Matt Reeves' forthcoming The Batman has been revealed as having a length of two hours and fifty-five minutes. While the news surprised many, the promise of a nearly three-hour-long movie about the Caped Crusader is a tantalizing one. While there aren't many blockbusters that reach lengths over two-and-a-half hours, there are some shining examples that proved that a long evening in the theater can absolutely be worth it.

While prestige films often carry expanded runtimes, action blockbusters normally skew closer two hour runtimes. Recently, however, movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Eternals have easily broken the 150 minute threshold. It seems as though long-winded spectacles might just become the new norm. In anticipation of The Batman, here are five blockbusters that pushed the limits of traditional length for theatrically released films.

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Heat

heat poster Cropped

Michael Mann's Heat brought Al Pacino and Robert De Niro to the screen together for the first time. The 1995 stone-cold crime classic sports a runtime of 170 minutes, and the screen is white-hot for that entire duration. WIth a supporting cast comprised of Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Ashley Judd, Mykelti Williamson, Wes Studi, Danny Trejo, and Jon Voight, each character gets their time in the spotlight and the film is all the better for it.

Inspiring virtually the entire career of Christopher Nolan and influencing countless knockoffs and imitations, Heat is perhaps pound for pound the best crime film of all time. Following Pacino's Lt. Hanna on his quest to take down De Niro's bank robbing Neil McCauley, heat packs so much tension, action, intrigue, and drama into the almost three-hour-long runtime that it's a wonder it didn't bust. A serious and violent film, Heat has the power to leave viewers shaking by the time the credits roll.

The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

The final film in one of the most well-regarded trilogies of all time, Return of the King came to theaters toting a whopping 201-minute runtime. The film, which stars Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, and many more, grossed nearly $1.2 billion at the box-office and won eleven Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director. Coming after the equally well-received Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers, fans and critics alike were supremely satisfied with this Peter Jackson-directed film.

Often cited as the best fantasy movie of all time, Return of the King earned its gargantuan runtime with a story packed with action, heart, and more endings than one can shake a stick at. It set the benchmark for films of its ilk, and it's arguably never been matched in the nineteen-year interim since its release. Many will tell you to stop with this one instead of continuing on to the Hobbit trilogy, but here's to hoping that Amazon's new series brings the Middle Earth franchise back up to the quality that it used to retain.

The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises

At this point, The Dark Knight Rises is an underrated gem. While it may sound crazy to hear that about a movie that grossed almost $1.1 billion dollars across the world, it's true. This Christopher Nolan-directed trilogy capper is overblown and ridiculous at times, but it remains one of the better entries in the storied Batman franchise. Picking up eight years after The Dark Knight's end, Rises finds a nearly-disabled Bruce Wayne on his search for redemption and his journey to take down his most fearsome opponent yet, Tom Hardy's Bane.

The purportedly $300 million budgeted film looks absolutely incredible as director Nolan does not have a fondness for digital effects. It also features solid to amazing performances from the esteemed cast including Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway, and the aforementioned Tom Hardy. While maligned at the time for ludicrous plot conveniences and a messy plot, TDKR is better than most remember. At 165 minutes in length, there's a lot to love.

Interstellar

Another Christopher Nolan film, Interstellar was just as divisive upon release as Rises. Matthew McConaughey tries to save the world from devastation here as he leads a crew of astronauts on a dangerous and time-consuming trek to find another habitable planet for earthlings to relocate to. The 169-minute runtime sees that Nolan gets to make what is veritably his Kubrick homage and, in the process, pulling off one of the finest science-fiction films of the new millenium.

McConaughey is joined here by Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Michael Caine, Casey Affleck, Topher Grace, and a young Timothée Chalamet. The entire cast is incredible, and the script uses them to their full potential. A film packed with equal parts awe, intensity, and raw emotion, Interstellar devotes its lengthy runtime to telling a story wrapped in heartfelt sensitivity that avoids the pitfalls of sentimental sci-fi disasters that came before. It's a masterpiece, and viewers will most likely be glad to turn over three hours of their lives to it.

Avengers: Endgame

Avengers Endgame Captain America holding Thor's hammer

At one time the highest-grossing movie of all time, there isn't much left to be said about Endgame that hasn't already been said. The culmination of no less than twenty films, this three-hour-and-one-minute odyssey is a sensationally jaw-dropping adventure that delivers the goods. With a cast including everyone anyone's ever heard of and a budget that some say nears $400 million, it's one of the largest undertakings in cinematic history.

With a story that tackles loss, grief, revenge, guilt, and time travel, there isn't a minute wasted here. Each character is treated with unequaled devotion and all of the actors bring their A-game. Endgame was such a success that Marvel Studios and Disney have been trying to create something of equal pleasure and importance ever since. It's a film so big and so good that it set a benchmark that perhaps will never be met. A capper on one of the most interesting and successful film franchises of all time, Endgame earns its length and much, much more.

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