍🔥❤‍🔥❤‍🔥❤‍🔥❤‍🔥❤‍🔥

  • @sebastiancaruso1697
    @sebastiancaruso1697 Před 4 dny

    Flop? IGN needs to start labeling things better. Keaton is the Batman for a couple of generations and he helped revitalize the image of the character. He’s my favorite Batman and Bruce Wayne.

  • @e1m137
    @e1m137 Před rokem

    Did Jonathan Frakes narrate this?

  • @LEXRAPS
    @LEXRAPS Před rokem

    That Thumbnail tho lol

  • @jonathankinney14
    @jonathankinney14 Před rokem +1

    Yall smoking crack!! Keaton ain't never been a flop💯

  • @coreyprince-qr5ho
    @coreyprince-qr5ho Před rokem +1

    Keaton stole the show in The Flash old but not obsolete

  • @darthrhonda1348
    @darthrhonda1348 Před rokem +1

    Never was a flop

  • @franklingoodwin
    @franklingoodwin Před rokem +1

    His Batman was a flop? You might want to look at the box office takings for both Batman movies he was in lol. Batman 1989 was at the time the fifth biggest grossing movie of all time

  • @ARIXANDRE
    @ARIXANDRE Před rokem +8

    Sorry, Christopher Nolan. Tim Burton nailed it first in 1989.

    • @titanguy7316
      @titanguy7316 Před rokem +1

      Nolan did it better. So did Reeves.

    • @Thespeedrap
      @Thespeedrap Před rokem

      All the filmmakers did the character their own way so there's no comparison except for the storytelling.

  • @joshnizzle
    @joshnizzle Před rokem +1

    Always be my Batman

  • @mattyzigzag
    @mattyzigzag Před rokem +1

    IGN reaching yet again. Keaton’s Batman is beloved

  • @serrothrotciv4244
    @serrothrotciv4244 Před rokem +4

    Its not a flop tho....this happens with every batman and suoerman and star wars and spiderman and everything

  • @MrJ2theC
    @MrJ2theC Před rokem +1

    Weird how Keaton is the only decent Batman. Christian Bale also nailed it, but Michael Keaton just owned that role.

  • @PhinneusPrune
    @PhinneusPrune Před 4 dny

    Michael Keaton's Batman was never a flop.
    Here we go. Somebody who wasn't even alive when the movie was released is calling the movie a Flop when it is considered the movie that began the Summer Blockbuster trend

  • @echochamber8350
    @echochamber8350 Před 11 měsíci +1

    Flop? What're you smoking!

  • @Alucard_ashie
    @Alucard_ashie Před rokem

    The bat brow,!!!

  • @TheGoddamnJefe
    @TheGoddamnJefe Před rokem +5

    Not a flop. Both films were great.

  • @space_wanderer_
    @space_wanderer_ Před rokem +1

    *_Жаль, что 3-ю часть не снял Т.Бёртон с М.Китоном..((_*

  • @RichardGarza-zo9mo
    @RichardGarza-zo9mo Před rokem +1

    It's great to see Michael play Batman one last time in The Flash. He's Batman.

  • @dirkdiggler2695
    @dirkdiggler2695 Před rokem

    Is that tyler the creator at 12:28?

  • @civilwarfare101
    @civilwarfare101 Před 7 měsíci

    Boy this video is just proof enough that being antagonistic towards any form of media before they come out is just a waste of time and effort.

  • @ESTYMANAGRANIATV
    @ESTYMANAGRANIATV Před rokem +1

    3:58 Jay-Z ''Hard Knock Life'' :)

  • @ValentinasWatching
    @ValentinasWatching Před rokem

    No one ever likes any Batman casting or joker. Pretty much the same with Superman. People start warming up to it later and change their minds sometimes.

  • @SmooveShotta
    @SmooveShotta Před rokem

    Lol so even back then they were petitioning to have actors removed for the littlest reason. 😭 no matter the generation ppl are the same

  • @andreveach7520
    @andreveach7520 Před rokem

    They should have STOPPED when Keaton 'left'; until Bale came around