Get ready to return to the world of Tim Burton’s Batman. Dolby and Warner Bros. have announced that Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992) will both be brought back to theaters this month. The catch? It’s a one-night engagement, so those who want to experience Michael Keaton’s Caped Crusader on the big screen will have a limited window to do so.
Both films will be released on Monday, August 25 featuring Dolby Vision picture and Dolby Atmos sound. They will be screened at over 160 Dolby Cinema at AMC Theatres locations in the US. Tickets are on sale now. Burton had the following to say about it.
“I hadn’t watched these films since I made them, and seeing them again with this level of clarity, beauty, color, and sound felt really new and exciting. Dolby Atmos and Vision brought it all to life in a fresh way.”
“Batman and Batman Returns remain seminal films in the history of the Super Hero genre,” said Michelle Maddalena, Vice President of Global Content and Industry Relations. “The new presentation of these films in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos honors Tim Burton’s bold creativity while showcasing how far audio and image technology have evolved.”
Here is the synopsis for 1989’s Batman.
“As the Dark Knight, defender of law and order in Gotham City, Batman treads the shadow zone between right and wrong, fighting with only his skill in martial arts and his keenly honed mind to defend the innocent and to purge the memory of his parents’ brutal murder–always keeping his true identity as millionaire philanthropist Bruce Wayne a closely guarded secret.”
And here is the synopsis for 1992’s Batman Returns.
“In the second of the blockbuster Batman films, the physically deformed criminal genius The Penguin threatens Gotham City – and, helpless, the entire city can only pray that Batman Returns. Only Batman (MichaelKeaton) can defend the city from total chaos as The Penguin (DannyDeVito) lays twisted waste to a great metropolis. Meanwhile, the Dark Knight may have met his equal in the lethally lithe Catwoman (MichellePfeiffer)–only he doesn’t know if she is feline friend…or foe.”
The fondness for Burton’s vision of the Batman franchise has grown even more in recent years. Several official DC novels, including 2024’s Batman Resurrection, have taken place in Burton’s universe. Keaton also returned as Batman in 2023’s The Flash movie. He was set to return in the Batgirl movie, but Warner Bros. shelved the project after production was finished. It likely won’t ever be released.
“Tim Burton’s acclaimed Batman films deliver a dark, iconic vision of Gotham City that continues to influence the modern Super Hero genre today,” said Jeff Goldstein, President of Global Distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures. “With their advancements over the past decades, Dolby now transforms these beloved classics into completely new cinematic experiences through Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, delivering unprecedented visual and audio fidelity.”
Tickets and showtimes for Batman are available at DolbyLabs.co/Batman, with Batman Returns at DolbyLabs.co/BatmanReturns.
What do you think? Do you plan on heading to a theater for these? Which movie are you most excited for? Join in on the conversation over on Facebook or Twitter!
