Some of the most iconicBatmanfilms of all time are finally headed back to the big screen later this month. Tim Burton’s seminal take on the classic DC superhero first hit cinemas in 1989, featuring Michael Keaton’s glorious debut as the Caped Crusader. Then, in 1992, Burton one-upped himself withone of the greatest superhero sequelsever made,Batman Returns. Now, over 30 years after both films debuted in theaters, DC fans will be able to re-experience them on the big screen in one of the most immersive theatrical formats out there.
Dolby and Warner Bros. have announced that bothBatmanandBatman Returnswill be returning to theaters for a one-night-only screening on August 25. The special presentation will feature the remastered versions of both films, which will make their way to Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for the very first time. Not only will it look better than ever before, but Danny Elfman’s iconic score will roar in theaters in epic fashion. The screenings will take place in over 160 Dolby Cinema at AMC Theatres locations across the United States, and DC fans don’t have to wait to purchase their seats. Tickets are on sale now.
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The latest re-release follows last year’s Batman Day celebration on September 21, when three movies —Batman,Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, andBatman Forever— hit theaters nationwide tohonor the character’s 85fth anniversary. As of this writing, it is unclear if this kind of Batman-a-thon will return in 2025, but Dolby’s one-night event should hold DC fans over until then. It is not only a special occasion for both of Burton’s superhero movies, but especiallyBatman Returns,which was the first feature film ever presented in Dolby Digital. A full-circle moment for the 1992 film, which used “the revolutionary audio technology that would become synonymous with ‘surround sound’ in cinema.”
Tim Burton and Warner Bros. Tease ‘Batman’ Returning to Cinemas
Tim Burton and Warner Bros. have released official statements regarding the re-release ofBatmanandBatman Returns. Theuniquely gothic takeon the DC superhero returns to theaters in a format that Burton says brings the film to life in a “really new and exciting” way. Burton stated the following in anticipation of the one-night-only Dolby Cinema screening:
“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.”
Meanwhile, Jeff Goldstein, President of Global Distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures., shared his excitement about re-releasing Burton’s iconic take on the Dark Knight in the modern theatrical format.
“Tim Burton’s acclaimed Batman films deliver a dark, iconic vision of Gotham City that continues to influence the modern Super Hero genre today. 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."
It’s become quite clear that if you haven’t seenBatmanorBatman Returnsin theaters, August 25 will be the best time to do so. It’s never too late to experience a classic, and revisit an old goodie that has quite literally never looked or sounded as good on the big screen. The limited theater rollout might be disappointing, but as Universaljust proved withThe Odyssey, moviegoers are more than willing to go above and beyond to see their favorite filmmaker’s work in the best theatrical format possible.
Source: Dolby
