When Does the Film "Batman Forever" (1995) Take Place?
"Batman Forever" is a crime superhero film written by Lee Batchler with Janet Scott Batchler and Akiva Goldsman [adapting the Batman story in "Detective Comics" #38 (1940), the Batman story in "Detective Comics" #66 (1942), the Batman story in "Detective Comics" #140 (1948), all by Bill Finger, "Detective Comics" #633 (1991) by Peter Milligan, as well as "Batman" #442 v1 (1989) by Marv Wolfman with George Pérez] that released June 16th, 1995. So when is "Batman Forever" set?
It takes place on an alternate timeline of the fictional DC Films Universe in the year:
We know this because when Harvey Dent/Two-Face crashes the NygmaTech party, he yells, "It's only an old-fashioned low-tech stick-up! We're interested in the basics: cash, jewelry, cellular telephones." The first handheld cellular phone was introduced to the market on March 6th, 1983 AD so it must be during or after March of 1983 AD.
2010? AD
We know this because when Harvey Dent/Two-Face crashes the NygmaTech party, he yells, "It's only an old-fashioned low-tech stick-up! We're interested in the basics: cash, jewelry, cellular telephones." The first handheld cellular phone was introduced to the market on March 6th, 1983 AD so it must be during or after March of 1983 AD.
Also, extremely quickly during the rooftop gala at "the Ritz Gotham" scene Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy (1940-) appears [Senator Leahy also appears in "The Dark Knight" (2008) and "The Dark Knight Rises" (2012) as a Wayne Enterprises board member and in "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice" (2016) as Senator Purrington but only in "Batman & Robin" (1997) during the "Gotham Botanical Gardens" charity party and in this movie as himself. At least, per the end credits of "Batman & Robin" that include "Himself SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY".] and he served as a senator from January 3rd, 1975 AD to January 3rd, 2023 AD. So it is most likely before January of 2023 AD.
More specifically (among the very few references to time of any kind in the entire movie) when Doctor Chase Meridian and Bruce Wayne/Batman first meet and discuss the return of Two-Face Batman says, it's the ..."second anniversary of the day I captured him." The only other live-action appearance including Two-Face is in the later film "The Dark Knight" (2008), a story not intended to fit with this one but that does include events that could loosely be referred to as Two-Face being "captured", which takes place entirely in July of 2008 AD. A "second anniversary" from this date would put us in July of 2010 AD at the start of the tale.
7.2,008 + 2 = 7.2,010.
About two-thirds through the narrative, the characters are enjoying Halloween. Alfred Pennyworth greets Chase at Wayne Manor with "Happy Halloween." Since Halloween is traditionally celebrated on October 31st, we know the final part of the movie takes place in October of whichever year it is.
Additionally, there are numerous flashbacks to Bruce Wayne's childhood right after the murder of his parents. Within the context of the story, they are unplaceable. Other versions of the Waynes' murder .
A newspaper appearing in the film dates the scene to Friday, October 27th. October 27th of that year fell on a Friday, meaning the film takes place present day in 1995.
It was adapted to comics in early 1995, to prose in late 1995, as a video game in late 1995, and then as another video game titled "Batman Forever: The Arcade Game" in 1996.
