Batman – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Batman

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie1989

52%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Burton's gothic Batman is visually stunning but dated, dark, and genuinely creepy—not for the faint of heart or the under-12 crowd.

7.5/10

77%

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Batman

movie

PG-13, 1989

52%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Burton's gothic Batman is visually stunning but dated, dark, and genuinely creepy—not for the faint of heart or the under-12 crowd.

7.5

77%

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Screenwise Verdict

Tim Burton's Batman is a cultural landmark—it proved superhero movies could be dark, stylish, and financially massive. The production design is still stunning, and Nicholson's Joker is a wild, scenery-chewing performance.

But let's be real: this movie is 36 years old, and it shows. The pacing is glacial compared to modern superhero films, the special effects look quaint, and the storytelling is more interested in vibes than coherence. Kids raised on the MCU will likely find it boring. The Joker's kills are genuinely disturbing in a way that feels less cartoonish than modern superhero violence—people die with rictus grins, and it's unsettling.

If you've got a 12-year-old who loves gothic aesthetics, film history, or wants to see where the modern Batman mythos started, this is worth a watch. But don't expect them to love it the way you did in 1989. It's a museum piece now—impressive, important, but not exactly a crowd-pleaser for the TikTok generation.

Age Fit

This is solidly for 12+ and up. Younger kids will be scared, and the slow pacing will lose them anyway. Teens and adults who appreciate gothic aesthetics and 80s blockbuster vibes will get the most out of it, but it's not essential viewing for kids.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Tim Burton's Batman is dark, moody, and leans heavily into gothic noir aesthetics. The Joker is a homicidal maniac who kills with toxins and laughing gas, and there's a pervasive sense of menace throughout. Batman himself is brooding and vengeful rather than a beacon of kindness or cooperation. The tone is grim—this isn't about modeling healthy emotional regulation or teamwork. It's a revenge fantasy wrapped in leather and fog.

Imaginative

Burton's Gotham City is a visual feast—gothic architecture, art deco meets German expressionism, all shadows and gargoyles. The production design is genuinely inventive and created a template for superhero films for decades. The Joker's twisted creativity (chemical weapons, deadly parade balloons) and Batman's gadgetry invite a certain dark wonder. It reimagined what a comic book movie could look like, moving away from camp into something stylized and atmospheric.

Safe

This is PG-13 territory (though it predates the rating's full enforcement). The Joker's kills are disturbing—people die with rictus grins, he fries a gangster with a joy buzzer, and there's implied violence throughout. A man falls into a vat of chemicals and emerges disfigured. The tone is menacing and intense, with jump scares and unsettling imagery. No nudity or sex, but the violence and psychological horror make this genuinely scary for younger kids. Common Sense Media pegs it at 12, which feels about right—this isn't a surprise-scary movie, but it's definitely not safe for elementary schoolers.

Enriching

There's some thematic weight here—duality, justice vs. vengeance, the thin line between hero and villain. Bruce Wayne's trauma and his choice to channel it into vigilantism offers something to chew on. But the film is more interested in style than substance, and the ethical questions are raised but not deeply explored. It's entertaining and culturally significant (it basically birthed the modern superhero blockbuster), but it's not going to spark deep conversations about morality or personal growth. It's a solid action-adventure with atmosphere, not a character study.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Groundbreaking production design—Gotham City is a character unto itself, all shadows and gargoyles
Jack Nicholson's Joker is iconic, campy, and terrifying in equal measure
Launched the modern superhero blockbuster and proved comic book movies could be taken seriously
Danny Elfman's score is instantly recognizable and adds real weight to the atmosphere

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What to Watch For

The Joker's kills are disturbing—people die with frozen grins, and there's a lot of implied violence
Pacing is slow by 2025 standards; modern kids raised on Marvel may find it draggy
The tone is genuinely dark and menacing—this isn't a fun romp, it's a gothic revenge tale
Some scenes (chemical vat, face reveal) are nightmare fuel for younger viewers

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think Bruce Wayne chose to become Batman instead of dealing with his trauma another way?"
"The Joker and Batman are both kind of obsessed with each other—what makes them different?"
"How does this Gotham City feel different from other superhero cities you've seen?"
"Do you think Batman is a hero or a vigilante? What's the difference?"

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