When Does the Film "Batman Returns" (1992) Take Place?
"Batman Returns" is a crime superhero film written by Daniel Waters with Sam Hamm, Wesley Strick, and Tim Burton [adapting "Detective Comics #58 v1 (1941?) by ?, as well as "Batman" #62 v1 (1949/1950) by ?, "Batman" #15 v1 (1943?) by ?, and "Batman" 60s episodes? "" () by ?] that released June 19th, 1992. So when is "Batman Returns" set?
It takes place on an alternate timeline of the fictional DC Films Universe in the year:
We know this because . "Ted Bundy exists and is a known serial killer." Clearly, some time (but not a long period of time) has passed since the events of "Batman" (1989), which takes place in 1947 AD. [Though the connections between some Batman movies is contentious among fans, in this story Bruce Wayne/Batman specifically says to Alfred Pennyworth, "Who let Vicky Vale into the Batcave?", referring to an event in "Batman" (1989). It is, in fact, the only time a live-action Batman clearly establishes continuity between stories until "The Dark Knight" (2008), the middle of a trilogy rebooting film series known as The Dark Knight trilogy.]
1950s? AD
We know this because . "Ted Bundy exists and is a known serial killer." Clearly, some time (but not a long period of time) has passed since the events of "Batman" (1989), which takes place in 1947 AD. [Though the connections between some Batman movies is contentious among fans, in this story Bruce Wayne/Batman specifically says to Alfred Pennyworth, "Who let Vicky Vale into the Batcave?", referring to an event in "Batman" (1989). It is, in fact, the only time a live-action Batman clearly establishes continuity between stories until "The Dark Knight" (2008), the middle of a trilogy rebooting film series known as The Dark Knight trilogy.]
Additionally, there is a creepy prologue opening the movie that continues under the opening credits of the film and ends with a title card reading: "GOTHAM CITY 33 YEARS LATER". So it must be YEAR AD.
YEAR - 33 = YEAR.
More specifically, both the main action and the prologue take place at Christmastime so we know it is December of YEAR AD and December of YEAR AD, respectively.
It is a chronologically early film in the DC Films timeline (an early film to feature Bruce Wayne/Batman and a first to feature The Penguin and Catwoman) and can be watched at its timeline point.
