31 Years Ago Today: Controversial '90s Superhero Movie Was Released, and It Still Divides Fans

Tuesday marks 31 years since a polarizing superhero film debuted in theaters.

The '90s were a turning point for the Batman comic book character. Three live-action films were released over a five-year period following the success of Tim Burton's 1989 Batman blockbuster.

Additionally, Batman: The Animated Series proved to be a significant difference-maker for Warner Bros. That iconic series would also produce four films: Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker and Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman.

While the animated series and 1989 film drew rave reviews, Batman Returns (1992) largely divided fans and critics. Specifically, Burton faced criticism for a much darker tone in his sequel. Warner Bros. made the decision to replace him with Joel Schumacher for the third installment of the movie franchise.

With Michael Keaton leaving the franchise after two films, Val Kilmer was cast as the Caped Crusader. Schumacher assembled an all-star cast for Batman Forever, including Tommy Lee Jones (Harvey Dent/Two-Face), Jim Carrey (Edward Nygma/Riddler), Nicole Kidman (Dr. Chase Meridian) and Chris O'Donnell (Dick Grayson/Robin).

Batman Forever was released in the United States and Canada on June 16, 1995. More than three decades later, the film holds the reputation of a polarizing superhero film.

‘Batman Forever' Did Well at the Box Office, but Drew Mixed Reviews

According to Box Office Mojo, Batman Forever grossed $336.567 million worldwide. That was significantly better than Batman Returns, which generated $266.8 million.

Schumacher was hired to use a more family-friendly tone in Batman Forever. The film used plenty of neon lights (props, costumes, signs across Gotham City, etc.) and brought some lighthearted humor. Who can forget Batman saying, "I'll get drive-thru" to Alfred?

Kilmer's performance as Batman/Bruce Wayne drew strong reviews, but Jones' portrayal of Two-Face missed the mark in more ways than one. Behind the scenes, Jones made it clear to Carrey that he wasn't keen on working together, telling the comedy star, "I cannot sanction your buffoonery."

Depending on who you ask, some will tell you that Batman Forever was a giant improvement from Batman Returns. Others will tell you that the more family-friendly and somewhat campy tone ruined it.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 16, 2026 at 4:30 AM.