The Marvel Cinematic Universe has succeeded in doing what most franchises could only dream of while winning over fans and critics alike. Despite this proven model for superhero success, DC's The Batman went against the formula and became a box-office triumph. The Batman captured what the future of superhero movies could be.
While many of The Batman's strengths have appeared in previous MCU entries, synthesizing them into one film created something that's unlike what audiences have previously seen in the genre. As the MCU wrestles with its future, it's worthwhile to note what made The Batman feel so fresh. The MCU could learn plenty of things from The Batman, including how it maintains the audiences' love of seeing DC's heroes on the silver screen.
10 A Unique Visual Language Makes An Impact
Arguably the most talked-about aspect of The Batman was the striking visual style, crafted by director Matt Reeves and recent Academy Award-winning cinematographer Greg Fraser. Deep reds and dark nights depicted a Gotham overcome by violence, and pervasive green hues predicted the chaos infecting this vulnerable city. That's what's so fun about the film's visual language; it shows a clear dramatic intention that gives the audience more to chew on and ponder.
Audiences responded well to this, much in the same way they did when Shang-Chi's first trailer boasted daring neons and sweeping nature shots. While the MCU's consistent visual language allows their films to feel unified in their shared reality, both The Batman and Shang-Chi are evidence that audiences are hungry for a more distinct visual feast.
9 It's OK To Have A Darker Tone
The MCU gets a bad rap for its jokes and lighthearted tone, but that self-aware humor and persistent sense of fun made comic book films more accessible. This is especially true for viewers who struggled to identify with the stoic and self-serious heroes that came before.
The Batman, however, shows that audiences are ready for brutally dark superhero films. Not every movie should be Se7en, but The Batman embraced a darkness that felt rare within the genre. If The Batman can succeed with its defiantly brooding tone, the MCU no longer needs to be afraid of its bleaker potential.
8 Simple Stories Are Still Effective
The Batman tells a smart and refreshingly simple detective story about two men playing cat and mouse for the lives and soul of Gotham. While it admittedly lacks the cosmic complexity of stories like Avengers: Endgame or Spider-Man: No Way Home, the simpler plot allows the audience to focus more on the characters and themes.
After all, Iron Man's story was very simple, but it packed a punch in both categories. This straightforward approach to storytelling is part of what made the MCU so unique in its first few years.
7 Balancing Light And Heavy Stakes
Post-Infinity Saga, the MCU has had to wrestle with the existential stakes of its first act; where does a franchise go when they've already brought half the universe back to life? While the introduction of the multiverse points toward a "go-bigger" option, The Batman offers another path.
For much of the film, Batman is merely trying to prevent the next person from dying. Because he isn't fighting for the fate of the universe, his own survival, or any other franchise-ending threat, the possibility of failure becomes a reality - and a fear - for the audience. This makes for an engaging and dynamic experience overall.
6 Fan Service That Serves The Story
In The Batman's final act, the Riddler is shown to be sharing a cellblock with none other than the Clown Prince of Crime, played by Barry Keoghan. While some viewers dismissed this as fan service, the Joker's presence at this moment reflects one of the film's major themes; misery loves company.
This scene also hints at a shift in Gotham's future, as it goes from being ruled by crime lords to being conquered by more dangerous foes. It showed how even a moment meant to excite fans can reveal deeper meaning in the story; much in the same way No Way Home utilized its three Peters.
5 Needle Drops Tell A Story
The Batman made effective and efficient use of the Nirvana track Something In The Way. The song's metaphorical lyrics discuss an un-housed man living under a bridge and befriending the animals he needs to eat to survive. The lyrics reflect Bruce Wayne's struggle with his inability to solve Gotham's crime crisis or heal his trauma.
Using the song in two key moments allowed the audience to engage with why the song was being played. A similar moment occurs in Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2, as the song Brandy is given deeper meaning on its second playing.
4 The Villain Can Teach The Hero
The MCU has mastered hero-to-hero personal dynamics to the point that these relationships are beloved by fans. For instance, the tumultuous friendship of Tony Stark and Steve Rogers defined much of the Infinity Saga's dramatic arc. While The Batman's protagonist struggles in his own relationships, the film places a unique emphasis on his relationship with the Riddler. He challenges Bruce in ways that cause him to rethink his own motives and beliefs.
The Riddler truly shows Batman that he needs to be more than a symbol of fear, making the Riddler an active member of the story rather than a mere obstacle to overcome in Bruce's personal growth. Black Panther's Killmonger is another example of this, and fans have been excited for more villains like him ever since.
3 Question The Core Of The Character
To make sense of numerous comic book writers' different takes on the same character, screenwriters have to identify the character's consistent personality traits and core values. The Batman goes one step further; the writers not only found the core of the character but challenged it. The film seemingly says that Batman doesn't need to be a terrifying vigilante to save Gotham. It's a smart angle on a character that has been adapted and re-adapted many times.
The fact that Bruce's character arc in The Batman feels novel is an achievement in and of itself. As audiences become even more familiar with the MCU's cast of characters, challenging the core of who they are could keep them feeling fresh as time goes on.
2 Costumes Inform The Audience
Despite its unusually polarizing critical reception, The Eternals was a meticulously crafted film right down to its costuming. Despite the care that went into these costumes, it's difficult to draw deeper meaning from them while watching the film or without researching the design process.
On the other hand, the design for Batman's costume is surprisingly informative. Despite being further along in his career than Christian Bale's Batman in Batman Begins, Robert Pattinson's costume is less cohesive and slick than his predecessor. It reveals from its first appearance that this Batman is still very much a broken, disjointed work in progress.
1 End Somewhere Dangerous
The Batman ends in a precarious place for all the main characters. Selina has left Gotham, Edward's condition might be worsened by Arkham's inmates and treatment, The Penguin is poised to take over the criminal underworld, and the titular character is at an existential crossroads.
This uncertain feeling of change gives the film weight and consequences. Much like in the MCU's biggest hits Endgame, Infinity War, and No Way Home, it leaves fans wondering, "what next?" One movie in, and fans are already keen to know when they'll get to return to this world.