The next major blockbuster film on 2022’s movie slate is The Batman. Headed by acclaimed director Matt Reeves, of Planet of the Apes fame, is looking to set this project apart from other Batman-led films. The Batman will be the 10th live-action film since 1989 where Batman is a leading character. That comes out to one Batman-led or Batman-inclusive film every 3.2 years over the last three decades. That is a lot of Batman on the silver screen.
The Batman has a lot going for it leading up to its release. It has a star-studded cast portraying several intriguing characters. Director Matt Reeves has stated that The Batman will harken back to Batman’s detective roots, more so than previous Batman films.
Another unique aspect of The Batman is its budget. It stands at $100 million, which is a lot for the average Hollywood film. However, this is pretty small compared to the other blockbuster superhero films in recent history. So how will The Batman’s relatively diminutive budget for a movie of its kind affect it? The answer is multi-pronged, from possible artistic freedom to utilization of practical effects.
A $100 Million Budget: A Macro Perspective
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At first blush, $100 million seems like an exorbitant amount for a film, even a blockbuster one. However, this is not necessarily the case. Superhero films tend to have extremely bloated budgets, especially within the past decade or two.
Take a look at several other solo superhero films, and keep in mind these numbers are not adjusted for inflation. In 2005, Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins had a $150 million budget. Iron Man, the movie that birthed the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in 2008, took a huge risk with its $140 million budget. In more recent years, 2018’s Black Panther had a whopping $200 million budget to create a realized Kingdom of Wakanda. Captain Marvel, which came out in 2019 and featured a superhero that the general public was largely unaware of, featured a $175 million budget.
As one can see, The Batman is an outlier among comparable superhero films, never mind massive projects such as Justice League or Avengers: Endgame. Warner Brother’s decision to be more frugal with The Batman is an interesting one, and makes the film financially stand out among the crowd.
Possible Increased Artistic Freedom
In recent years, there have been allegations that Warner Brothers interfered with the artistic freedoms of directors. Some go as far as to say this is the very reason that the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) is a collective failure compared to the MCU.
However, The Batman’s relatively paltry budget suggests that Warner Brothers might take a hands-off approach with the film. There was a lot of pressure on movies like Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League to be successes, in part because of their bloated budgets. Perhaps less micromanaging is the way to go for Warner Brothers and DC going forward. Doing so would allow Matt Reeves to truly realize his vision on the big screen.
A Possible Reliance on Practical Effects
Superhero movies with sizable budgets tend to rely on computer-generated imagery (CGI) and digitally–enhanced special effects. This is particularly true when the antagonist is a massive alien like Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War, or when there is a massive battle between two factions, such as in Avengers: Endgame.
However, Batman’s rogue’s gallery in The Batman is made up of the Riddler, the Penguin, and Catwoman. There will not be a massive alien invasion, or a robot hell-bent on destroying humanity. This means The Batman does not have to utilize an absurd amount of CGI to justify a bloated budget. The trailer for The Batman displays some scenes that look like they utilize practical effects. Additionally, most of the fighting in the film looks like it will feature melee combat.
The Batman is Disconnected from the DCEU
Matt Reeves has previously stated that The Batman takes place within a self-contained universe. That means it is not connected to DCEU films such as Justice League or Aquaman.
This means that The Batman has no pressure to include characters who are not based in Gotham City, such as Wonder Woman or the Flash. That in turn means fewer requirements for CGI and special effects, and that means Warner Brothers can be more frugal.
Possibility for Significant Financial Returns
Warner Brothers can point to recent history to justify The Batman’s smaller budget. After all, 2019’s Joker had a $55 million budget. It had a financial return of over $1 billion. That means Joker had a nearly 2,000% return for Warner Brothers on its initial investment. That is significantly better than the average rate of return for a DC film, which stands at approximately 350%.
It is possible that 2017’s Justice League placed a sour taste in Warner Brothers' mouth, with critics and fans roasting it and a poor box office showing. The correction to a smaller budget with Joker proved extremely successful. Perhaps this will be the way forward for solo DC projects, like The Batman, that do not take place within the DCEU.
The Batman comes out in theaters on March 4th, 2022.