Batman Returns (1992) on Netflix
In Gotham City at Christmas, the deformed Oswald Cobblepot forces Max Shreck to help him rejoin high society. Batman investigates, and Shreck's secretary Selina Kyle becomes Catwoman.
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Trailer
Plot summary
Wealthy socialites abandon their malformed infant son Oswald in Gotham City's sewers, where penguins take him in. Thirty-three years later, at Christmas, former circus performers called the Red Triangle Gang abduct industrialist Max Shreck and carry him to a hideout in Gotham Zoo's derelict Arctic exhibit, where Oswald blackmails him with evidence of corruption and murders into helping him re-enter high society. Max arranges the kidnapping of the mayor's infant so Oswald can rescue the child and win the city's gratitude. Oswald asks for the city's birth records. Selina Kyle, Max's secretary, finds out that the power plant he wants to build would drain and store Gotham's electricity, and he pushes her from a window; she survives and takes on the persona of Catwoman. Batman looks into Oswald's ties to the Red Triangle Gang.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Batman Returns (1992)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Burton first wanted Marlon Brando to play the Penguin while Warner Bros. preferred Dustin Hoffman, and Christopher Lloyd and Robert De Niro were also considered before Danny DeVito emerged as frontrunner; DeVito was hesitant until his close friend Jack Nicholson, the Joker in Batman, persuaded him.
- Sean Young reportedly turned up at the Warner Bros. lot in a homemade Catwoman costume for an impromptu audition with Burton, who allegedly hid under his desk while Keaton and producer Mark Canton briefly met with her. She also showcased the costume on Entertainment Tonight.
SPOILER
Warner Bros. mandated the scene showing that Catwoman survived, after test audiences responded positively to Pfeiffer's performance; Pfeiffer was unavailable, so a stand-in was used. Waters and Burton had planned for Catwoman to die alongside Shreck.- Pfeiffer had been considered for the role of Vicki Vale in Batman, but Keaton vetoed the casting because of their previous romantic relationship, believing her presence could interfere with attempts to reconcile with his wife. For Catwoman she received a $3 million salary.
- Annette Bening was initially cast as Catwoman but had to withdraw due to pregnancy; the other actresses considered included Ellen Barkin, Cher, Bridget Fonda, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Madonna, Julie Newmar, Lena Olin, Susan Sarandon, Raquel Welch and Kim Basinger.
- For a sewer scene, handlers guided an organ-grinder monkey carrying a note for the Penguin. When the monkey saw DeVito in full costume and makeup it lunged at him, and DeVito recalled that the costume being padded was all that saved him.
- Burgess Meredith, who portrayed the Penguin in the 1960s TV series, was originally scheduled to cameo as the Penguin's father, Tucker Cobblepot, but became ill during filming and was replaced by Paul Reubens.
- Danny Elfman was initially reluctant to score Batman Returns because he had been unhappy that his Batman score was supplemented with pop music by Prince.
