Is “Batman Returns” Released June 19th 1992 a CHRISTMAS movie

Ok, so I know Christmas 2024 is over and we are in the New Year 2025, that being said I want to ask my fellow Facebook family one question.

Is “Batman Returns” Released June 19th 1992 a CHRISTMAS movie?

I personally think it is myself and I watch it every year at Christmas time.

Despite being set at Christmas time the debate over whether Batman Returns is a Christmas movie or not has gone on since its release in 1992. The sequel to 1989’s Batman, Batman Returns marks director Tim Burton’s second and final live-action take on the iconic DC superhero. Michael Keaton assumed the lead role of Bruce Wayne, a.k.a. Batman, for the holiday-set movie, joined by Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman and Danny DeVito as Penguin. Simply being set at Christmas time isn’t enough to make holiday watch lists, however, so the discussion over whether Batman Returns is a Christmas film or not is still very much alive.

With its Christmastime setting, Batman Returns could feasibly be considered a Christmas movie, with several other films also falling into this ambiguous category – including 1988’s Die Hard, 1984’s Gremlins, and 1998’s You’ve Got Mail. For Batman Returns, however, there are several other factors at play, such as the overt seasonal set-pieces throughout the film. While not everybody will agree with Batman Returns’ categorization as a Christmas movie, there are several reasons why Batman Returns – considered by many to be superior to Tim Burton’s original Batman movie – crosses the boundary between superhero and Christmas movies.
Batman Returns Has Christmas Themes Throughout

There’s more than enough evidence to suggest that Batman Returns is a Christmas movie. Not only is the film set during Christmas, but the holiday also plays into the story in various significant ways. Gotham’s public Christmas tree is a recurring element during Batman Returns, and snow, Christmas decorations, and yuletide songs are also around every corner. Moreover, the story twists classic Christmas tales, with Christopher Walken’s evil businessman Max Shreck standing in as the Grinch or Scrooge character. While he at least grows enough of a heart to save his son from the Penguin, the movie doesn’t redeem him either.

Likewise, DeVito’s Penguin was thrown into the sewers by his parents at Christmas. Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman is the subject of several divine resurrections. Although most Christmas stories are about family, Batman Returns focuses on three characters who are alone; Bruce Wayne and Penguin are orphans, while Catwoman only has her cats – bringing some weight to the traditional Christmas story. Batman and Catwoman even share romantic moments while standing under mistletoe, so Batman Returns could easily be considered a Christmas movie.

Overt Christmas themes are woven throughout Batman Returns, with even the villains’ henchmen being launched out of a giant present during their introduction. Perhaps not the usual feel-good holiday story like Home Alone and It’s a Wonderful Life, Batman Returns is instead reminiscent of Burton’s Edward Scissorhands, a melancholy fairytale set at Christmastime. Although Batman Returns ends with Bruce Wayne alone, he does receive a gift in the form of a stray cat and even closes the film by bidding Alfred, “Merry Christmas.”Even so, this certainly isn’t a typical kid-friendly Christmas film.

My original cover for Lance Star Sky Ranger “Cold Snap”

I worked on this project for Author Bobby Nash’s new Pulp Novel Lance Star Sky Ranger “Cold Snap” where I was asked to produce the interior illustrations 9 total. The book was published by Ron Fortier’s Airship 27 publications. Which is now on sale on Amazon. While working on the art I also produced a semi finished cover which I thought could be considered for the book which I submitted to Ron Fortier and Rob Davis. I never heard anything back regarding that, other than they liked it and asked if I’d consider doing the cover for a future book.

Once the book was published I was informed by Ron as was Bobby the Author. I was actually very surprised at first when I saw the cover for the book, which is included in this post. It was my cover, but not my illustrated cover. The cover for the book was done by the talented artist Rob Davis. He basically used my cover theme. The cover Rob did is amazing, and I love it but I just want to put it out there that I produced the cover first, even though my original cover is slightly different than the one he produced.

I had rotator cuff surgery on my right shoulder which is my drawing arm. This hampered me from finishing one page of art on the interior and the final cover work, which I have since completed which has been painful to do, and is shown here as well. They say Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

That all being said if your interested in the book you can order your copy here on Amazon

ABOVE: Rob Davis Published Cover for Book.

ABOVE: Clayton Murwin’s Completed Cover

ABOVE: Clayton Murwin’s unfinished original cover